Unique and Unusual Typewriters

Mechanical typewriters go back almost 200 years, or even longer depending on how you define "typewriter". In the early days, the design was not standardized, and many configurations were tried out. Letters were chosen on a slider in one style, on a disc in another. Another configuration was the Malling-Hansen Writing Ball (featured previously). Eventually, manufacturers settled on the QWERTY keyboard layout that we still use today, even though typewriters are rarely used anymore. See a variety of these early machines at Dark Roasted Blend. Link

(Image source: The Typewriter Museum)