Martin Howard from Toronto’s Howard Collection writes, “The Salter is one of England’s first typewriters and is a stunning example of a piece of Victorian engineering. It was made by The Geo. Salter & Co. of West Bromwich who were well known at the time as the makers of penny scales, which were a common feature in train stations and other public areas.”
“The Salter has two shift keys, for uppercase and figures. As a result only three rows of keys are required.
The type-bars stand up behind the curved shield, seen behind the keyboard, and swing down to type onto the top of the platen.
To see what you have typed you would have to look up and over this shield, so no slouching in the chair.”
Early British typewriter – Salter 5, 1892