There is no place like ether

All early writing machines printed slowly, and none was produced in large numbers or had an impact on the way work was done in offices. Nonetheless, the Writing Ball introduced in 1869 or 1870 by the Rev. Malling Hansen of Denmark was a commercial success on the European continent, where it won several awards during the 1870s.  The Writing Ball to the left may date from 1869 (MBHT).  The Writing Ball pictured to the right was sold by Auction Team Köln. For marvelous photographs of a second Writing Ball, click here.

A larger model of the Writing Ball powered by electricity was described in the January 15, 1876, issue of Harper’s Weekly. (See image lower left)  In 1909, Mares reported that Writing  Balls were still found in many offices on the European continent. (G. C. Mares, The History of the Typewriter, London, 1909, p. 230.) A number of original Writing Balls survive, although it appears that they have been reproduced as well.

via Typewriters.