In 1867, the manual typewriter was invented. Mark Twain was the first author to submit a typed manuscript to a publisher.

The last factory manufacturing manual typewriters has closed. One of the greatest inventions of the 20^th century is gone. It was driven into obsolesce by the word processor and the computer. This isn’t news to people in Europe and the US because they pretty much stopped selling typewriters in the mid-2000s.

However, one manufacturer in India continued production until late 2009. Now their inventory only has a few Arabic language machines left. No more will ever be manufactured.

Milind Duckle, general manager of Godrej and Boyce, told a reporter from the Telegraph Mail: “From the early 2000s onwards, computers started dominating. All the manufacturers of office typewriters stopped production, except us. Until 2009, we used to produce 10,000 to 12,000 machines a year. But this might be the last chance for typewriter lovers.”

Godrej and Boyce began manufacturing typewriters about 60 years ago. The company is part of the Godrej Group, which makes a wide range of products in India including appliances, furniture, and electronic equipment.

While the mechanical typewriter is history, several companies still make electronic versions including Swintec in New Jersey.