First year of production:

1893

Company:

American Typewriter Company, New York, USA.

Serial nr:

None

The American Typewriter Company of Broadway, New York, produced this interesting Index machine beginning in 1893. It was one of those cheap machines that could be used at home or in small offices.

The index machine consists of a swinging sector, holding a strip of rubber type (this is usually missing, but about 60 percent of it is still present on this particular machine). Two small ink rollers kept the type constantly inked as the index pointer was turned. Printing (or better: stamping) was done when the handle on the left was pushed. The centre handle created a space.

The retail price of this machine was 10 dollars, but it was later lowered to 5 dollars. Two versions of this machine are known. The model 1 features a smaller index shield than this one, the model 2.
The American Index was also produced in Europe and appears as the Globe, Champignon (French for mushroom), Crown and Sterling.

The American Typewriter Company also produced a cheap sheet metal 'visible' typewriter. In 1901 it introduced an upstrike keyboard typewriter.

Check the typewriter restoration site for instructions on how to clean the American Index.