Life in a Typewriter Shop

New Shop Video

2012-02-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

http://vimeo.com/36711031

This late 1960's Selectric 1 is on the way to NYC.

I'm working on a Correcting Selectric 2.

A lot of repairs are done through the bottom of the machine.

I'm typecasting on my daughter's Royal Companion.

Nothing says "I Love You" on Valentine's Day Like a Typewriter

2012-02-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

I get a lot of these Smith Corona Silent, Sterling & Standard's.

I see many of these Corona's in all colors

I sold this 1955 Olympia SM-3 to a young writer.

This Royal 10 movie prop is getting a second life.

Sometimes It Sucks Getting Older

2012-01-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

This nice Olympia SM-3 just sold this week to a young writer.

My last two typecasts are on this beautiful 1960 Adler Tippa.

Lots Of Typewriters Under the Tree

2011-12-24T18:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a small sample of typewriters sold this week.

You don't see many Tab O Matics around.

This Sears Achiever sold yesterday.

A lucky young lady is going to fall in love with this beauty in the morning.

Another present under the tree.

Same for this one too.

Are You Smarter Than A 10th Grader...From 1929

2011-12-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

I like typing on this style machine with the keys laid out like a fan.

This is a nice view of the back

I really like this art deco style handle and plate on the case.

The Mother of All Index Typewriters

2011-12-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

This machine comes in a beautiful case.

You can still find these in good condition.

It is strange to figure out the letter positioning on the index.

Please click play to watch a 1 minute video of me typing on the Mignon.

I took a little time to learn the index arrangement.

The typing cylinders and index are easy to change.

All I can say about this one is - I want this!

I still like to type on 1960's Smith Corona's

How Low Can You Go

2011-11-27T11:25:00.000-08:00

I wish I had taken a before picture of this machine.

This might be the lowest serial number I'll ever see.

This Quiet de Luxe will be under someones tree.

So will this Futura 800.

Same deal for this Olivetti Ventura.

This was for sale until my daughter fell in love with it.

A Rare Art Deco Typestyle

2011-11-20T15:48:00.000-08:00

Who would have guessed this ordinary machine had a special type.

Serial No. P2359 was the lowest I had seen

Abraham checks out his Splendid 33.

My second typecasting machine is a Olympia Splendid.

More Type-Out Photos and Shop News

2011-11-09T17:19:00.000-08:00

A reporter interviews Abraham.

The QWERTY cookies were a big hit and delilious.

Amelia brought a few of her collection to show people.

I likes the look of this Tower and it types beautifully.

This braille writer will a great display piece.

The No.3100 is stamped on the three main pieces. I wonder if it's a model number or serial number.

We Had A Blast At The Boston Type-Out

2011-10-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Our first type-out held last Saturday at the shop was a success. It was a beautiful late fall afternoon and the sun came out just in time for the party. Lots of people showed up, many with typewriters in hand ready to type away. It didn't take long before we had a good size crowd on the sidewalk. The sight of so many people typing outside on tables stopped traffic and many people out walking by stopped to check us out and even joined in. I had several tables inside the store with lots of vintage typewriters set out and encouraged people to pick one out and go outside and type. We had food and drinks set up inside the shop and also on a table outside. My wife Anne Marie, and daughter Emma, came early with the coffee, goodies, tables and chairs. Abraham and Angelika also came early to help me set up tables and chairs outside and rearrange the shop. Angelika's QWERTY cookies were a big hit. They looked so awesome, everyone was afraid to eat them at first.

Moxie was the unofficial soft drink of the Boston Type-Out, courtesy of my splendid friends from Maine.

While the tables were full outside, many came inside to check out the shop.

Many customers came to the type-out and brought a friend with them. It was a lot fun to see so many people typing together. Everyone was mixing and mingling and trying out everyone else's typewriter. Typewriters were getting passed back and forth across the table like a bowl of mashed potatoes at a Sunday dinner. A reporter from a Boston newspaper was there interviewing everyone. Her story should be out in a week or two. A grand entrance was made by Dave, a customer who bought a Remington 5 from me last year, on a bicycle that was eight feet tall. He named his bike Waldorf, after the world's tallest man. I have a 30 second video of him leaving the type-out on Waldorf. I'll post the video on next weeks blog along with more pictures. Many people emailed me their pictures of the type-out and I'll post them next week too. They also said they can't wait for the next type-out, which will be a type-in if we do it later on this winter. Possibly at a pub in Cambridge.

Angelika types a letter on her favorite Bing No.2

I hope these pictures can give you some idea of the fun we all had. This all came together on two weeks notice. It was well attended for such short notice. Next time I'll plan ahead more. I'd like to thank all who attended. I think everyone had a fabulous time and would come to the next one. A special thank you goes out to Abraham and Angelika for all their help and support. An extra special thank you to my wife and daughter for everything and supporting my business that's way more than just a job. The best compliment I got was from my teenage daughter who after the type-out said, "Dad, the type-out was way more fun than I thought it would be". That's as good as it gets.
Well that's it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a wonderful week.

The BOSTON TYPE-OUT is Coming!

2011-10-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

I've seen this machine in two different TV shows this year.

Someone just bought this Streamliner as a gift.

This pink Olympia SM-7 sold a few days ago. We nicknamed it Pepto.

Back To Normal...at last

2011-09-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Can't decide whether to sell or keep this one.

This Adler J5 was cleaned and repaired this week.

More Repairs, Places And People

2011-09-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

Badly broken but lots of potential

A nice example of what a difference a cleaning and repair make.

You can find these in fabulous colors.

http://www.slate.com/id/2303250?wpisrc=sl_ipad

http://www.tayarijones.com/archives/2655

Before & After... And More.

2011-09-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

This Smith Premier No. 10 is 100 years old.

Looks much better and types pretty nice.

Check out the ribbons spools in back of machine.

I like machines with old dealer stickers om them.

All Rested Up And Back To Work

2011-08-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

Just arrived in Vancouver BC. Second one go there Friday.

My 1930 green Royal portable does the honors this week.

Changing a SM-3/4 Platen

2011-08-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

A friend wanted to change the platen on her Olympia SM-4 and I said I would post instructions on how to do it because I think it is a project most people can do. All you need are two screwdrivers ( one medium flathead and one small blade flathead) and a flashlight. So let's get right to it.
Let us do the left side first. Use the medium screwdriver to remove the left platen knob. The screw comes off, then pull the knob off. The second thing is to disengage the index detente. That is press down the chrome lever behind the left platen knob so that the platen rolls without clicking.

Now over to the right side. First, remove two screws from the carriage end cover ( the front and top screws).

This gives you room to remove the three small screws in the platen collar. You'll need the small screwdriver with a thin blade to remove these screws. Be careful not to lose them.

That's great, now grab the right platen knob and pull the shaft out all the way of the machine. Now lift the platen out of the machine. It's best to lift the right end first and twist and pull. Now we just do everything in reverse. Put the new platen in, left end in first and twist and jiggle it to make sure it's seated in the index mechanism securely. Now you must put the platen shaft back into the machine. This is really the only tricky part and it's where the flashlight comes in. There's a mechanism inside the platen that the platen shaft must pass through but it's hard to do blindly. So, put the platen shaft halfway through the platen, then have someone shine the light in the right end of the platen. You then have to look into the hole in the left end so you can see in the platen and then guide the shaft through and out the left end.
that may sound like a lot but it really isn't and only takes a few minutes.

Twist and push the right platen knob so it is securely in place. Now slowly turn the right knob so the holes in the platen collar line up with the holes in the platen shaft. When they do, install the three small screws in the platen collar. If you can magnetize the tip of the screwdriver it makes life easier. Just rub a magnet on the tip of the blade and screws will stick to it. When that's done, reinstall the two screws in the right side carriage end cover. Lastly, reinstall the left platen knob and push the index detente lever up so the roller clicks when you turn it. That's it. As platen replacements go, this one is a 5 on a 10 scale. If very platen popped out as easy as a SCM machine, I'd be out of a job.

I finished fixing a customer repair this past week that was a lot of fun. It is a L.C. Smith & Bros. No.2 Standard Manual. It was in terrible shape with lots of rust , mechanical problems, no feet. This machine had the lowest serial number I've ever seen so I did some checking up on it.

