B68-579 INDEX TYPEWRITER. Hall Patent. Third variation of the Hall typewriter, manufactured by the National Typewriter Co. of Boston, in its original 15-1/2" by 9" wooden case. With an index typewriter, the user picks out each letter individually rather than using a full keyboard; the Hall typewriter, patented in 1881, was one of the first commercially available index machines, popular due to its low cost and portability. It contains a rectangular rubber sheet with the letters and numbers; moving the index causes the selected character to protrude through a hole and be impressed on the paper. In this example, the sheet has the characters worn off but the mechanism otherwise works, including the bell that rings at the edge of the paper, although it could use a little lubrication. From the collection of Jim and Christa Schoenky. Good+ 500-1000