Stanford University Libraries has acquired the only known prototype of the MingKwai Chinese typewriter, which is recognized as the first Chinese typewriter with a keyboard. The acquisition follows a discovery by Jennifer Felix and her husband in New York, who found the machine while cleaning out her late grandfather’s basement. Initially unsure of its value, they turned to social media for help.
Jennifer Felix’s husband posted online about their find: “From my internet search, it looks to be a Chinese-made MingKwai. I just can’t find any ever sold here in the states. Is it even worth anything? It weighs a ton!” This sparked interest from experts and collectors worldwide, confirming its significance.
A book by Stanford scholar Thomas Mullaney titled “The Chinese Typewriter: A History” contains a chapter on the MingKwai, which led Felix to contact him. After corresponding with Mullaney, Felix decided that Stanford was the appropriate place for this historical artifact. “I didn’t want this unique, one-of-a-kind piece of history to disappear again,” she stated.
Invented by Lin Yutang in the 1940s, the MingKwai typewriter was an innovative device designed to retrieve Chinese characters uniquely. Mullaney explains that “the depression of keys did not result in the inscription of corresponding symbols… but instead served as steps in the process of finding one’s desired Chinese characters.”
Lin Yutang’s invention combined ‘search’ and ‘writing,’ foreshadowing modern human-computer interaction methods known as input or shuru in Chinese. The Carl E. Krum Company built what is believed to be the sole prototype in 1947, but due to financial difficulties and lack of interest in mass production, Lin sold it along with commercial rights to Mergenthaler Linotype Company.
At Stanford, Regan Murphy-Kao noted that “the MingKwai innovatively overcame the challenge of fitting the 80,000-plus characters of the Chinese language into a reasonably sized machine.” The acquisition was made possible through support from the Bin Lin and Daisy Liu Family Foundation.
Michael A. Keller expressed gratitude for this acquisition: “The Stanford University Libraries are most fortunate to receive this momentous discovery through the thoughtfulness of Jennifer Felix and the Bin Lin and Daisy Liu Family Foundation.”
Thomas Mullaney is also involved with SILICON at Stanford, focusing on language inclusion and conservation.
For further information, Anh Ly serves as a media contact at anhly@stanford.edu.