     L.C. Smith & Bros. was founded in 1903 and in 1904 produced their first machine, the No.2. A year later they came out with the No.1, go figure. The serial number on this machine is 3651, meaning it was one of the first machines made by the company. The young owner and her mother were very excited about this. In order to repair the machine, I had to soak the machine several times over a couple of weeks. I then had to replace the drawband, repair the ribbon advance mechanism, make four new feet, replace the ribbon and polish the case and ta-dah! It works great. I could type at a pretty good clip. I was very happy with the way it came out.
    I had an exciting day today (Sunday) when I went on a long distance service call to Woods Hole on Cape Cod. I'm sorry I don't have the time to tell the story now but will next week because elderly gentleman and his wife are fasinating people (scientists).
     I really have to go now but thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a great week.

The Busiest Little Typewriter Shop

2011-07-31T17:51:00.000-07:00

I think we have most of Europe covered

One of my favorites - 1936 Royal de Luxe

Olivetti Three-fer

2011-07-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

I'm sure there are many other Lettera 31's in disguise out there.

Baby Boomers Are Getting On Board

2011-07-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

My first story is typed on a Sears Citation 2.

This Smith Corona Super Speed is a dream to type on.

December 25,1944 from Newsweek

December 14, 1935 from The Literary Digest

Rubber Feet, Grommets and Washers...Oh My!

2011-07-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Four new feet makes a world of difference.

It's easy to replace these broken rubber parts.

IBM Selectric feet make great replacement bumpers.

Made from parts of a Royal KMM.

Royal will compare itself to anything!

1923 Klein-Adler typewriter

2011-06-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

been sitting in its case for decades

with top plate removed, you can see thrust action keys.

the finished version is ready for use.

This Corona is in great shape and ready to type.

The Return of Lord Stanley's Cup

2011-06-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

These Coronas come in many colors

Does anybody know which language this is?

I've recently become a Olympia Splendid fan

A Little Outdoors Typing

2011-06-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

Working on the blog with Abraham

Notice the extra compartment and lock

The bottom case folds out to hold your martini

I'm typing on Abraham's Olympia Splendid 33 in script

More Media = More Business

2011-05-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.necn.com/searchNECN/search/v/40422634/greg-s-list-return-of-the-typewriter.htm?q=greg%27s+list

Not much room for customers here

More Shop News

2011-05-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

typecasting on my 1936 Remington 5

one of my favorite typers

another great typer, in colors

Replacing A Hermes 3000 Platen

2011-05-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

Those of you lucky enough to own a Hermes 3000 probably already know that the platen on a 3000 is one of the hardest known substances on the planet. It's more petrified rock than rubber roller. Maybe you have even thought of replacing the platen but it looked like a complicated procedure. In fact, it can be, but if you follow this lesson you will see that it's easier than you thought. The only tool you will need is a flat head screwdriver with a skinny blade. Your first tip if you can, is to magnetize the screwdriver. Rub the tip of the screwdriver on a magnet. This is a huge help for putting the set screws back in place. The screwdriver also acts as a screw starter.
Let's start. Move the margins out to the ends of the carriage. Disable the index mechanism by moving the linespace lever to to dot mark above the one linespace. The platen should spin freely without clicking. Next, remove the left platen knob by removing the screw with locking washer and the platen knob will pull off the shaft. Carefully set aside. Next, grab hold of the hub that the knob was on and slowly twist and pull out only about 3/4 of an inch. This is crucial. Only 3/4 of an inch no more. If you pull the hub completely out, you are in trouble.

Now, gently push the carriage across the machine to the left margin. Next we will remove to two set screws that hold the shaft to the platen. The right platen knob stays attached to the shaft because that's how we pull the shaft out of the machine. These two set screws are located on the right end of the platen on the collar (just inside the frame of the right carriage end). They are small so take care not to lose them. Magnetizing the screwdriver will assure this.

removing the two set screws from right side of platen

Now we can remove the platen shaft. Grab the right platen knob and gently twist and pull until the entire shaft comes out of the machine. So far, so good.

pulling the right platen knob removes the shaft

Now we can lift the platen out of the machine. Hold the hub sticking out of the left end of the carriage firmly and then lift up the right end of the platen. Slowly twist the platen and slide out to the right. Alright, we're half way there.

hold left hub firmly, lift up platen , twist and pull to right

Take a good look at the index assembly on the left side of the carriage. You can see why I stressed not pulling the hub assembly all the way out of the machine. Then the actual index rachet assembly would fall apart and you would be in trouble.

close up shot of the hub assembly for the index assembly

     I wanted to spend a minute on this hub assembly that holds the index rachet in place and that the left platen knob attaches to. This part is really the only potentially troublesome part of the whole process. This part also acts as a index detente release. That's what the two pins that fit into the hub are for. You need to study how the two pins fit into the hub because when we slide the platen shaft back into the platen, it's easy to knock one of these pins out of place.
     OK, time to put in your new platen. Just do everything in reverse. First, hold the hub assembly on left firmly, slide left end of platen onto hub and index assembly and gently twist platen till it is in place and push right end of platen down into place.

slide new platen into place

     Next you will put the platen shaft back into the machine. Notice the left side of platen shaft has a flat spot on the shaft. Keep in mind that the left platen knob will screw into the flat spot on the shaft here. Pick up platen shaft by right knob and insert into right side of platen, gently twisting and pushing. Stop half way in and then grab hold of left hub assembly firmly then continue to push shaft into machine, twisting and pushing until it comes out left side and right platen knob is firmly against machine.
     Next, you can reinstall the two set screws in the right collar of platen. For the final part, move the carriage all to way over to the right margin. Now you can reinstall the left platen knob. Hold the hub assembly, you might have to push it into the machine a bit, and turn the right platen knob so the flat spot on the shaft lines up with the screw hole on the left platen knob. Push the left platen knob on hub assembly and reinstall screw and locking washer. Push left platen knob into machine until it clicks. Put linespace lever on desired linespace setting and turn platen to make sure it clicks when turned. Congratulation, you did it! It takes me about five minutes to do this, I would expect you to take about 20-25 minutes. Not everyone will want to try this but if you have any mechanical ability or are just plain adventurous, go for it! If you get into trouble, send me a email and I'll do what I can to help you out.
     If this helps out just a few people then it was worth writing. I never met a 3000 that didn't need a new platen. To be honest, most other brands of portable manuals have platens that are easier to replace but if you own a 3000, chances are it needs a platen.
     Well, that's it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

It's All Good Stuff

2011-05-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

My 1969 Adler Tippa S

Hail To The Selectric

2011-04-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

My 1966 red IBM Selectric I does the honors this week.

You like me. You really, really like me!!!

The Business Side Of Typewriters

2011-04-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

On its way to the west coast.

My weapon of choice this week.

Remington Standard No.2 from 1891

Rem. 10 from Feb. 1911. Love the pompous quote.

The New Yost from May 1892

March, 1901 from "The Metropolitan"

Add caption

possible from 1896

Typecast From Planet 9

2011-04-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

The first dafodil bloom in the garden this spring

I'm typecasting on my 1935 olive Corona Standard this week.

P.S. Sorry about the sloppy typecast this week, my head really is in outer space.

Here We Go Again!

2011-04-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

This Galaxie 12 is off to PA

A writer bonding with his machine.

Want to save $51 ? You have to spent $49. Huh?

For a cup of coffee, you can take this No.5 home.

I'm not sure I can swing a dollar a week.

This ad is from March, 1901.

A Fun Saturday

2011-03-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

A newly restored Classic 12

A beautiful late 1930's Simplex

Made in Bulgaria Omega II. Love the case.

My right hand dog Cody

My first typecast

A Nice Score

2011-03-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure what I was going to lead off with on my blog this week until my friend John came in the shop at 1PM Saturday afternoon. He brought in six machines that he picked up for me and a few new typewriter ads. Besides being a wonderful friend, John knows what sells in here and what kinds of machines I'm always on the prowl for. Today he brought in three Olivetti L-32's, two from Spain and one from Italy and all are pica type. In the past two weeks I have gotten a dozen emails from people looking to buy L-32's and I didn't have any. So I'm thrilled to start getting some in. Earlier in the week I got a L-32 in script. I've had lots of script machines in the last few months but I haven't had a L-32 script in years. I had forgotten how nice it looks, really stylish with long flowing descending characters.

