Christopher Sholes facts for kids
Christopher Latham Sholes was an amazing American inventor and politician. He was born on February 14, 1819, in Mooresburg, Pennsylvania, USA. He passed away on February 17, 1890, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Sholes is most famous for creating the first commercial typewriter. He also designed the "QWERTY" keyboard, which you probably use every day!
Contents
A Life of Invention and Public Service
Christopher Latham Sholes was born in Pennsylvania. When he was a teenager, he moved to Danville. There, he started working as an apprentice printer. This means he learned the printing trade from an experienced person.
Moving to Milwaukee
After finishing his training, Sholes moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He became the editor of a newspaper called the "Wisconsin Enquirer." An editor is someone who decides what goes into a newspaper.
Sholes in Politics
Sholes was also very involved in politics. He served in the Senate and the State Assembly. These are parts of the government that make laws. He even worked for President Abraham Lincoln.
The Typewriter Idea
In 1864, Sholes patented a counting machine with Samuel W. Soulé. A patent is like a special permission that protects an invention. Later, another inventor named Carlos Glidden suggested that Sholes could turn his counting machine into a typewriter.
Developing the Typewriter
Sholes worked hard on this new idea. Four years later, on June 23, 1868, he received a patent for his typewriter. He kept working to make it better.
Selling the Invention
In 1872, Sholes sold the patent for his machine. He sold it for $12,000 to Densmore and Yost. They then made a deal with E. Remington and Sons. Remington used to make sewing machines. They started selling the new invention as the "Typewriter. Sholes and Glidden."
First Typewriter Production
Remington began making the first typewriters on May 1, 1873. This happened in Ilion, New York.
Key Typewriter Innovations
Sholes continued to improve the typewriter throughout the 1860s. One of his biggest achievements was creating the QWERTY keyboard in 1873. This keyboard layout is still used on most computers and phones today!
He also developed the way the keys hit the paper. This was inspired by how piano keys work. Sholes also invented the roller that holds the paper. He added a weight for the roller and paper to move smoothly. He even created the lever to change lines and the space bar.
Images for kids
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John Pratt's Pterotype, an early inspiration for Sholes in 1867.
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A historical marker in Wisconsin about the typewriter's invention.
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The Sholes typewriter from 1873, displayed at the Buffalo History Museum.
See also
In Spanish: Christopher Sholes para niños
