Hammond typewriter, with braille marked keys, 1895

Hammond typewriter for the blind, c. 1895, with braille markings on keys. Adapted form of Hammond No.1 typewriter, an early American typewriter with two-row ebony "piano" keys and mahogany base, interchangeable two-piece type-shuttle with rubber characters, striking spring-loaded hammer behind the carriage, cylindrical paper-holder under the plate.

The first Hammond typewriters were produced in the early 1880s and these and the wide variety of later models all carried the characters on a semi-circular metal segment or shuttle mounted on a wheel at the tip of the machine. Each wheel carried two shuttles and a range of them were available with different languages, styles of letter, and scientific symbols.

This typewriter was evidently intended for use by blind and partially sighted people, as evidenced by Braille markings embossed on the carriage and the marker strip across the platen has the numbers 1 to 9 in Braille which presumably would help in setting tabs. Additionally, some of the keys are fitted with raised pads. Otherwise, the typewriter is of typical Hammond design of the time.