These beauties will be gone soon.

     I also received two Corona's with the curved fronts, one in black and one in burgundy and both pica type. The burgundy one looks especially nice. I really like this machines. There is a simple elegance about the design of these Corona's and I've always loved the touch and feel of the keyboard. My fingers feel right at home typing on one of these beautiful machines. The last machine I got in is a Olympia SM2 with a German keyboard. A professor from a midwestern university emailed me a week ago looking for a German keyboard Olympia SM3. I hope this one fits the bill. I got some wicked cool ads again and a 78 RPM record of the Remington Rand Concert Band from WWI years. Not being able to post these ads is killing me. Many of them are so cool and funny, they need to be seen. I'm running out and buying a scanner later today. I've put it off long enough. So, I guess I'll be typecasting next week. I am a little on the computer illiterate side, so if I can get my brother-in-law to help me figure it out, I'm there.

     I have officially caught up on my backlog of repairs. That took six weeks of working seven days a week, but it's done. And I am really exhausted and burned out. That was quite a ride if I do say so myself. Definitely one of the longer sustained rush of business I've had in some time. Now things have settled down to a normal pace and I can catch up some things I haven't had time to do lately like paper work, cleaning the shop and reconditioning machines, framing more ads to hang up on the wall.

     While things are finally settling down, there's still lots of action happening. Service calls are still strong and I'm travelling up to twenty miles away to do some calls. I've noticed that I get a lot more emails now. I never know if they are local or long distance but it means that my name is getting out there more. I have the typosphere and you typecasters to thank for that. THANK YOU! I had some very nice sales this week.

This machine sold itself. Love the medallion in the hood.

     This beautiful Smith Corona in burgundy sold a couple of days ago. Someone wants to do creative writing at home. I have a matching one in olive at the store. The olive one has the original instruction book dated 1935. A really nice lady bought a Royal "O" Model to use at home . An elderly gentleman got a Smith Corona Coronet XL electric typewriter for home use also. And lastly, a town clerk's office on the south shore bought a IBM Wheelwriter 3 for office use. I'm looking forward to this week. I can't wait to recondition those new machines so soon as possible.
     Well, that's it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Bada Bing! (No.2 )

2011-03-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

Things are going along just fine this week at the shop. Most of the hoopla has died down and I'm catching up quickly on my backlog of repairs. Another week or two and I should be completely caught up. That will be a relief because I haven't had any time to recondition machines for sale. I need to tear into that pile of machines in the front of the shop so customers can have a place to stand. There's a lot of really good machines buried in that pile. The sooner I can work on them the more machines I'll have to sell.
I had one thing that happened in particular that made my week. It started with a phone call from a retired doctor in town who called and asked if I was interested in buying nine typewriters. He said he had collected these machines over his life and needed to clean out his home a bit. He mentioned Hermes, Corona and Underwood but also mentioned that some had been stored in the basement for a long time. (There's that dreaded basement word again.) So now I'm really not expecting much except a bunch of moldy, rusted out junk. I arranged to come over that morning to see what he had. I parked in front of his house, but it's not a house. It's a castle. No kidding. It looks like a real castle, in the city, surrounded by apartment buildings. I quickly survey the outside of the building, then walked up to the front door. This door was huge and weighed about four hundred pounds, complete with a wrought iron knocker the size of my arm. An elder gentleman open the door and warmly invites me in. I immediately step back more than a hundred years in time. It looks just like the inside of a Kings castle. I didn't notice the pile of typewriters laid out for me in the front hall. I was dazzled by the intricate wood work, paintings, tall clocks, tapestries, beautiful hand painted tiles and on and on. All I could say was "What is this place?" A big smile comes across his face as he says,"This house has a very interesting history. Would you like to hear it." I think the eyes bugging out of my head told him yes. So he says that this house was built in Austria specifically for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. It is a faithful reproduction of a Town Hall in the Bavarian countryside in the 1600's. Because it was for the World's Fair, I would imagine that many of Austria's best craftsman made this house. It was disassembled, shipped to Chicago and put back together. After the fair it was sold and shipped to Boston, where it still stands. The Doctor said he's lived here many years and spend most of his adult life acquiring the antiques to furnish it and acquiring other peoples collections too. In the last thirty years I have been in a handful of incredible ornately decorated houses in and around Boston. This might be the most lavish private home I've ever been in. I told my wife it was kind of like the Breakers Mansion in Newport. But on a much smaller scale. He graciously gave me a tour of the downstairs of the house and talked a bit more about it. Before I realized it we were back at the front hall and I'm looking at a pile of typewriters. The first thing I notice is a Hermes 2000 case and then a small black case that says Bing No.2. Then I see an old Corona case and a Underwood No.5 and a Olivetti Lettera case and a few more standards. Maybe this trip will be worth my while after all. I quickly check each machine. The Hermes 2000 looks good and works,Yeah! The Bing looks perfectly preserved and its works! The Olivetti case is a L31 in good shape. The old Corona with curved front is a total loss. A rust bucket. Two other Smith Corona manuals are total losses. These must be the machines from the basement. The Underwood No. 5 is just fair but a keeper. I say I'll take them and we agree on a price and I load them all in the truck of my car. I had to make several trips and had to open and close the front door several times. That's the biggest and heaviest door I ever had to use.

High end machines seem to fly out of this place. When I get something nice in, somehow a typewriter vibe goes out and someone will call within a day or so asking for the exact machine I just got. It happened again earlier this week. A elderly man came in and sold me his Hermes 3000. The nice curved front in Pica. He said he bought it new and took great care of it. He certainly did, because it was one of the most mint condition 3000's I ever saw. When I got home that night I got a email from a man in South Carolina, looking for a excellent condition Hermes 3000. First come, first serve. So, off to South Carolina goes the Hermes.

I wanted to also show a few pictures of the shop, or specifically, my work bench area. Its where I spend most of my time at the store. When it's busy I'm chained to this bench. My very good friend Abraham, took these pictures as well as the Bing No.2.

I'm reconditioning the 3000 for the trip to S.C.

     Even though its slowing down a bit with the phone calls and walk in traffic, a lot of new business was generated this week. The service calls have been outstanding these last couple of weeks, including a handful of new accounts. A few new service accounts were started. I have even started doing service calls outside of my normal area. There's just no one else people can go to , so I'm willing to travel futher than normal. With gas prices going sky high again, I don't know how wise a move that is. The bottom line is that I just want to fix everyone's machine.
     I got another letter from a customer in New York this week. He said he was in two weeks ago and bought a burgandy Olympia SM3. He wanted to say how much he loves the machine and his typing speed has increased by thirty words a minute. He also has a Hermes 3000 that needs repair and hopefully will drop in this summer when he visits again.
     Well, that's it for this week. thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a great week.

Spring has Sprung

2011-03-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

Its early March and you can finally feel the change of seasons starting. You can smell it in the air, spring is coming. The buds are showing on many of the trees and even though there's two feet of snow in my back yard, I know the daffodils are breaking ground already.

This machine is way dirtier than it looks.

This week in the shop, the busy streak continues, although I can feel it slowing up a tiny bit. I'm also starting to make some headway on the backlog of repairs. Yeah! Let's start off with a nice before and after story. This machine belongs to a senior citizen who says she depends on her Smith Corona and uses it every day. You can tell it hasn't been cleaned in well over ten years. When I delivered it back to her we were joking about how dirty it was and I said I took a before and after picture because the difference was so dramatic and she laughed so hard. Three days later I got a thank you card from her, typed on the machine of course, and she said how embarrassed she was that she let her machine get so dirty that I would use it as a before picture. But now she is thrilled that the machine is like new again. I do a lot of business with seniors because so many of them still use a typewriter, but this past month I've seen a big uptick in seniors calling and bring in repairs. I love it when they come in because they tell great typewriter stories and they enjoy telling them. I could just sit there and listen all day.

