Basic demo of a rare 1953 Keaton music typewriter.

The Keaton Music Typewriter is an extremely rare typewriter that prints musical notation on to sheet music paper. The typewriter was invented in 1933 by Robert H. Keaton and was originally available with 14 keys. A 33 key version (pictured) was released in 1953. Exact production numbers are unknown, but estimates for the number of machines still in existence range from 6 to two dozen. Jack’s Red Barn on Etsy is selling one for $6000 (the typewriters were originally $225).

For more information, see this 1993 Issue of ETCetera, the official journal of the Early Typewriter Collectors’ Association.

For a deeper delve into typewriter heaven click on this link to Tipoteca in Italy