The Scientific American article (unillustrated) had figuratively…

The Scientific American article (unillustrated) had figuratively used the phrase "literary piano"; the first model that the trio builds has a keyboard literally resembling a piano.

It has black keys and white keys, laid out in two rows.

It does not contain keys for the numerals 0 or 1 because the letters O and I are deemed sufficient: 3 5 7 9 N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 2 4 6 8 .

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

The first row is made of ivory and the second of ebony, the rest of the framework being wooden.

It is in this form that Sholes, Glidden and Soule are granted patents for their invention on June 23, 1868 and July 14.

The first document to be produced on a typewriter is a contract that Sholes had written, in his capacity as the Comptroller for the city of Milwaukee.

Machines similar to Sholes's had been previously used by the blind for embossing, but by this time the inked ribbon had been invented, which makes typewriting in its current form possible.

At this stage, the Sholes-Glidden-Soule typewriter is only one among dozens of similar inventions.