A MALLING-HANSEN WRITING BALL - photo 1
A MALLING-HANSEN WRITING BALL - photo 2
A MALLING-HANSEN WRITING BALL - photo 3
A MALLING-HANSEN WRITING BALL - photo 4
A MALLING-HANSEN WRITING BALL - photo 5

A MALLING-HANSEN WRITING BALL

Lot 5
10.09.2024 00:00UTC +01:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1279137
Lot 5 | A MALLING-HANSEN WRITING BALL
Estimate value
$ 50 000 – 80 000
A MALLING-HANSEN WRITING BALL
HANS RASMUS JOHAN MALLING-HANSEN, 1867
Serial number 159 stamped on the hemi-spherical alpha-numeric keypad
Supported on brass columns with arc for paper carriage

A pivotal advancement in the history of typewriting technology.

The Malling-Hansen Writing Ball, invented by its namesake in 1865, is an innovative device that embodied several key design features that influenced subsequent developments in the field of mechanical writing instruments.

Rasmus Malling-Hansen, a Danish pastor and principal of the Royal Institute for the Deaf in Copenhagen, developed the Writing Ball with the primary aim of improving the efficiency and speed of written communication specifically targeted at those with disabilities. Utilizing electric current to propel the typing mechanism, Hansen’s Writing Ball is one of the earliest instances of electric typewriters. However, beyond its electrical innovation, the symbiotic design helped distinguish the machine as the most ergonomic of its day. Featuring a completely unique hemispherical keyboard layout, this spherical configuration sought to minimize finger movement and reduce typing fatigue: the keys were arranged in a honeycomb-like structure, and utilized a complex system of levers and escapements, thus ensuring a precise and consistent pressure on the paper; and the paper carriage was moved by a clockwork mechanism, ensuring the smooth operation and high typing speed. Furthermore, the innovative paper feed system allowed for continuous typing without the need for manual intervention. Indeed, the ingenuity of the mechanical design saw a revolutionary step in the development of typing that placed more onus on user comfort and efficiency—the Writing Ball reportedly enabling typists to reach speeds of up to 800 characters per minute.

However, despite its technological advancements, the Malling-Hansen Writing Ball faced several challenges that hindered its widespread adoption. The complexity and cost of manufacturing the device were significant barriers, and it was eventually overshadowed by the more commercially viable Sholes and Glidden typewriter, which introduced the QWERTY keyboard layout that became the industry standard. Ultimately, although it did not achieve lasting commercial success, the Writing Ball remains a critical milestone, highlighting the iterative nature of technological advancement and the continuous quest for improved efficiency in human-machine interaction.
10 in. (25.4 cm.) high, 11 in. (27.9 cm.) wide, 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm.) deep




Provenance

Anonymous sale, Auction Team Breker, 25 May 2002, lot 186.
Acquired at the above sale by the late owner.



Further details

This lot is subject to additional disclaimers. Please carefully review Section E(2), subsection (m) “Vintage Computers and Machines”.
Applied technique:Metalwork
Medium:Brass
Place of origin:Western Europe, Europe, The Netherlands
Auction house category:All other types of objects
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
10.09.2024 – 10.09.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>