'Turnback Tuesday' features typewriter company in Derby

Turnback Tuesday visits the Williams Typewriter Co.

This company was located along the Housatonic River near the Derby Dam, taking advantage of the water power to operate the factory.

The Williams Co. started in 1891 and moved into Derby in May 1894. It sold its typewriter all over the world and by 1896 had about 100 skilled workmen. The creator of this typewriter was John Newton Williams, and his first one had a curved keyboard, then a straight one in 1895.

The Williams Typewriter Co. was assumed by Jerome Burgess Secor who renamed it to the Secor Typewriter Co. in 1909.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.