On This Day in Typewriter History: Typing on Ivory - Mirus's Rear View Typewheel

PART 214

On this day (December 24) in 1907, Ehrenfried Mirus, of Cologne, was issued with a US patent for a rather unusual typewriter. Mirus wrote in his patent specifications:
"My invention relates to improvements in typewriters, whereby the print down to the last letter is rendered perfectly visible, the printing is effected on a special printing block instead of on the ordinary paper roller, so that the latter does not receive any recesses due to the blows of the types, but remains smooth and needs not be so frequently replaced by a new paper roller, as is the case with other known typewriters. I provide in the rear wall of the carriage a horizontal slot extending nearly over the whole width and arrange an oscillating type segment to strike against the rear side of the paper through the said horizontal slot. I further provide a replaceable printing block of ivory or similar material in a recess of an adjustable stationary holder on the front of the paper, and lead a narrow inking band upwards over the replaceable printing block from a roller on the lower side to another roller on the upper side of the stationary holder." Wow!