America's First Typewriter
The first typewriter to be invented and patented was the Typographer invented by William Austin Burt and patented on July 23rd 1829. The machine was a box that was 12 inches wide, 12 inches high, and 18 inches long. The typographer used a dial to select the character so it was called "index typing" rather than "keyboard typing". Due to the use of a dial, the typographer was even slower than handwriting.
Typewriter Aids the Blind
Charles Thurber was another early typewriter inventor. He patented the Chirographer in 1845 but received other patents for models that were used to aid the blind in writing.
Hansen Writing Ball
The Hansen Writing Ball was invited in 1865 by Rasmus Malling-Hansen. It was the first typewriter to be commercially produced and sold world-wide. In its day it was the fastest typewriter due to it being in the shape of a ball. To use the Hansen Writing Ball, the user would press down on the desired letter key which would push down the letter and print it on a piece of paper.