Virtual Typewriter Museum

The Virtual Typewriter Museum is a fantastically comprehensive site about the history of the typewriter, from the technology's development to its social relevance to typerwriter art. The site is based on a 200 page book available via CafePress print-on-demand. Seen here is an 1870 Hansen writing ball, one of the first production typewriters in history.

From the site:

The most striking feature of the writing ball is the semi-sphere on top of the machine, with 52 keys sticking out like a giant pin cushion. At the lower end of each stem is a character, cast in exactly the right angle to create a perfectly even print on the central printing point under the ball. The escapement mechanism moved the paper frame that held the paper one space until the end of the line was reached. By pushing the button on the left in front of the ball all the way down, the carriage was turned concentrically back to the beginning of the line and moved one line to the left.

Hansen's first model was built in 1865. The oldest remaining model (dated 1867) even has an escapement that was controlled by an electromagnet, making the Hansen even the first "electric" typewriter in history.

Link (via MAKE: Blog)