Who Invented the First Electric Typewriter?

There is much debate as to who should receive credit for the invention of the first electric typewriter.

Encyclopedia Britannica says that Thomas Edison invented the first electric typewriter in 1872, but it was only used to report stock market transactions.

http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-209151

In 1902, George Carfield Blickensderfer invented an electric typewriter with a typewheel. The typewriter had automatic carriage return and line spacing, and allowed for a light touch. Despite these features, the invention did not catch on, perhaps because of limited electricity in the U.S. during this time. Today, only 3 Blickens 7's are known to exist.

http://www.typewritermuseum.org/collection/index.php3?machine=blickel&cat=ks

George C. Blickensderfer

IBM credits Electromatics, Inc. as coming out with precursor to the first widely-used electric typewriter in 1930. In 1933, Electromatics, Inc. was incorporated into IBM, where the electric typewriter took off. In 1934, IBM invested over $1 million (a lot of cash back in those days) to improve research on the typewriter and to set up repair centers. In 1935, the IBM Electric Typewriter Model 1 became the first "successful" electric typewriter in the United States.

http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/modelb/modelb_history.html

http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/modelb/modelb_milestone.html

Features of the First Electric Typewriters

The first electric typewriters contained only one electrical component, the motor. The motor operated the typebar. In 1948, most electric typewriters had carriage return, back spacing, tabs, shifting, and line spacing.

Then, in 1952, the IBM Selectric (re)introduced the typeball. The Selectric used a system of latches, metal tapes, and pulleys controlled by this motor to turn the typeball. This allowed for faster typing and less jams. Also, the typeballs could be changed, which meant that the typist could change fonts.

http://www.answers.com/topic/typewriter

Plus, 1952 was also the year IBM came out with pastel-colored typewriters ( the 50's equivalent to the IPod Mini.)

http://www.etypewriters.com/1955-b-1.jpg

http://wwww.etypewriters.com/1957-b-4.jpg