This machine actually looks like it's smiling

     I really like it when I hear back from people about their typewriter experience if they bought a machine from me or got one repaired to do creative writing on. I usually never find out if that gorgeous 1930 Royal or snazzy SM3 was typed on for a week and then put in the closet for good or if it was an inspiration to do the creative writing they always dreamed of. Well, a week or so ago, a young man came in just to tell me that he was in a year ago and bought a 1936 Royal "O" Model portable manual (touch control model) from me. He said that when he got it home and started typing on it he thought that he had wasted his money. He couldn't see how an old typewriter was going to get him to write more or better. He was determined and decided to keep a journal to track his progress and growth. After several months of typing every day, looking back in his journal, he could see how much better his writing had improved by using the typewriter, the words would flow out of him and through the machine. He said documenting his progress was so much fun that he turned his journal into a book. He also started a blog as part of his journaling but eighty-sixed the blog when he found out his mother was reading it. (That's funny!) This took all of five minutes and made me feel great the rest of the day. When I hear back from people or get great thank you notes and letters, it really makes me feel that what I do is important or that it matters. I don't need that all the time because I love what I do, but sometimes you get into a rut or bad spell at work and all it takes is a thoughtful customer to remind you of why you put you heart and soul into something.

     I recently had gotten some stamps that are pretty cool and wanted to show you. I especially like the Royal KMM stamp. The detail in it is amazing.

The KMM stamp is the perfect size for envelops.

     A customer brought in a IBM Electric Model A typewriter, Serial #26598. It actually turns on and every single feature on it works. Sorry I don't have a picture of it yet but the customer wanted to know if this is something a collector might want. The machine looks great, the finish is in very good condition. If anyone might have any info on this, a comment would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

     I'm very happy to see that our friend Matt is back home, happy and healthy. I'm looking forward to his visit soon. I think his mom is going to need a trailer to bring all the machines he wants me to fix. Actually, Matt will be fixing some of his machines himself (under my supervision), and we'll be documenting this process with videos and pictures on his blog. That should be fun.
     Well, that's it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. everyone have a tremendous week.

Meet a Blickensderfer

2011-02-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

Let's start off with a nice story. A sailor, a priest and a duck walk into a typewriter shop and the duck- oops, wrong story. Thursday morning, minutes after I got into the shop, I noticed a man looking in my front window at the typewriter display in the bay window. After a few minutes, he came in and said he was getting his windshield replaced on his car a couple of doors down the street. He noticed the typewriters in the window and got excited looking at them. Then with a big smile on his face he says, "You'll never guess what my last name is" and he nods his head towards the machines in the front window. I had no idea what he was getting at and he says "Blickensderfer, yeah, that Blickensderfer." Now I'm excited and he says he was thrilled to see my Blick No.5 in the window and wanted to come in and introduce himself. He's a relative of George Blickensderfer, the inventor of the Blickensderfer typewriter. I'm a big Blick fan which I'll get into later. As he explains it , "On the family tree, I'm about half way down and over to the left." I wanted to hear a little family history, so I let him talk for a few minutes before I started asking questions. He said his relatives are spread all over the country. Most have a lot of pride in their family history and have Blickensderfer typewriters displayed in their homes. I'm sorry to say, his first name escapes me, but he confessed he's not as up on the family history as he should be. I say that I'm a Blick fan and show him a copy of a book that I really like , The Five-Pound Secretary. He has never seen this book, but has heard of the authors and thumbed through it, commenting on what a thorough history is in it . He writes down the info so he can pick it up soon. Then I show him some typewriter ads for the Blick from the early 1900's that are framed on the wall and he wants to know if he can borrow them to photocopy them. I say no problem and he'll come back soon to do that. I hope when he drops in again that I can get more information and pass it along.

I knew very little about Blick machines until about six years ago when a customer came in with two Blick 7's he wanted repaired and a copy of The Five-Pound Secretary. I said up front that I wasn't really up on Blick repairs but I wanted to tackle the challenge. He said that's fine and wanted me to have the book and maybe I could use the information and drawings in the book to help with the repairs. This book was awesome! To any Blick fans out there, this book is everything you wanted to know. It made me appreciate that the Blickensderfer was light years ahead of its time. The innovations George came up with to make the worlds first portable typewriter make for interesting reading. I was able to use the drawings in the book to figure out how to solve two different mechanical problems on the Blick 7's. I was able to properly clean and repair both machines back to working condition and the owner was thrilled, as was I. Now I had the confidence to fix my own Blick 5's. I had two Blick No. 5's that I got from a reporter about fifteen years ago. The reporter said she had found them in an antique shop in Nova Scotia about twenty years earlier. In a possible interesting twist, I mentioned this story to my new Blickensderfer friend who said that his uncle used to vacation in Nova Scotia in the 1950's and 60's and wouldn't be funny if he had unloaded some machines there and maybe these (my two Blick's) belonged to a Blickensderfer. One of mine I gave to friends who collect and display antiques in their home. The other one that I kept is a earlier Blick 5 from 1895 and is in working condition. I recently rented it to a movie shoot for PBS. Its going to be in a movie about Helen Keller later this year. I was so happy when the producer returned the machine and said the typewriter performed so well and looked so good on film that they were going to show it several times in the movie. That will be fun watch out for later in the year.

One more Blick thing. A woman called earlier in the week and said she's cleaning out her grandmothers house and she had five typewriters in her basement, where they have been for probably decades. Old Royals, Smith Corona's, Remington Standard and a Blickensderfer 8. As soon as I hear the words basement and years I immediately know the condition of the machines but I want that Blick 8 so bad I said come on down. You probably heard my primal groan when she brought the machines in on Saturday. All ruined and unusable. Here's a picture of the Blick 8 to the right. If anyone out there would like to claim it as a possible restoration project, it's yours for the asking. I will happily box it up and pay the shipping charges to anywhere in the continental US. I hope there's a taker out there.

It's a mess, but I know where everything is.

The shops looking a little messy but hopefully in a few weeks it will be back to normal. I keep tripping over machines on a daily basis.

This big pile are all gifted machines for last two weeks

Abraham testing out the Splendid

On Monday, Abraham paid a rare weekday visit to the shop. He had picked up some machines for me and I had some repairs for him. The Splendid has developed a skipping problem and it was being stubborn. I'd have him type on the machine and then I would adjust the escapement mechanism a bit, then he'd type some more and I'd adjust again until the skipping problem disappeared. But it didn't, so the Splendid has to stay so I can take my time and fix it for good. Check out the blur of Abraham's hands. He's one amazing typist.

In the shop this week, people are starting to pick up repairs finally. I probably had twenty pick ups this week and almost as many new repairs come in. I had a lot more service calls this week, which makes me happy. Sometime soon I want to write about some of the cool locations I go to on service calls. I go to many interesting place that most people never see. I had a handful of sales this week. Finding new homes are a Olympia SM3 in burgundy, a mid 1950's Royal Quiet de Luxe, a Olivetti L-32 W/French-Spanish keyboard, a Royal Century 2000 electric, and a IBM Personal Wheelwriter.

Here's a Hermes 8 Standard, which I have never seen before, was in for a cleaning and repair. It belongs to a ninety-two year old lady. Her daughter brought it in and was presenting it to her on her birthday this weekend. Well, that's it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a great week.

All Work and No Play

2011-02-20T17:44:00.000-08:00

     Wow, I sure do get really busy after a little publicity. The repairs are flying in so fast, I'm officially buried. I'm working seven days a week right now and still falling further behind. It's a good problem to have but in a couple of weeks I'm going to crash. Stay tuned to witness the carnage. Just kidding. I'm trying to pace myself and not over commit myself to customers. It's fun seeing all the different kinds of typewriters coming in for repair. There are many different brands from all decades, usually in poor condition. Many are old family typewriters that sat in the basement for years until someone saw a television show on typewriters and thought it would be cool to use it again. Tons of people are calling up to sell or donate a machine to the cause. I'm getting lots of great machines in to recondition and sell later on. I forgot to take a picture of the shop to show you the piles of machines, so I'm writing myself a note to do that tomorrow. Abraham is making a surprise visit tomorrow. I will try to get a picture of him typing on the Splendid.
      Some of the machines I acquired this week to recondition and sell are, a Royal KMM, a Quiet de Luxe, Signet(1960's), a Royal Parade, Underwood four bank, Smith Corona Classis 12, Super Speed (grey crinkle finish), white Olympia SF in tough shape, a gorgeous pink SM7, IBM Personal Wheelwriter and four Selectric 3's. Also a few more I can't remember. A customer gave me a Steno type machine from 1915 that her mother bought for Secretarial School. She wrote out a page detailing the machines history. It also came with instructions. I always wanted to know how those court reporters could type so fast on these machines. The book says that the speed record is 375 words per minute. That's got to be a blur of flying fingers.
     I'm attaching a link to view the TV story from two weeks ago.

