kaligraph writing machine in glass case
Date: circa 1860
Inventory Number: 1998-1-1617
Classification: Pantograph
Subject:
Maker: Charles Thurber (1803 - 1886)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
case: 22.5 × 63.5 × 61.5 cm (8 7/8 × 25 × 24 3/16 in.)
Accessories: wooden framed, glass paned case; original and photocopied letter from the Massachusetts Historical Society Director, Stephen T. Riley to David P. Wheatland dated June 28, 1961regarding permanent loan of the pantograph (in instrument file); original and photocopied hand-written letter from David P. Wheatland to Stephen T. Riley regarding permanent loan of the pantorgraph dated March 16, 1962 (in instrument file); original and photocopied hand written letter from David P. Wheatland to Stephen T. Riley regarding the pantograph dated June 23 1961 (in instrument file)
DescriptionThe Kaligraph writing machine is stored on a wooden base encased in a glass case with a wooden frame. The top of the base is painted black. The Kaligraph lifts out of the case for use.
The main Kaligraph mechanisms are mounted on a square black iron frame, parallel to the surface below, each of whose corners is adorned with a floral ornamentation bracket. There is a rectangular wooden platform with a beige top panel at the front of the apparatus. Beneath it, in the center, is a small wooden drawer with a round knob for storing various attachments. The long rectangular platform acts as the writing and tracing pad. A thin black iron arm with a pin stylus at its end extends over the platform surface. This arm is connected to three others, in the form of a parallelogram. Together these arms constitute a pantograph. The diagonally opposite corner to the stylus in the parallelogram is attached to a black iron writing implement holder. The holder extends above a rectangular, beige panel. This panel acts as a paper support. Users place a piece of paper on the platform and hold it in place with three thin black iron strips that run cross-wise on the panel, and slide up and down. One of the pantograph arms to which the writing implement holder is attached extends to a thicker, vertical black iron pole. The pole stands in a short sleeve track and, as such, can slide back and forth in a line, providing the necessary vertical freedom of motion to the writing implement.
Along the top and right edges of the apparatus are thicker, twisted black iron bars. Various instrument extensions, holders, and secondary tools are attached to these bars. On the left-hand side of the apparatus are two thin black iron arms that form a triangle. The bottom end of the bottom arm is fixed just above the stylus platform. There is a cylindrical stand with a hole through the top where the arm attaches to the body of the instrument. When not in use, users can insert the stylus into this holder to keep the arms immobile.
The main Kaligraph mechanisms are mounted on a square black iron frame, parallel to the surface below, each of whose corners is adorned with a floral ornamentation bracket. There is a rectangular wooden platform with a beige top panel at the front of the apparatus. Beneath it, in the center, is a small wooden drawer with a round knob for storing various attachments. The long rectangular platform acts as the writing and tracing pad. A thin black iron arm with a pin stylus at its end extends over the platform surface. This arm is connected to three others, in the form of a parallelogram. Together these arms constitute a pantograph. The diagonally opposite corner to the stylus in the parallelogram is attached to a black iron writing implement holder. The holder extends above a rectangular, beige panel. This panel acts as a paper support. Users place a piece of paper on the platform and hold it in place with three thin black iron strips that run cross-wise on the panel, and slide up and down. One of the pantograph arms to which the writing implement holder is attached extends to a thicker, vertical black iron pole. The pole stands in a short sleeve track and, as such, can slide back and forth in a line, providing the necessary vertical freedom of motion to the writing implement.
Along the top and right edges of the apparatus are thicker, twisted black iron bars. Various instrument extensions, holders, and secondary tools are attached to these bars. On the left-hand side of the apparatus are two thin black iron arms that form a triangle. The bottom end of the bottom arm is fixed just above the stylus platform. There is a cylindrical stand with a hole through the top where the arm attaches to the body of the instrument. When not in use, users can insert the stylus into this holder to keep the arms immobile.
Signedin gold script along instrument arm: THURBER'S PATENT KALIGRAPH.
Inscribedin gold script along instrument arm: A No. 23
in gold script along instrument arm: PATENTED JUNE 3rd 1857 & NOV 27th 1860.
in gold script along instrument arm: PATENTED JUNE 3rd 1857 & NOV 27th 1860.
FunctionThe Kaligraph is a writing and drawing instrument. Its main mechanism is the black iron pantograph. Pantographs are mechanical drawing instruments. Users trace a two-dimensional figure and the motion is transferred through the device such that a scaled-up version of that figure is drawn at the diagonally opposite end of the parallelogram. The Kaligraph was designed primarily for writing. As such, users would place letter templates on the stylus platform and, as they trace them, the writing implement would write the letters upon a piece of paper fixed to the writing platform. This particular Kaligraph has a ratio of 5:1.
An image of the Thurber Kaligraph along with a description of its efficiency and utility can be found in the 1862 catalog of the Eastman Business College. They advertised that the machine was particularly useful for disabled writers, blind people, or those writing on trains or other bumpy, unstable locations. The image and text from the Eastman Business College Catalog is available here.
The Kaligraph is described in The Medical News as a device for relieving writer's cramp. This article is available through Google Books, here.
An image of the Thurber Kaligraph along with a description of its efficiency and utility can be found in the 1862 catalog of the Eastman Business College. They advertised that the machine was particularly useful for disabled writers, blind people, or those writing on trains or other bumpy, unstable locations. The image and text from the Eastman Business College Catalog is available here.
The Kaligraph is described in The Medical News as a device for relieving writer's cramp. This article is available through Google Books, here.
Primary SourcesEastman Business College, "Thurber's Patent Kaligraph, or Writing Machine" in Eastman Business College Catalog, 1862, reproduced here.
The Philadelphia County Medical Society, "An Apparatus for the Relief of Writer's Cramp" in The Medical News; A Weekly Medical Journal, Volume 50. Philadelphia: LEA Brothers, January - June 1887; p. 612, available here.
The Philadelphia County Medical Society, "An Apparatus for the Relief of Writer's Cramp" in The Medical News; A Weekly Medical Journal, Volume 50. Philadelphia: LEA Brothers, January - June 1887; p. 612, available here.
ProvenanceOn permanent loan from the Massachusetts Historical Society as of June 17, 1962. Loan arranged by Stephen T. Riley (director of the Society) and David P. Wheatland.