The Stenograph Shorthand Machine (1877)

The “Father of the Stenograph,” Miles Bartholomew, invented the shorthand machine in 1877. On this model, ten keys could be depressed one at a time to create a series of dots and dashes most similar to Morse code.

Anderson Shorthand Typewriter (1889)

This machine was developed by George Kerr Anderson. Unless the previous one, this machine had a keyboard that allowed the user to press two or more keys simultaneously. It recorded in English characters instead of code.

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Ireland Stenotype Shorthand Machine (1911)

Created by the Universal Stenotype Company, the Ireland Stenotype was 40 pounds lighter than its predecessor, making it easier to take from place to place. This was the first stenograph with a totally depressible keyboard, giving reporters the ability to write with fewer strokes.

Master Model Stenotype (1914)

This machine was another creation from the Universal Stenotype Company, and was lighter at six pounds instead of eleven. It was the last machine developed by this company, as it went bankrupt during World War I.

1927 LaSalle Stenotype

The LaSalle was the first two-spool ribbon system. This was another company that unfortunately suffered due to a national issue– in this case, the Great Depression. The court reporting industry dwindled until the end of the 1930’s.

Stenograph Shorthand Machine

There were two models of this machine– the Secretarial Model, which used an 11 inch ribbon and held 100 folds of paper, and the Reporter model, which held 300 folds of paper. It was known for being reliable and quiet.

Stenograph Data Writer (1963)

This machine encoded a magnet tape with machine notes that could be transcribed onto a computer. The updated, organ-type switches made for good transmission with minimum key pressure, and could be attached to a cable connected to a tape recorder. It was updated in 1970 to use cartridge, and again in 1974 to use cassettes. 

1982 Stenograph Machine

This machine was far more durable than others with an innovating plastic casing.

1987 SmartWriter

As computers became more and more popular, the SmartWriter was developed with the capability to encode machine notes on a floppy disk.

1992 Stenograph Stentura Series

With the creation of the Stentura came the ability to translate in realtime onto an LCD screen. It could be displayed in either English or shorthand.

2001 élan Cybra

Paperless, inkless, ribbon-less, and greaseless, the Cybra truly a big change for the jump into the 21st century. In 2006, the machine was updated to include an optional wireless feature designed for realtime transfer. 

2003 élan Mira Series

This machine has an LCD screen that could be tilted upward for easier viewing. It featured Audiosync^® OTG – on the go!, a USB port for realtime, and a DB9 serial port for Bluetooth.