Title

C. Kleinsteuber, Machinist and Engraver, at 322 W. State St. (318 State St.)

Description

The inventors of the typewriter did much of their work at Charles Kleinsteuber's machine shop. The shop was a hub for engineers, machinists and inventors, who could rent equipment and bench space for their projects. In 1867, Carlos Glidden was working at Kleinsteuber's on a mechanical spader, while Christopher Latham Sholes and Samuel W. Soule were working on a machine to print serial numbers on tickets or page numbers in booklets. The three eventually began working together on a mechanical writing machine, and produced their first prototype at Kleinsteuber's in September 1867.

The original building housing Kleinsteuber's was destroyed in 1889, when the Anton Kuolt Schlitz Brewery Saloon was constructed on the same location. That building remains on the location today.

Wisconsin Historical Society, photograph of Kleinsteuber's machine shop, 1867

Milwaukee Public Libraries, Digital Collections, photograph of Kleinsteuber's machine shop, n.d.

1894 Sanborn Map showing the location of Kleinsteuber's machine shop

Coordinates (Decimal Format)

43.043089603317476, -87.91534436934603

Location (Addresses)

Original address: 318 State. St.
Current address: 322 W. State St.