Background
Thomas Hall was born on February 4, 1834, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, of English parentage.
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Thomas Hall
Edit ProfileEducation
After attending the public schools in Philadelphia, Thomas Hall entered the Academy of the University at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania (now Bucknell), in preparation for a business career. After one term, 1852-1853, he was honorably discharged in order to enter the ministry. To this end he tutored with the Reverend Dr. Malcolm, a Baptist clergyman of note. Before his ordination, however, he abandoned his theological studies to devote himself to science and mechanics. For a number of years he studied mechanics intensively.
Career
As early as 1858, while a resident of St. Louis, Thomas Hall began work on the development of a writing machine, and after nine years of concentrated effort perfected it, being granted United States patent for a “Typographic Machine” on June 18, 1867. Authorities qualified to write impartially regard this as a pioneer typewriter invention. It was operated from a keyboard by means of finger levers with a connecting link and an individual typebar for each finger lever. It embodied devices anticipating future requirements, such as a stop ring for preventing undue penetration of the paper to yield uniform printing results, an automatic line lock to limit the travel of the carriage when the printing reached the end of the line, and devices for varying the length of movement of the printing surface.
Hall immediately organized a company to manufacture the machine, but financial conditions following the Civil War, combined with the fact that the business world was not ready for such a device, soon caused the abandonment of the manufactory. Several machines were made, however.
In 1873 Hall went to Europe to study mechanisms and mechanics, particularly in the shops of Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Paris. After his return to New York he spent the next five years on typewriter improvements, and in 1880 invented a one-keyed typewriting machine, so light and convenient that it could be readily used by travelers. This machine was manufactured and placed on the market in 1881 as the “Hall Typewriter. " It embodied the pantograph principle and was operated with one hand by means of a stylus. Its operation was slow, however, and as a result, the machine was soon succeeded by others incorporating principles that are in favor today.
Hall subsequently established himself as a patent attorney in New York City but devoted a great amount of time to mechanical improvements, and before his death invented a number of sewing-machine attachments, an improved mill-grinder, and other machinist’s tools.
Achievements
Connections
Thomas Hall was married at the age of twenty-night, after establishing his residence in Brooklyn, and was survived at the time of his death by two daughters and a son.
References
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Born
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Died
January 19, 1911 (aged 76) -
Resting place
Lawnview Cemetery, Rockledge, Pennsylvania, United States -
Nationality
American