Object of the Month: March 2025

Imperial Typewriter Company

Typewriter: Metal, rubber, 1963

Gift of Mr Ralph Bailey

Chosen by: Rex Wale, Collections Access Officer

The Imperial Pavey Musigraph is a typewriter designed specifically for music notation, manufactured in 1963 by the Leicester-based Imperial Typewriter Company. It shares many physical characteristics—such as shape, size, and colour—with the Imperial 70 typewriter, which was produced at the same time. However, instead of a standard QWERTY keyboard with letters, it features 46 keys with musical notes and symbols, capable of producing 8,000 combinations. It also incorporates unique engineering that enables it to type both vertically and horizontally, an essential requirement for writing music (as notes must be placed at various heights along the five-line musical staff).

An additional external soundboard, called a multi-note rotating drum, played the corresponding notes as they were typed, enabling blind musicians to use the machine and compose music. While the soundboard is missing from our example, Braille is present along the bail bar to assist visually impaired users.

The Imperial Pavey Musigraph was the invention of Lillian (Lily) Pavey, born in London in 1918. Lily was a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who learned to play 17 instruments by the age of 18. Her early life was spent performing as a clown, acrobat, and musician, in circuses including Bertram Mills, Chapmans, and the Blackpool’s Tower Circus. Reported to be a musical prodigy, Lily toured the UK as the “Musical Marvel” before joining the Entertainment National Service Association (ENSA) during WWII to perform for British armed forces.

It was while working as a copy-typist after the war that Lily came up with the idea of a typewriter capable of writing music. Teaching herself mathematics, mechanics, and engineering, she spent over a decade perfecting her invention, dismantling, and rebuilding numerous typewriters with support from the Remington company (who provided parts and advice). In 1951, she exhibited her prototype at the Festival of Britain but failed to secure the interest of any funders. However, she later applied for government funding and became the first inventor to receive National Assistance to work on her project.

Musigraph Gallery

Imperial Pavey Musigraph front view

Type bars showing musical notes and symbols

Imperial Pavey Musigraph, Braille across bail bar indicating measurements.

Lily Pavey demonstrating her music typewriter 1961. Screenshot taken of British Pathé footage.

Lily Pavey (left) explains her musical typewriter to Sheila Duncan. Musigraph with soundboard. DAILY MIRROR, Tuesday April 7, 1964. Image © REACH PLC. Image created courtesy of the British Library Board.

Lily Pavey at the British Genius Exhibition, London 1977. Screenshot taken from BBC Archive footage.

In 1961 Lily patented her invention originally named the Musikriter, gaining international recognition and press coverage. That same year, she was invited to the Women of the Year Luncheon, an annual event established to recognise and celebrate women for their achievements, elevate those who had not be noticed, and provide them with the opportunity to network.

In 1963, she showcased her invention at the Brussels International Inventors Exhibition, where it won the prestigious Gold Award. This was the year that the Imperial Typewriter Company began producing the machine, rebranding it as the Imperial Pavey Musigraph.

Despite early interest from educational institutions and a request to support the Royal Ballet by adapting her invention to type the dots, dashes, and crosses of ballet choreography, the machine’s high cost — three times that of a standard typewriter — limited its success. Production of the Imperial Pavey Musigraph ceased after only 20 units were made and sold.

Lily sought a new manufacturer with the support of Prince Phillip, and continued to refine her invention, creating the Spherigraph in 1968. This new machine expanded the functionality of her first musical typewriter to also include typing text, ballet choreography, scientific symbols, and various languages. Unfortunately, no new manufacturer was secured.

She showcased the Imperial Pavey Musigraph for the final time at the 1977 British Genius Exhibition, expressing hope for renewed interest and partnerships, particularly from Japanese and Chinese manufacturers.

Although it proved commercially unsuccessful, the Imperial Pavey Musigraph stands as a remarkable achievement of engineering, showcasing Lily's pioneering role as a female inventor in a male-dominated field. Her legacy endures as a testament to creativity, determination, and innovation.

The Object of the Month can be seen in person throughout March at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.