Hansen Writing Ball
First commercially produced typewriter, with an ergonomic key layout.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Hansen Writing Ball, an early typewriter, was the first model to be sold commercially. Its inventor, the Reverend Rasmus Malling-Hansen, who served as principal of the Royal Institute for the Deaf-Mutes in Copenhagen, created the device in 1865, with a patent and production launch following in 1870.
The machine’s design was both unusual and ergonomic. Its most striking feature was a large brass hemisphere holding 52 keys, which gave the device the look of an oversized pincushion. Malling-Hansen experimented with a porcelain model to find the fastest key arrangement. He placed the most common letters under the quickest fingers and grouped most vowels on the left side and consonants on the right. Short pistons ran directly through the ball, contributing to a high typing speed. Like many early typewriters, the Hansen Ball did not let the user see the paper as it was being typed on.
In its earliest versions, the machine typed onto paper fastened to a cylinder. The cylinder could move both rotationally and lengthwise, allowing the user to manually format and space letters. The paper was attached with clips, and a sheet of coloring paper was used alongside the white sheet. These early models also included an electromagnet, powered by a 10- or 12-cell battery, which controlled the typewriter’s movement and made it the first electric typewriter. The magnet operated a mechanical escapement in the clockwork, shifting the carriage a set distance each time a key was pressed.
Malling-Hansen improved his invention through the 1870s and 1880s. In 1874 he patented a new model that replaced the cylinder with a flat mechanical paper-frame. The electromagnetic battery still moved the paper forward, and the design reduced the chance of errors. A further improvement came with a semi-cylindrical paper holder, patented in 1875, which replaced the battery with a mechanical escapement. These changes made the machine simpler and more compact.
The writing ball was shown at a major industrial exhibition in Copenhagen in 1873, the world exhibition in Vienna that same year, and the Paris Exposition Universelle. It won several awards during the 1870s. The device sold across Europe and was still used in London offices as late as 1909. However, because each unit was hand-crafted, it was eventually overtaken by the mass-produced Sholes and Glidden typewriter, which E. Remington and S
- Inventor
- Rasmus Malling-Hansen
- Invented
- 1865
- Patented
- 1870
- Field
- Typewriter design
- Nationality
- Danish
- Known for
- First commercially produced typewriter; ergonomic key layout; early electric typewriter
Lore & Background
The Hansen Writing Ball was designed with 52 keys on a large brass hemisphere, resembling an oversized pincushion. Malling-Hansen experimented with a porcelain model to determine the fastest key placement, putting the most frequently used letters under the fastest fingers and placing most vowels on the left and consonants on the right. Early models typed on paper attached to a cylinder and included an electro-magnet powered by a 10- or 12-cell battery, making it the first electric typewriter.
Malling-Hansen made improvements throughout the 1870s and 1880s, patenting a model in 1874 that replaced the cylinder with a flat mechanical paper-frame, and a further model in 1875 with a semi-cylindrical frame and a mechanical escapement instead of a battery. The writing ball was exhibited at industrial exhibitions in Copenhagen (1873), Vienna (1873), and Paris, winning several awards. It was sold in many European countries and was still in use in London offices as late as 1909, but hand-crafted production led to its market overtaking by the mass-produced Sholes and Glidden typewriter.
In 1882, Friedrich Nietzsche purchased a writing ball directly from Malling-Hansen to aid his writing due to failing eyesight. Nietzsche received the newest portable model with a color ribbon, serial number 125, and wrote about 60 typescripts on it. However, he never mastered the machine; damage during transport to Genoa and subsequent unskilled repair may have contributed to his dissatisfaction. Nietzsche famously remarked, 'Our writing instruments contribute to our thoughts.'
Reader's Guide
The Hansen Writing Ball holds significance as the first commercially produced typewriter, marking a pivotal step in the mechanization of writing. Its ergonomic innovations—placing keys based on finger speed and letter frequency—anticipated later keyboard layouts. The inclusion of an electro-magnet in early models made it the first electric typewriter, though later versions reverted to mechanical escapement. Despite its innovative design, the writing ball was overtaken by mass-produced competitors like the Sholes and Glidden typewriter, illustrating the impact of manufacturing scale on technological adoption. Its legacy is preserved through surviving examples, which fetch high auction prices, and through its association with Friedrich Nietzsche, whose use of the device influenced his thoughts on language and technology. The writing ball remains a notable artifact in the history of writing instruments, demonstrating early attempts to combine speed, ergonomics, and portability.
Did You Know?
- The Hansen Writing Ball was the first commercially produced typewriter, patented in 1870.
- Early models included an electro-magnet powered by a battery, making it the first electric typewriter.
- Friedrich Nietzsche purchased a writing ball in 1882 and wrote about 60 typescripts on it.
- The keys were arranged on a brass hemisphere, with vowels on the left and consonants on the right for faster typing.
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