Underwood Elliott-Fisher bookkeeping typewriter

Underwood Elliott-Fisher bookkeeping typewriter, c. 1900-1908 (in roll top desk), No. B12-9166

The Underwood family, a successful manufacturer of ribbons and carbon paper, entry into the world of typewriters began with supplying ribbons to the Remington Typewriter Company. When Remington began producing their own ribbons, Underwood bought the patent and manufacturing rights of German-American inventor Franz Wagner and his “Wagner” typewriter and Wagner designed the Underwood 1 Typewriter, also known as the Underwood Model One typewriter, the first of many typewriters sold by Underwood Typewriters. By the early 1900s, Underwood had emerged as the premier typewriter design, most recognized today and most imitated at the time.