Miles M. Bartholomew Stenograph Patent Model

Bartholomew, Miles M. · 1879

This stenograph patent model accompanied Miles M. Bartholomew’s patent application that received patent number 215,554 on May 20th, 1879. The patent was described as “the provision, in a stenographic machine, of two sets of keys, preferably five on each set, one key for the thumb and one for each of the fingers.” Each key was related to a marker to make an impression on or perforation in the paper spooled from the roller at the head of the model. Stenotype machines do not have a full alphanumeric keyboard, instead they write in shorthand with multiple key depressions that produce syllables or words.