Obsolete: Segment Four - Video - WCVB Boston

Hope you enjoyed the story. Sorry for the lack of pictures this week. My head is literally spinning still. Next week I'll have extra pictures. Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a wonderful week.

Happiness Is A Busy Shop

2011-02-12T15:09:00.000-08:00

Nothing like getting your mug plastered all over the TV to drum up a little business. Wow, what a fabulous, busy week. The phone rang off the hook all week, lots of people came in, lots of new repairs came through the door, by customers and by UPS. I sold a whole bunch of machines and supplies, including mailing ribbon orders all over the country. I hate to admit that I actually stressed out at a few points during the week. As any boss of a one man shop will say, you can't be in three places at the same time. There was a near disaster towards the end of the week when the phones went dead late Thursday afternoon and didn't come back on until late Friday afternoon. Talk about bad timing. I know I missed lots of calls. I just hope they call back. It was fun getting phone calls from strangers who saw the show and just wanted to wish me well. Many customers called, including some I hadn't seen in many years, to say how happy they were for me and hope that I stay in business for many more years. I'm still working on getting a DVD of the show to post. I hope to have it soon.

some great poetry will be written on this

I had some fun sales this week I can tell you about. This first one is typical. A man comes in a few days ago and said his sixteen year old daughter wants an old manual typewriter to type her poetry on. Right away he says "I don't get it, she has a computer. What on earth does she want an old thing like that for". So I start to explain why the kids are connecting to typewriters and why it's a good thing. He nods his head and asks to see what I have. I show him some 1950's Smith Corona's and he says no, she likes older things, in black if you have it. Well, that's my cue to break out the nice stuff. I only had to show him one machine, a beautiful, shiny black Corona Standard in next to mint condition. Even the carrying case looked brand new. Before I even got a piece of paper in it he said, "That's the one. I think that is exactly what she wants". We continued talking and I'm showing him more things around the shop and as he's leaving he says, "I think I'm starting to get it. These are beautiful machines and I'm glad she decided to get one". And that made my day right there.

pouvez-vous paler francais?

Mid week an elderly gentleman from East Boston came in wanting to look at Olivetti L-32's. I had a few ready to go, so he's checking them out and typing away. He said he wants to replace his Brother electronic memory machine and wants to go old school. That's just what I like to hear. After about twenty minutes he asked if I had anything that could type in French. I didn't see that coming but I said I think so. I have a whole shelve of European keyboard machines. And there in the middle is a French keyboard Hermes 3000. And with the original instruction book in French. He checks out the keyboard and starts getting really excited. Rolls in the paper and starts typing and talking in French and finally says that he wants it. He's always wanted to type in French. So now he can!

A very nice older lady came in on Friday looking to replace her Royal Royalite that she bought brand new back in the 1960's and could she trade it in towards another portable manual machine. It had to be small and lightweight and easy to use. I have a handful of lightweight machines around but she really liked the Olivetti Lettera 32. So the L-32 finds a happy home.

An elderly couple in Maine bought a Remington Quiet-Riter via email correspondence. I shipped it up to them yesterday. During the one telephone conversation we had, he said they moved to Maine a year ago from Minnesota. I commented that the winters must be about the same here. He said last winter they were so disappointed because of the lack of snow but this winter has been thrilling. I guess Minnesotans love their snow. Come to think of it, most New Englanders do too.

I also sold an IBM Wheelwriter 10 to a local writer, several Olympia machines and still have a handful of sales in the pipeline. I got an extra large amount of repairs in the shop this week. That's what bogs me down the most. Repairs are very time consuming, especially old manuals that haven't been serviced in thirty or forty years. It always takes way longer to repair than you think. I had several machine shipped in from Philly, also western PA, Maine and Cape Cod. Saturday was the most fun day of the week for me. It starts off with a visit from my good friend Abraham. He brought in his two favorite machines. His Splendid 33, which I fixed on the fly for him. It had a skipping problem. And the Olympia Traveler, which he left for a thorough cleaning and tune-up. I fixed his machine on my front desk while we talked and also had a handful of customers come in for repair pick ups or drop offs. After an hour and a half he's off to the Atheneum to spread typewriter joy to the masses. I don't call him the Ambassador of Splendid for nothing. Another handful of repairs came in, even after hours because I worked later to catch up a little. It was a fitting end to a very busy, hectic but fun week.

That's it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a wonderful weekend.

A Weather Shortened Work Week

2011-02-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

Boston got clobbered by that monster storm Tuesday and Wednesday resulting in a short week at the shop. Parking has become a major problem in and around the city. The worst I can remember since the Blizzard of '78. Even my house has become a casualty of the storm. Ice dams on the back of the house got so bad that water was coming down the walls and ceilings in every room along the back wall. That's the first time we ever had a problem like that and most of my neighbors said the same thing. So my entire weekend has been shovelling snow off the roof , then using a hammer and chisel to slowly (and painfully) chip away at the ice dam. After this post, I have to go back out and remove the last ten feet and I'll be done. Big lesson learned here.

Since the shop was closed Tuesday and Wednesday, not a heck of a lot happened, but it was still an exciting week. On Monday I went on a service call to repair a machine of a elderly gentleman in the
Mission Hill section of Boston. John is in his mid eighties and a veteran of WWII. Every month he types a newsletter to his fellow veterans with news and updates on everyone. His Smith Corona Executive electric typewriter died and he was hoping it could be repaired. I stripped the machine on his kitchen table and showed him that the left motor bearing had broken apart, binding up the motor solid. I would have to take the machine back to the shop and rebuild the motor and clean and oil the machine, then it would be back to great running condition. This made him very happy because he said as soon as he gets the machine back he has to start the next newsletter. On Friday, I delivered he Smith Corona back to him and he was thrilled. It was an honor to be able to fix his machine so he could get back to doing his good deeds.

All week long I had Friday night on my brain, the Chronicle television show. I'd been worrying about how it was going to come out. Everyone told me to chill, that it would be just fine. On Friday, Channel 5 ran promos all day long featuring me in the promos. People started calling the shop saying they just saw me on the TV. Come Friday night at 7:30, my wife, daughter and I cuddled on the couch all excited, not quite sure what to expect. The show was about things that will be obsolete in the near future. They did a segment on the Post Office, bookstores, newspapers, payphones and the last segment on typewriters. All in all, they did a good job on the story and I didn't embarrass myself too badly. It was a good plug for the shop and will get many people thinking about typewriters. Saturday at work the phone rang off the hook for the whole time I was there. Ninety percent of the calls were people who saw the show. Many were old customers calling to congratulate me and wish me well. Many were new customers calling to bring in repairs, inquire about sales or try to sell me their old machines. Many people came in after seeing the show. I actually had a crowd in the store for most the morning. I love it when the shop is really busy, its a natural high. I hope it continues for a while. I should be able to get a DVD of the story from the station. If I can I will try to post it soon. The typewriter part was about five or six minutes long.

