James Howard Newman And His Newman Pneumatic Writing System

A recent patent filing by Apple Inc., for a pneumatic sensing keyboard brought back memories of the Newman Pneumatic Writing System. This short lived device seemed wondrous at the time, but was quickly eclipsed by the Wang Word Processor and the personal computer. Yet there was a time in the late 1960s when the ability to move words around on the page was impossible. The manual typewriter was difficult to master and mistakes were next to impossible to correct. James Newman with his Pneumatic Writing Systems looked to save all of us poor typers from endless corrections. The Newman system had such a nice feel and if the compressor was in another room, it was quiet with just a soft squishing sound on the keyboard.

Corrections were easy to deal with depending on how many letters you need to move or remove. You would select the corresponding size bulb out of the box. Squeeze the bulb and then place it next to the words you wanted to remove. Relax the bulb and the words would come up. Hold the bulb and placed it elsewhere in the document with a simple squeeze, or squeeze them into your edit towel to remove them.

I was looking forward to getting one of these machines before college. I figured I was halfway there as I had an air compressor. There were other options including foot powered bellows and 'the gate' which allowed you to inflate 4-12 balloons and use that air pressure- obviously that never was very popular. Fortunately, I got a Radio Shack Model TR-S80, before starting school. Unfortunately, the dot matrix printer never had the look- the beautiful typeface of the Newman.

I don't know how many people remember the Fttting trick. Some users would modify their Newmans by dropping the pressure level on their compressors, adding a pressure tank (to keep the pressure constant), and then setting the sensitivity as high as it would go on the Newman. Often opening the machine and changing the switches to make it even more sensitive. Then adding an inline 'Fttt-tube' and holding down the space key, the operator could 'talk' by making a Fttting sound into the tubes- an alphabet based on morse code- they could Fttt rather than type.

James Newman hated this. He felt it defeated the very purpose of his writing machine. He brought many lawsuits against the Fttters. Ironically it helped the personal computer industry by slowing acceptance of the Pneumatic Writing System.

Still the Newman Writing System had many innovations we see in today's word processors: such as proportional fonts, and 'Cut & Paste.' It should come as no surprise to learn Steve Jobs was a Fttter- before become enamored with the possibilities of the personal computer. Another famous Fttter was Bob Heil. Heil invented the Heil Talk Box in 1973, which was frequently used by musicians such as Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, Joe Perry, and Richie Sambora. It is still in use today.

As a young inventor James Howard Newman was interested in Morse Code. He worked on a method of storing messages for later playback. He used an oxidized aluminum wire that was moved across a scrapper that was pneumatically controlled off a relay on the telegraph circuit. A scapper would remove oxidation on the wire as it traveled by. Once 'recorded' the wire was moved to a bell jar where the air was pumped out. (to prevent further oxidation.) To play the recording the wire was run over an electrical circuit. Where the oxidation was scraped off, the contacts would recreated the dots and dashes. ( early demo device) Much of this work found its way in his Pneumatic Writing Machine. It was also the basis of early magnetic wire recorders that later became tape recorders with the invention of inexpensive magnetic tape from 3M.

Newman held numerous patents in the fields of pneumatics and electronics. Unfortunately, none of his earlier inventions are in use today and can only be found in obscure museums such as the Technopolis located near Mechelen and the Information Technology Museum in Brussels. (Newman is still revered in Belgium.)

James Newman married Syree Dunton and had a long marriage that was marred by their inability to conceive a child. Elements of their story were used in the 1968 hit song "Words" by the Bee Gee's. It is also assumed that Apple Inc., named Siri, their new voice service, after Syree Newman.

Smile an everlasting smile, a smile can bring you near to me.
Don't ever let me find you gone, cause that would bring a tear to me.
This world has lost it's glory, lets start a brand new story now, my love.
Right now, there'll be no other time and I can show how, my love.

Talk in everlasting words, and dedicate them all to me.
And I will give you all my life, I'm here if you should call to me.
You think that I don't even mean,a single word I say.
It's only words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away

"Words" by The Bee Gees

lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.,
Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing

Note: some elements of this story come from Wikipedia, but most are based on my memories. I apologize in advance for any errors.