When he was just fifteen years old, Mr Kidder, patented an improvement in rotary steam engines and would go on to study applied mechanics and drawing in Boston. He became interested in printing presses and patented many improvements. It is not surprising then, that typewriters would follow. His first success was the beautiful Franklin, with its curved keyboard and curved type bar shield to match. This early model is distinctive from later models in having a nickel-plated paper table, an oval name plate under the keys, and the name 'The Franklin' in Old-English lettering on the curved type-bar shield. The Martin Howard Collection