This Rare Vintage Typewriter From The 1950s Lets You Type Sheet Music

Many composers like to handwrite their sheet music, but there have been so many machines invented to help print music. Perhaps one of the most interesting to look at is the Keaton Music Typewriter. First patented in 1936, it definitely doesn’t look like an ordinary typewriter. Robert H. Keaton from San Francisco, California created the machine, which is now a rare collector’s item.

The original patent was for a 14-key typewriter, which was then upgraded to 33 keys in an improved 1953 patent.

Introduced to the market during the 1950s at a retail price of approximately $255, this device stands out with its unique appearance characterised by a circular keyboard. Keaton, the designer, aimed to craft a machine capable of printing characters with precision on a staff while providing clear indicators for the placement of subsequent characters, thus ensuring accuracy.

The unique keyboard arrangement was born of a desire to separate two types of characters. “One keyboard is adapted to type one class of music characters such as bar lines and ledger lines, which, when repeated, always appear in the same relative spaced positions with respect to the [staff] lines… and a second keyboard adapted to type another class of musical characters, such as the notes, rest signs and sharp and flat signs etc., which may, when repeated, appear in various spaced positions with respect to the [staff] lines,” Keaton wrote.

The Keaton Music Typewriter boasts an intriguing design that sets it apart. Engineered with a curved meter on the left, dubbed the Scale Shift Handle and Scale Shift Indicator by Keaton, it offers precise control over the placement of notes and characters on the page. Adjusting the handle up or down by a notch alters the printing position by 1/24 inch in either direction, corresponding to a single musical step.

To enhance visibility for musicians, Keaton incorporated a long needle alongside the ribbon, ensuring accurate printing placement. Notably, the two keyboards interact differently with the Scale Shift Handle: the larger one, featuring notes, scales, sharps, and flats, moves in sync with the handle, while the smaller keyboard, housing bar lines and ledger lines, remains stationary as these characters consistently align with the staff lines.

Despite its niche appeal, the commercial success of the product remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the Keaton Music Typewriter has garnered a devoted following as a cherished collectible, occasionally surfacing on platforms like eBay and other online auctions. Its elegant design and nostalgic charm evoke a bygone era, rendering it a rediscovery-worthy invention.