The Bar-Lock Typewriter

Oct 10

Bar-Lock No.6 Typewriter - Charles Spiro typewriter - Columbia Typewriter Factory - The Typewriter Co. 12. Queen Victoria St. London

THIS! This is one of the most beautiful typewriters ever produced. The Bar-Lock was designed by Charles Spiro, and first patented in 1887, and manufactured in New York, by The Columbia Typewriter Factory. Charles’ first typewriter design was the Columbia Index, another beautiful, and ornate typewriter.

The front typebar shield is easily the highlight of this machine. The black finish is called Japaning, which was applied, then very carefully polished away to bring out the highlights in the casting.

The Bar-Lock is what’s known as a Double Keyboard typewriter. This means it has one keyboard for uppercase letters, and another for lowercase. This was considered to be more efficient in its day, despite the existence of shift keys. Spiro believed that shifting was clunky, and slowed down the typist. This also massively increased the size, and complexity of the machine. Later down the line, Bar Lock did introduce a model with a shift key. Not many were made, and few survive today.

Bar-Lock No.6 Typewriter - Double Keyboard Typewriter - Charles Spiro typewriter - Columbia Typewriter Factory - The Typewriter Co. 12. Queen Victoria St. London

Bar-Lock models 1, and 2 are exceedingly rare. Model 4, and 6 are found a little more often, but still quite rare. The models which followed the No.6 are the most common, and therefore the least desirable. The only exception being the No.14, which was the only Bar-Lock of this design to feature a shift key.

Lots of Bar Locks were sold into Europe, where they found great success. Eventually moving their manufacturing plant to Nottingham, England, in 1914.