Segundo Matte

Chilean inventor of the first functional Spanish-language typewriter with indigenous Mapuche characters

In 1887 Andes silver mining camps, Segundo Matte (1858-1932) built the "Hispanodactyl" - a mechanical marvel combining:

His workshop journals reveal:

• Used recycled railway parts for key mechanisms
• Created movable type cartridges for different industries
• Developed a shorthand system for Quechua language

The 1892 Latin American Machinery Expo featured his Patent #2345 typewriter with:

1. Removable platen for cylindrical mine reports
2. Interchangeable keyboard overlays
3. Dual-ink system (red for danger warnings)

Though only 83 units were made, they revolutionized communication in:

• Mining safety documentation
• Indigenous language preservation
• Cross-border trade agreements