     On Saturday a nice man come in looking to purchase his first typewriter and was really excited about it. He looked to be in his mid-twenties and I think originally from the NYC area. He narrowed his choices down to two older classic machines and two more modern contemporary ones. He kept turning to me saying how exciting this was and how he liked something different about each machine. Making up his mind was going to be tough. I really thought he was going to leave with the burgundy Corona but he fooled me and picked the brown Olympia SM4. He said he went for quality and wanted a machine that would last with few problems. While he was in the shop deciding what machine he wanted, several customers would engage him, offering advice or encouragement. He left with a big smile saying how happy he was that he came in.
     I rented a bunch of old manual typewriters to Harvard again this past week. They were having a party or some kind of gathering and wanted the typewriters there because they were such a hit last time. I'm glad they are getting a kick out of them. Maybe it will inspire some people to pick one up.
     Lastly, I got a email from a girl in NYC who works for a little Australian company called Polli. They just designed a typewriter necklace and wanted to know if I would mention them in a post. You can just click on the link and see the necklace if your interested. My blog was recommended by a friend who follows this blog.
http://polli.com.au/pendants-1/kohl-gold/kohl-gold-typewritter-necklace

     I'm expecting a humdinger of a week coming up. I'll tell you all about it next weekend. Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a great week.

T.V. Appearance Friday, Feb.4

2011-02-02T10:54:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Chronicle T.V. show I'll be part of is on Friday night at 7:30.
It's on WCVB Boston which is channel 5 in the Boston area. If you want to check out the web site they have a 18 second video preview. The WCVB web site is: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/ . On the left side, click on Chronicle HD. The stories for the week on listed on the right side. I'm actually on the 18 second promo. I've got my fingers crossed for a positve story. If you are able to watch it, let me know what you think or even more cool would be to post a comment on the shows web site. I told the reporter she was going to be surprised at the feedback she would get from this story.
Thanks everyone!

The Family Typewriter

2011-01-30T07:51:00.000-08:00

As little as a generation ago, many homes had a family typewriter in it. These machines would see regular use from all members of the family. The sound of a typewriter clacking away was a familiar sound in the home. Sadly, those days are gone as the family typewriter has been kicked to the curb and replaced by the computer, video games, iphone and the rest. I have noticed in recent years that some families are bringing back the family typewriter, like the family that came in my shop earlier this week. The parents and their son and daughter of middle school age, came in looking for a machine that they all could use. They weren't sure if they wanted a classic vintage machine or a more modern style one. So they spent about an hour and a half trying all kinds of machines including many models of Olympia, Corona, Olivetti and Royal. Everyone was typing away seeing what they liked best. Eventually they narrowed the field down to a few machines and then took a family vote. The winner was a burgundy Corona Silent flattop style. It was a beauty. They left all excited and couldn't wait to start typing at home. This was a very nice family and I was impressed by the parents instilling old school values in their children along with developing a strong sense of community involvement and advocacy. I hope I'm not over stepping my boundaries here because they will be reading this blog. I applaud people who decide not to get on that technology treadmill. It was a pleasure to meet this family.

But, several days later, Sam called to say that the typewriter had malfunctioned. It was skipping and binding up. He brought it back on Saturday and the ribbon reverse mechanism had jammed and that binds up the escapement assembly. Its a very minor problem but he expressed concern that with so many people using this machine that it might be prone to little mechanical failures from time to time. This was probably true so he looked at some Olympia SM machines that he had liked before. Eventually he decided that a green SM3 machine would be sturdy enough to hold up to heavy use. So we exchanged the machines and I feel confident that the Olympia will serve them well.

One last observation on this story. I've noticed that many people and families that come in to buy or repair a typewriter mention that its a step in simplifying their life. I think that most of us, (myself included), get so consumed in our busy, hectic lives that we forget to slow down and enjoy the moments, that less is more. That's a huge thing. By simplifying our lives, we are enhancing the quality of our lives. End of sermon.

Ho-hum, another week, another foot of snow. 'Nuff said.

Because of the crappy weather the last five or six weeks, people have not been able to come in and pick up their repairs. This along with the unusually high amount of typewriter donations and boxes from repairs shipped in, have created a space problem. There's nowhere left to put anything so everything getting stacked up. There are piles and stacks of typewriters everywhere. Its funny because most people that come in immediately exclaim, "Whoa, look at all those typewriters". If I think of it I'll take a picture of the shop this week and post it on my next blog. My friend John came in on Saturday and had some goodies for me. I got a Royal O Model machine along with a SM9 in great condition. We also made a trade. I gave him my SM3 two tone in technical elite and got a SM3 in burgundy already reconditioned for sale. What I really liked was a vintage ad for the new Corona Sterling (flattop style) from 1931. The ad exclaimed the machine as "Wellness in Typing". I didn't know that this style of Corona was made this early in the 1930's.

whats in the pretty box?

I want to go off topic here for a few minutes. Lately, I've had a few conversations with customers about hobbies and channeling your passion. Most of us have families and that 's our main passion. Many of us have hobbies that we have been into since childhood and also newer hobbies we've picked up as adults. They are an important part of life and a great source of joy. One of my hobbies is watchmaking and collecting antique pocket watches. I got into this in the early 1990's at the urging of a friend who thought it would be up my alley. Boy, was he right, it was a natural fit and I even took watchmaking classes from a local watchmaker for over five years. I actually thought that this was going to be my second career because the typewriter business was so bad, I was within a hair of closing the shop for good.

This is part of my collection

Well, things always work out the way it was meant to be. I'm still here in the typewriter shop, but I still like to collect old watches. I'm so impressed with the quality of craftsmanship and the beautiful designs. They are a marvel to look at. I still use them on special occasions and have even lent them out for special events. I like that fact that so many of you typecasters out there have such varied and interesting hobbies. Its fun to read about every ones special interests.

a railroad grade watch from Hamilton

     I apologize to anyone who tried to check out my blog last night or this morning. I had awful computer problems last night as I was finishing up writing this post. I ended up losing most of the post and had to cancel the entire thing. I'm surprised you didn't my screams of frustration. I'm not a computer person, its a struggle for me to write this blog but I am learning slowly but surely. And I'm totally committed to continuing this blog, as long as people are interested in reading it.

     Well, that's it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a great week.

Typing Class at Harvard

2011-01-23T14:52:00.000-08:00

A pretty neat thing happened earlier this week. I got a call from a teacher at Harvard University saying she had a group of students who wanted to learn to type and would I be willing to rent out twelve portable manual typewriters for the week. I said I gladly would and was excited that a group of college kids wanted to learn typing on old typewriters. She said she was excited about this development in her creative writing class but the students were over the moon excited and couldn't wait to start. We arranged to deliver and set up the machines Wednesday morning in the classroom and everyone there would help carry in the machines. She mentioned that she would like a good mix of different kinds of machines in different typestyles if possible. So I delivered a bunch of Olympia SM 3's, 4's and 9's, several black Corona's, a Olivetti Studio 44 and Lettera 35, Olympia SF and Royal Touch Control Model. A good mix of machines and in pica, elite, italic and script. The typing class would run for three days and I would pick up the machines on Monday. I said that she should have some funny stories for me when I pick up the machines Monday. On Friday we had a snow storm and my daughter had no school so I stayed home. But Saturday I called Jen to see how the typing class went. She said that it was incredible. Her students loved typing so much that they begged her to come in over the weekend so they could type some more. On Friday they had a party to celebrate the end of the seminar. Many students and faculty attended and the typewriters were a big hit. Everyone wanted to type on them. Now all the students want to get their own typewriters so we'll see if any of them buy some of the machines from the class. I genuinely get excited about younger people taking up the typewriter. It makes me feel hopeful about the future. That not everything is about the newest, fastest, latest and greatest technology. Let's hope that younger people continue to see the value in vintage technology, albeit the typewriter, sewing machines, fountain pens, antique watches, vinyl records or whatever inspires you.

