Joseph Edland stated his objective was "to produce a type-writer of few parts which is specially adapted for private use, and which may be easily and correctly operated by one who is not familiar with type-writering". This would have been a most appropriate user, as the Edland is awkward and very slow to use. To type on this intriguing typewriter, one moves the index pointer around to a character and then pushes down. Under the index plate is a daisy wheel (pictured below) with each character on a flexible brass 'finger'. These fingers are pushed to the paper when typing. The Martin Howard Collection