Posted by Jane on August 24, 1999 at 22:02:43:
In an earlier discussion, someone brought up a query about Typewriter Hill, I thought I'd give you a bit of information I gathered while in Kittanning in 1995 on a
research fellowship.
James "Denny" Daugherty invented the very first "visible" typewriter right there in little ole Kittanning. He was born in Kittanning
on Oct. 17, 1855 and was the son of one of its earliest pioneers. He was an inventor and a local court reporter for Armstrong
County for over 40 years.
There were other typewriters in use but none like the one Daugherty is credited with inventing. He patented the "Daugherty
Visible" in 1881 and also introduced what was referred to as the "ribbon vibrator." In 1891, Daugherty and his friends built a
manufacturing plant in Troy Hill. For the next 6 years the company prospered. Unfortunately, about 2500 typewriters were
found to be irrevocably defective and the plant went out of business.
Right below the Old Kittanning Cemetery, on what I call the "back street" of Kittanning...sorry but it's late and the street's name
is escaping me...just to the right of the old Elk Brewery building is a red brick building that bears Daugherty's name. In fact, if
I'm not mistaken, it says Daugherty Typewriter Co. or something to that effect.
Although Mr. Daugherty's first typewriter business failed, he was awarded over 40 patents for various typewriters and
computing machines.
A group of Pittsburghers took the "Daugherty Visible" and renamed it the "Pittsburgh Visible" and Denny Daugherty still had a
hand in the development of new technologies.
If you'll look at your typewriter (or more likely, your computer keyboard) you will notice the letters "ERTY" side by side on the
top tier of letters on the keyboard...these were taken from the last four letters of Daugherty's name.
Just thought someone might find this tidbit of interest.
Bye for now, Jane