Typatune Musical Typewriter, 1945

01

Artifact Overview

This instructional toy was developed in the 1930s to help children learn to type. Each key plays a different note. An included book of songs gives students typing practice while they make music; songs include old favorites such as "Pop Goes the Weasel" and "Yankee Doodle." Note that the Typatune did not actually print letters on paper: it was strictly for practice.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Educational toy

Date Made

1945

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Typatune, Inc., a division of the Electronic Corporation of America, in New York City

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

72.177.632

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Almena Gray Wilde.

Material

Composite material
Plastic
Metal

Color

Red

Dimensions

Height: 3.5 in
Width: 10 in
Length: 12 in
Weight: 7 lbs

Inscriptions

on metal tag on front: Typatune/By/Electronic Corp. of America