#Exhibit of the Month

Manufactured in 1902 by AG vorm Siedel & Nauman in Dresden, Germany.

Dimensions: Length - 38 cm, Width - 35 cm, Height - 20 cm. Weight - 16 kg. It entered the museum collection in 1984, transferred from the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History.

The typewriter features a standard carriage mounted on ball bearings and rollers, along with a keyboard equipped with 42 keys. These contain two complete sets of Latin and Cyrillic alphabets, punctuation marks, numbers, and mathematical symbols, enabling the typing of 126 characters. Beneath the metal casing, the type bars are arranged in a fan-like pattern, holding embossed characters and ink ribbon rollers. When the keys are pressed, the type bars strike the inked ribbon, imprinting characters onto the paper tensioned in the machine's roller system.

The side panels are elegantly decorated with refined cast-iron elements in the Art Nouveau style, displaying the brand name - "Ideal." The Polyglott model, featuring a bilingual keyboard patented in the United Kingdom by Max Klaczko from Riga, Latvia, was produced between 1902 and 1913, marking the first typewriter capable of writing in two languages. The "Ideal Polyglott" typewriter was actively sold in the Russian Empire and gained significant popularity in Poland, Bulgaria, and Serbia.
The typewriter - a mechanical device used for printing text directly onto paper - ranks among the most important inventions of the modern era, as it revolutionized communication. From the late 19th century to the early 21st century, it became an indispensable tool, widely used by writers, in offices, for business correspondence, and in private homes. The peak of typewriter sales occurred in the 1950s when the average annual sales in the United States reached 12 million units. In November 2012, the British Brother factory produced what it claimed to be the last typewriter, which was donated to the Science Museum in London.
The advent of computers, word processing software, printers, and the decreasing cost of these technologies led to the typewriter's disappearance from the mainstream market, turning it into a museum exhibit.
June 23 marks Typewriter Day, commemorating the date when American journalist and inventor Christopher Latham Sholes patented his typewriter. This day celebrates the simple yet revolutionary device that has become history, as well as the remarkable literary achievements it has enabled since 1868.

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Events Archive

The Second Edition of the Author's Wine Festival

September 7-8, 2024

On September 7-8, 2024, the National History Museum of Moldova hosted the second edition of the Author's Wine Festival, a now traditional event that brings together small local wine producers and wine enthusiasts. Organized by the Association of Small Wine Producers of Moldova, with support from USAID Moldova through the Competitiveness and Rural Resilience Project, the National Office of Vine and Wine, and the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, the festival provided visitors with an authentic and diverse experience where wine culture met historical tradition.

In the museum's courtyard, 36 Moldovan wineries showcased their finest wines, from local varieties like Feteasca Neagră and Rara Neagră to Moldovan interpretations of international wines. The event offered the public a unique opportunity to discover the stories and traditions behind each bottle, with each tasting providing an insight into the local winemaking art.

The National History Museum of Moldova contributed to the festival's atmosphere with a special exhibition dedicated to the history of winemaking and viticulture traditions. One of the standout exhibits was the imprint of a grapevine leaf discovered in the Cucuteni site of Brînzeni VIII "Sâiece" in 1980 by Vsevolod Marchevici. This relic illustrates the ancient and continuous winemaking traditions in our region, connecting the festival to a millennia-old cultural heritage.

Present at the event, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Mr. Andrian Digolean, remarked: "The Festival of Author Wines reflects the richness and diversity of winemaking in the Republic of Moldova, highlighting the small producers who passionately contribute to promoting our winemaking traditions. It is an excellent opportunity to support the wine sector and emphasize the importance of Moldovan wine in international markets."

Throughout the two-day event, visitors participated in guided tastings led by renowned sommeliers, masterclasses, Wine Talks sessions, and enjoyed live concerts by Cristina Scarlat Band, Mahaya Band, and DJ Wade. The festive atmosphere was complemented by cultural and recreational activities, attracting over 4,500 participants from both Moldova and Romania.

A highlight of the festival was the visit of President Maia Sandu, who honored the event with her presence and emphasized the importance of supporting small wine producers, a vital sector for the country's economy and culture. The President appreciated the diversity of wines presented and the organizers' efforts to create a platform to promote local values.

This festival was not only a celebration of quality wine but also an opportunity to honor Moldova's winemaking traditions, deeply rooted in history and an integral part of our cultural identity.

#Exhibit of the Month

"Ideal" Mechanical Typewriter, Model A Polyglott

The Second Edition of the Author's Wine Festival

September 7-8, 2024

#Exhibit of the Month