Posted by Mike Cravener on April 08, 2000 at 16:36:29:
In Reply to: Typewriter Hill 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
I guess the Troy Hill you are talking about was the one near Pittsburg?? I know the Troy Hill I grew up on didn't have any industry at all....except fun...if that can be called industry..thanks for the information.