The collection includes more than 1200 models which are exposed on 4 different floors. Moreover, the museum shows the 100 year-old history of the typewriter, including a lot of constructive ideas, applied since its invention in 1864 until the victorious introduction of the personal computer during the '80s. The only remaining common feature of the computer and its pre-successor is the keyboard (DIN 2137).

Groundfloor

Through the entrance room, we enter the interior of the cube, in which the history and culture of the scriptures is envisioned. You are able to admire selected examples of scriptures of old cultures: for example Cuneiform characters and hieroglyphics, but also a page from the Gutenberg Bible.
The diorama with Peter Mitterhofer shows the typewriter pioneer in his workshop in 1864 with his first typewriter model. In the next diorama we can see the American Christopher Latham Sholes with his daughter Lilly at the typewriter in 1874. The next site shows the history of the factory-made typewriters from 1874 until 1900. You may admire a great number of rare and unique examples of remarkable typewriters.

1st floor

We are standing in front of the military-showcase, which exposes typewriters able to type secret codes, especially used during the 2nd World War. In the foreign language-showcase, typewriters are presented with for example Chinese, Arab, Korean, Thai and Japanese characters.

We continue our tour. We may admire music-typewriters and a great number of rare and exotic looking pointer-typewriters and different writing devices. The next showcase contains sometimes very exceptional creations from several "families". Among others, "Mignon", "Adler", "Blickensderfer", "Hammond", "Oliver". Here you can also find the famous "writing-ball Malling Hansen". It is the first typewriter produced in series and as such definitely the star of the museum.

2nd floor

Here we can admire a really great number of portable typewriters, for example a gilded "Princess 300" and the "Royal Gold". The collection in the museum contains, apart from standard typewriters, also electrical typewriters, typewriters used for accounting purposes, and last but not least, a phonograph. The phonograph (recorder) is a "speaking-machine" with platens which were constructed in 1878 by the American inventor Thomas Alva Edison.
Your special attention is also requested for the IBM72, a machine which was introduced into the market after a developing period of more than seven years. This very successful typewriter marks the end of the mechanical typewriter era and the start of the Computer era.

Gallery

Several typewriters for stenography are exposed, often used by court clerks. Furthermore, you will find a selection of rare typewriters specially meant for blind persons.

In the long showcase, a rich collection of typewriters are exposed, specially made for children, in all kind of forms and colours (1901-1998), for example "My first office", "La mia prima Olivetti", "Barbie" and "Mickey Mouse".

Opening hours:

April - October: Monday + Friday 15-18

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10-12 15-18

Saturday 10-12