https://type-writer.org/?p=6981 [?] Menu * Home * Typewriters * Resources + Past posts + Women and the typewriter + Racial studies + Type-Writer, hyphenated + About + Contact + Digital Ephemera + Links * Media + YouTube + Flickr * Search Type-Writer.org The type-writer is mightier than the mitrailleuse Milton Bartholomew: More pianos than typewriters by Mark Adams on July 17, 2024 [Milton-Bartholomew-Yost-Typewriter-1] The typewriter industry experienced remarkable growth from the mid-1870s through the early part of the 20th century, but there was one area where growth was sluggish: the home consumer market. In an interview with Pitman's Phonetic Journal in 1902, Yost managing director Milton Bartholomew noted that piano manufacturing outpaced typewriter manufacturing, despite rapid growth in the latter industry. "The fact is, you see, that the piano goes into almost every home, but the typewriter is confined more to the office," he stated. "I believe the actual numbers for last year were 175,000 pianos and 150,000 typewriters." Historically, the consumer market would be defined by the portable typewriter, but none of the major manufacturer offered one until the 1920s. (Corona grew into a large company with a single product: a folding, portable typewriter that it introduced in the early 1910s.) Still, manufacturers had fair reason to focus on the business segment: explosive growth. Describing a recent trip to America, Yost commented that expansion seemed nearly limitless. "I will tell you one thing, which I was struck with immensely there, and that was the extraordinary prosperity which they are enjoying at the present time. Every factory seems crowded to its utmost capacity, every warehouse seems full of buyers, and every retail shop the same." He advanced that the industry was "right on top of anything they have ever done," though he felt labor shortages would stymie progress. He mentioned that he had advised English soldiers returning from South Africa to consider emigrating to America for work: "Why, in New York State alone I will undertake to say we could employ ten thousand more labourers than we have, and throughout the States we could do with 100,000 more mechanics, and should be glad of them." Regarding labor, Bartholomew noted one aspect of the industry that is not well-researched today: child labor. According to the article, from 1890 to 1900 use of child labor increased exponentially, by 4,465 percent. The article, however, is confusing, displaying a chart noting a growth in wages, while the text claims an increase in the number of child workers. In any event, the role of child labor is one area that demands further research. Pitman's Phonetic Journal (London), January 17, 1903 - [Pitmans-Ph] (c) 2024, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. Related posts: A Yost boast The Yost No. 4, as observed in 1895 George Washington Newton Yost Share this: * Print * Email * Facebook * Twitter * More * * Reddit * Tumblr * Pinterest * Also at Type-Writer.org: 1. Ponies and Ovaltine There is a classic moment in A Christmas Story when Ralphie, a dedicated member of Little Orphan Annie's radio club, receives his decoder ring. Now,... 2. 1894 in retrospect Despite a slack economy in 1894, the typewriter industry was steadily growing. Stenographers increasingly were interested in new machines, especially as their profession scarcely distinguished... { 0 comments... add one } Leave a ReplyCancel reply This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Next post: 1901: Remington executive doesn't foresee any important changes to the typewriter Previous post: QWERTY, DHIATENSOR, Dvorak, and... Van Sant I hear the typer typing. Search for: [ ] [Search] Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address [ ] Subscribe Join 123 other subscribers Recent Comments * Mark Adams on 1901: Remington executive doesn't foresee any important changes to the typewriter * Mark Adams on 1901: Remington executive doesn't foresee any important changes to the typewriter * Christopher Cottle on The typewriter situation after World War I * Christopher Cottle on The typewriter situation after World War I * Erik on 1901: Remington executive doesn't foresee any important changes to the typewriter Top Posts & Pages (last 48 hours) * Milton Bartholomew: More pianos than typewriters * Brother Webster * Typewriters * The Hermes Rocket * Achtung baby! The Groma Kolibri is no Trabant of typewriters This site rocks the Classic Responsive Skin for Thesis. WP Admin Scroll