Domestic Sewing Machine Company, New York, 1891 – serial no.1590

 

Photograph of the Williams 1 typewriter.

The unique and wonderful design of the Williams typewriter has the type bars arranged in two symmetrical fans, one on either side of the carriage. With an articulated action they hop up and over to the top of the platen giving visible typing. However, only a few lines were seen at a time before the paper advanced into the rear holding cylinder.

The type bars, resting on ink pads, are inked when they came back to their starting position. With no ribbon to get between the type bars and the paper, the printing was very sharp and clear.

The Williams has a wonderful responsive touch to the keys and types quickly with ease. It had  considerable success with a model 6 being produced before the company went out of business in 1909. The curved keyboard models (shown here) were only made during the first year of production, after which they had straight keyboards. These early curved keyboard models have glass key tops and frames beautifully decorated with floral motifs. Please see the detail images..

“Writes in Plain Sight. Clear as Print.”

“The WILLIAMS has been adopted by the British War Department, after severe competitive test, and we have a cash order for 3,000 machines from Europe.”