Page 30 - Auction Team Breker

help students to "speak with their fingers". "In a given time one can say five times as many sounds as can be written", he argued in his patent application of 25 Jan- uary 1870. "In other words, one speaks five times as fast as one writes". Malling-Hansen positioned letters, num- bers and symbols on a hemisphere to facilitate "quick writing", the vowels operated by the fingers of the left hand, the consonants by the fingers on the right. The intended result – the writing speed would be "easily two to three times as fast as normal, and practice in using the apparatus should be able to bring this speed up to speech speed." – Each of the 54 typebars is aligned at a different angle, yet all converge on the paper at a com- mon point. The beauty of Malling-Hansen's design was not restricted to the layout of the typebars, but displayed all the significant refinements of writing machines in- troduced 40–50 years later: automatic carriage return and line spacing, a space bar, a bell to signal the end of the line, provision for carbon paper copies, a ribbon reverse and – most significant of all – visible writing by raising the typing mechanism. – The Writing Ball's most celebrated user – but not its happiest – was the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. "Hurrah! The machine has arrived at my house!" wrote Nietzsche to his sister on 11 February 1882 upon the delivery of the machine he had ordered for 375 Danish crowns the year before. Beset by failing eyesight, the philosopher had hoped that the new invention would allow him to write more easily. Despite his initial excitement, Nietzsche eventu- ally gave up on the intricate machine after it was dam- aged during a trip to Genoa, Italy, though not before immortalizing his struggle in verse: "The writing ball is a thing like me:/Made of iron yet easily twisted on jour- neys/Patience and tact are required in abundance/As well as fine fingers to use us." – Fortunately for its inventor, not all of the reviews were so negative. A journalist visiting the Paris World's Fair in 1878 com- pared the Writing Ball favorably with the new Sholes & Glidden "Typewriter" introduced by E. Remington & Sons of Ilion, New York, in 1874. "The Danish appa- ratus has more keys, is much less complicated, built with greater precision, more solid, and much smaller and lighter than the Remington, and moreover, is cheaper." – From a total of only 180 machines pro- duced, only 35 are believed to have survived: 30 in museum collections, a handful still in private hands. – Literature: Ernst Martin (1949), "Die Schreibmaschine und ihre Entwicklungsgeschichte", pp. 60, 351 and 460. – For background on Nietzsche's machine: http://www.openculture.com/2013/12/friedrich- nietzsches-curious-typewriter.html. – A fabulous icon of design as well as an important historical document for the entire history of communication!
– (2/2) – € 15.000/25.000 – (568/1)
45: "Elliott & Hatch"-Schreibmaschine, um 1920
€ 120,-
Amerikanische Oberanschlag-Buchschreibmaschine mit Laufrahmen für die Journal-Buchführung. Serien-Nr. 34451, Klingel liegt lose bei, Mechanik hakt, müßte gereinigt werden. – Literatur: Martin, 1949, S. 164. "Elliott & Hatch" Typewriter, c. 1920
American book typewriter for typing on horizontal sur- faces, serial no. 34451, bell detached (included), mech- anism sticking, in need of cleaning. – Literature: Mar- tin, 1949, p. 164.
– (4/4-) – € 200/300 – (555/208)
46: Wissenschaftliche Schreibmaschine Hammond Multiplex, um 1917 € 450,-
Serien-Nr. 111364, geschlossene Version der amerika- nischen Typenschiffchenmaschine mit gebogener Ide- altastatur, mehrfache Tastenbelegung, mit wissenschaft- lichen Zeichen, 2 zusätzliche Tasten oberhalb der Tasta- tur, 2 Rückstelltasten, eine davon für 1⁄2 Rückstellung, sehr guter Zustand, funktioniert, mit Eichenhaube und -sockel. – Extrem selten, eventuell eine Sonderanfer- tigung.
Serial no. 111364, closed version, American type-sleeve machine with curved "Ideal" keyboard, multiple key layout with scientific characters, 2 additional keys above the keyboard, back space and 1⁄2 back space keys, very good condition, works, with oak lid and base. – Extremely rare, possibly a custom-made model.
€ 350,-
Scientific Hammond Multiplex Typewriter, c. 1917
– (2/2) – € 1.000/1.500 – (555/213)
47: "The Keaton Music Typewriter", 1947
Skurrile amerikanische Notenschreibmaschine, perfekte Technik für "schwierigste" Partituren, Rahmen und Maschinenführung defekt. – Extrem seltenes Samm- lungsstück und äußerst attraktives Exponat, eine Restaurierung würde sich lohnen.
American musical note typewriter of extraordinary design, frame and machine guide defective. – Rare collector's item and very attractive exhibition piece, worthy of restoration.
"The Keaton Music Typewriter", 1947
– (4/4) – € 600/900 – (555/204)