Now a quick word about the weather. YUCK! Three and a half feet of snow in the last two weeks and more on the way. I think Mother Nature is confusing Boston with Buffalo. I really do like the snow but too much at once is terrible for business. People put off their chores and errands, like spending money at the typewriter store.

a nicely decorated Royal case

This past week has been slow in the money making department but a lot of people have been in the shop. I can't remember a week when more people have come in and given me typewriters to recycle. At least a dozen machines were gifted to me, including a Russian keyboard Underwood 21 (really a Olivetti Studio 44), another Studio 44, a Royal 0 Model, Royal Safari, a Royal KMM with a twenty-one inch carriage (yikes!), several Smith Corona electrics, several Royal portable electrics, a IBM Selectric 2 and IBM Wheelwriter 3.

a 1936 Royal 0 Model a.k.a. the touch control model

Earlier in the week a young girl came in with a Erika typewriter for repair. It was a more recent vintage, not as well made as the older ones. All the original packing material was still on the machine but it was still pretty beat up. After checking out the machine, she saw the Russian Royal Standard typewriter from last weeks post. I just finished reconditioning it and the customer hadn't picked it up yet. She remarked that she would love a Russian keyboard machine for her friends. I said that this one was sold and I very rarely see them. So two days later, someone walks into the shop and gives me a Russian Underwood 21 saying if I can use it great. It never ceases to amaze me how these things work out. You always get what you need.

Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a great week.

Foreign Language Typewriters

2011-01-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

Two youngsters will learn to type on this.

I get of lots foreign language typewriters in the shop. I think mostly because of the area I live in. People come to Boston from all over the world to go to school, seek the best medical care, work or raise a family. Lots of families have a typewriter from their home country. I mention it this week because I sold a Russian keyboard Royal typewriter. It got me thinking about all the wonderful and strange foreign machines that have come through here over the years. I even have two machines in the store right now that I don't know what language they are! One is a Olympia SM 2 that I was told was a Polish language keyboard but last year someone who was Polish said it was not.

The man who bought the Russian Royal on Thursday didn't come in looking for it. He brought in a IBM Selectric 2 for repair. We got talking for a while and he said he had adopted two children from Russia and explained the difficult process. I happened to mention that I have a Russian machine in the shop. He looked at it and smiled and asked how much is it? He thought that it would be a good tool to help his kids learn their native language. While he was at it, he became smitten with a green Olympia SM3 in Congress Pica type and bought that one too. We ended up having a long chat after we concluded our business and found out we each like to read. He says he just started reading something interesting and went out to his car to get it. He gave it to me and said he'd pick it when he came back for his IBM repair. I said I have something here you might like and and gave him my copy of The Iron Whim. So, I took in a repair, sold two machines, made a new friend and started a book club. Have I mentioned how much I like my job. By the way, The Iron Whim is a interesting read. It came out a couple of years ago and was well reviewed. It's not a book about the history of typewriters but about the history of typewriting and how typewriting changed the course of history in this country.

a hebrew Remington

I get tons of what I call European keyboards. That is machines that will type French, Spanish and German. Hermes 3000's, Olivetti L22 and 32's, Olympia SM's and many other brands of machines fit that bill. Here's a picture of a Remington Standard in Hebrew. Someone brought in this repair several years ago. As you know, hebrew and arabic machines type right to left. This machine had some serious history. It was used for many years in a Manhatten newspaper office that published the largest hebrew paper in New York City. Then this machine was used by a famous writer (who's name escapes me), for thirty years in her Cape Cod home. The young woman who aquired it was super excited about the history of this machine and desperately wanted to get it working again. However, thirty years of salt air severely damaged the machine. I didn't have much hope for it but it actually came out ok. I kept this machine for about three months and asked many people to interprete the writing on the paper table. Nobody knew, then one day an elderly gentleman came in the shop, saw the machine and read the writing without thinking. He said it means Remington instrument of printed writing. Now that I keep a camera in the shop all the time I will document all the neat machines that come in.

Thats it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. See you next week.

I Love Typewriter Stories

2011-01-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

     Typewriter stories come to me in lots of different ways. The most fun way of course, from people that come into the shop and upon seeing so many machines, immediately recall typewriter stories from their youth or about their parents or a relatives machine. Then from letters people write to me or thank you notes that people send explaining their devoted attachment to their favorite machine that I just rescued or resuscitated from the dead. And finally, via emails from all over the country, which is what I'm going to share with you right now.
     Earlier this week I got a email from a gentlemen in Bellingham, WA. He's the director of a little oddball museum (his words) called Mindport Exhibits (http://www.mindport.org/). His daughter found my blog and forwarded the link to her father. He totally identified with the "Luddite Alert" post and wanted to tell me how he felt about typewriters and computers. He told me a very nice story about how he found a Underwood Standard (circa 1906) discarded in a alleyway next to the museum. He took the machine and cleaned it up, did some repairs and had the platen replaced. Then he installed the machine by the front desk in the main exhibit area. Well, the Underwood became a huge hit with the kids and a popular attraction. Its all part of his belief that typewriters are showing a grand resurgence of popularity. I couldn't agree more. He then wrote about a friend of his who recently went up to Vancouver, B.C. and discovered a cafe with a row of typewriters in it instead of computers, all manned by people busy typing letters to their friends. I thought that this was just so neat! What's next, people typing in Starbucks. I smell a new trend here. Anyway, I love that people will take the time to write a letter or email and tell me a heartfelt story about how they feel. Or more importantly, how typewriters make them feel. I checked out the Mindport Exhibits website and it looks like a really cool place, full of interactive exhibits and activities. For people out in the Great Northwest, it sounds like a fun place to take the kids for an afternoon.

     I needed to make a correction in last weeks blog. The picture of that beautiful burgundy machine was wrongly identified as a 1940 Corona Silent. Anyone paying attention saw that I goofed. It is a 1948 Smith Corona Silent. Whether it says Corona or Smith Corona on the faceplate ( above the top row of keys), the rule of thumb is, if it says Corona its pre-WWII, if it says Smith Corona, its post-WWII. I'm glad I straightened that out. These are gorgeous typewriters that are fun to type on. I personally love the touch on these keyboards. They are widely available and if your lucky, in different colors.

I tried unsuccessfully in my very first post to attach a story about the shop that was on the radio. Because I'm not computer savvy, its a problem trying to attach an audio file to this blog. Its a great story and I had a blast doing it with the reporter. There are several good typewriter stories in it. My daughter has just figured out a way now to add the audio file but it has to be done on a separate post. If it test out ok I'll post it right after this one. Wish me luck. See you next week.

Cambridge Typewriter does Chronicle (Finally!)

2010-12-31T13:16:00.000-08:00

Chronicle co-host Shayna Seymour and myself

Xtra exciting news this week. The television show Chronicle, a New England institution for over twenty-five years, called Tuesday and wanted to include me in a upcoming show. The show is about (get ready for this)professions that will be extinct in the near future. Now I know that I'm a dinosaur but I plan on sticking around for awhile. Co-host Shayna Seymour said on the phone that they could come over Thursday morning and film a interview in the shop. They also wanted to interview a customer who's a writer and a office that I service. I gave her the name of a writer in the Harvard Square area that I know and the Cambridge City Clerk's office that I service. Shayna booked them both and they will appear in the story. There will be several other professions featured in the story but we don't know what they are yet. Thursday morning Ms. Seymour and a camera woman showed up at 10:20. After introductions the camera woman worked on setting up the interview location, camera angles and lighting. I was fitted with a wireless mike and we were ready to roll. Shayna asked me many questions, like how did I get into this business and how has the typewriter business changed through the years and who are my customers today. I told her a number of typewriters stories and especially how younger people are picking up typewriters and using them. She had a hard time understanding this and asked several more questions about this phenomenon. I hope that part makes the final cut. After thirty minutes of questions and answers, we walked around the shop filming different machines. Then they filmed me typing on several machines, I believe a 1930 green Royal portable and a Olympia SM3 in script. Then they filmed a few minutes of me repairing a Smith Corona Super 12 at my workbench. After an hour they realized that they were done so they packed up and headed over to Cambridge City Hall.

They think that the show will air later in January. I'll give a shout out in the blog when I find out. Chronicle has been one of my favorite shows because its about New England. They go to beautiful locations and destinations and introduce us to interesting and fascinating people. For many years I've always said that Chronicle should come in here and do a show. Our actual part in the half hour show will be six or seven minutes. It will be interesting to see how the story comes out.

On Wednesday a women came in a rented a Blickensderfer No.5 for a movie shoot. I actually had a Blick 5 that works with its wooden box case, extra typewheel and box of spare ink rollers. The movie is for the American Experience on PBS. The movie is about Helen Keller. In the book that the movie is based on, someone types on a Blick 5 several times throughout the story. When I get the machine back in three weeks I'll asked when the show will be on.

I get asked a lot what my favorite typewriter is and what do I have in my collection. I always say that I don't have any one favorite but six or seven favorite machines. Also, I'm not a big collector at all. I have to make money to stay in business and many times that means selling machines that I would rather keep for my collection. There has always been one machine that was my absolute favorite, and I sold it. It was a burgandy Corona flattop from 1940 and was brand new. I don't think it was ever used more than once or twice. My friend John aquired it on Ebay for me and I flipped when I saw it. This one was a keeper for sure. I kept it under a table and only showed it to a select few people. About four or five months later just as I came in the shop at 9AM, my immediate thought was that I had to recondition this machine because someone was going to come in and buy it. I hesitated for a minute but also knew that there was a reason for this. So I took that machine apart, moaning and groaning the whole time about how brand new this thing was. Even though the machine was spotless, it was dry and needed a thorough cleaning. As fate would have it, a lady walked in mid-afternoon looking to buy a vintage typewriter to write with. She was local and wrote children's books. I knew right away that this was the person who wanted my beautiful Corona. At first I showed her some Royals and Remingtons. Then I bust out the burgandy Corona and she gasped. "I love that machine. That looks like the perfect machine for me." I quoted her a fairly high price and she said she had to sleep on it but if I could hold it for a day, she'd call me tomorrow. Well, she called me first thing the next morning saying that she had a vivid dream about the Corona and she was coming right up to buy it. She knew that this was the machine for her , and so did I. I never regreted selling that machine because I believe that it went to the right person. But that will also be my favorite typewriter anyway.

Thats it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a happy and safe NEW YEAR! See you in 2011.

Quack, Quack

2010-12-26T12:55:00.000-08:00

anyone understand duck talk?

"Any of you guys know how to type."

Merry day after Christmas. I hope everyone had an joyous holiday. I know I did. My friend Abraham sent me the first two pictures in this blog. I like old pictures with typewriters in them. Its always fun to try to identify the machines in them. Easy enough in these two pictures, but the reporter interviewing the duck intrigued me. Why was the duck being interviewed and what did it say? After much investigating I found that the duck was trying to tell us that all allusive meaning of life. In a cruel twist of fate, there was nobody in the room that could interpret duck. So once again mankind misses another chance at enlightenment. No wonder the newspaper swept this story under the rug. Oh, the typewriter that the reporter is leaning on is a Smith Corona Eighty-eight Secretarial. The picture was published in 1959.

This next picture I wanted to show because of all you Olympia SG-1 fans out there. I wanted to show the SG-1 in its natural enviroment. This picture was published in 1957 in a Portland, ME newspaper. Those machines look brand new.

Last week was another very busy week in the shop. A bunch of people came in to buy vintage manuals for gifts, some at the last minute. Also many repairs in through the door. One nice thing I noticed is several people who bought a machine two weeks ago, brought in a friend to buy a portable manual for someone in their family last week. Two weeks ago, the nice women that bought the green Optima that I featured on my blog, came in with her girlfriend who bought a beautiful Corona Silent for her husband. That was probably the prettiest machine that I had in the store then. Also a women from New Hampshire came in a got a Royal KMM for her husband and also bought three KMM ads to go with it. I recently got a whole bunch of Royal KMM ads from 1940 and 1941. They were all really neat and a few were funny. A nice dad came in a got a Royal Custom II in metalic red for his six year old daughter. I know some people think that is too young but I think its a perfect age to start typing. Kids that age are facsinated with machines and learn to type rather quickly. Plus, they're going to grow up with a typewriter in the house which many kids today are not.

I only had a few service calls last week because its like a vacation week at offices in town. But I had more than the usual amount of repairs come in for the week. That means I'll be chained to my bench all this week. And thats a good thing. I think that I'll use my Christmas money to but a scanner for the computer so I start typecasting and post better quality pictures. I've got tons of machines around here with lots of interesting typestyles. This should be interesting because I'm really not that good of a typist. Also, starting in the new year, I promise to start writing stories to help you out. Like what to look for when buying a used machine, helpful repair tips to common problems, those kind of stories. Friends and follows have been very heplful with ideas and stories they would like to see. Thanks for all the help.

Thats it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. I would like to wish everyone out there and around the world a happy and safe New Year.

The Christmas Rush

2010-12-17T18:27:00.000-08:00

on its way to San Francisco

Well, the Christmas rush is going full steam ahead around here. The shop in hopping to be sure. Lots of repairs are coming through the door. Tons of people coming in to buy ribbons and supplies or ordering over the phone or emailing orders. I still can't get over how people from all over the country can order a vintage typewriter or ribbons over the computer from me. For the thirty years that I've been here, this has always been a small neighborhood typewriter shop. Now I'm the only typewriter shop around and my customers are from all across the country. Earlier this week a man from San Francisco bought a 1956 Royal Quiet de Luxe with red accents as a Christmas gift for his wife. Hope it arrives in time for Christmas. Today I shipped Matt's Hermes Ambassador down to New Jersey. Anyone who follows his blog knows he's been drooling for weeks over getting this machine. Matt thinks he'll have it Monday but the UPS driver said more like Tuesday because of the volume of packages right now.

a 15 year old girl will be very happy next Saturday.

I've sold alot of machines so far this week. Not surprisingly, most of them are for teenagers. Most of them, are for girls by a 5 to 1 ratio this year. So far its mostly dads coming in to pick out the machines for their daughters. I'm impressed that the dads are into it this year. In years past they didn't understand why their kid wanted an old typewriter. This year I'm getting dads in here saying that they are happy their kid wants a low tech present. I think they sounded alittle proud about it. Also finding new homes this week are a 1936 Royal Touch Control , a 1940 Royal Companion, 2- Olympia portable lightweights, a Olympia SM-3, a SM-5, a Smith Corona Galaxie 12, a Smith Corona Sterling, a Corona Silent and several IBM Wheelwriters, going to Boston area companies. I'm very happy that the vintage ads are starting to sell more and more. Remember that Olympia SM-5 in caramel from last weeks blog, well it sold in less than a week, as predicted. Ta-dah! A man bought it for his girlfriend, who is a writer, for Christmas. He originally came in with a Olympia repair that he bought on Ebay. It was unrepairable, so he was looking at some machines and was seduced by the SM-5. Can't blame him, it was a real beauty.

Yesterday I sold a Olympia SM-3 to a television show that films in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its a two tone model that appeared the t.v show Fringe

a future television star

on Fox television, during the first show of the first season. They don't have that machine anymore and needed it for a show in the upcoming season. So I got the call from the prop master to duplicate the machine for a scene to be shot in a typewriter shop. Sounds pretty cool to me. When this show originally aired two years ago, the day after the first episode, two different customers called me up all excited saying, " Did you watch that new show Fringe last night. They did a scene in a typewriter shop and I'd swear it was your shop. It looked exactly the same. Are you sure nobody took a picture of the inside of the store."

So thats how my exciting, busy and fun week ended for Christmas rush. Hope you all had a good week too. Thanks for checking it out. See you next week.

Luddite Alert!

2010-12-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

     Many customers that come in the shop tell me a familiar complaint. Their family, friends or co-workers make fun of them for using a typewriter. It can get pretty rude too. What made me think about this now was a conversation I had with a customer earlier in the week. He's a writer in the Harvard Square area who has written all his books on a Smith Corona typewriter. He happily calls himself a luddite and thinks that the people hooked on technology are the clueless ones. We have had lots of interesting conversations over the years usually along these lines. He calls up about a problem with one of the typewriters and soon starts to talk about how his sister is always teasing him about his always writing on a typewriter and not a computer. She says he should just throw away all his machines. He responds that he could no sooner throw out his typewriters than she could throw out her cats. To this she got very mad and slammed the phone down and hasn't talked to him in a week. "She just doesn't understand my relationship with my typewriter" he says. "Typewriters are like close friends to me. They are a part of me now." We talked for awhile about this, then I had to go because a customer came in. So he says, "I think I'll call up my sister now and mend fences."
     I'll bet I hear this kind of story at least once a day. I know that I get teased alot, especially on service calls when I'm in a office fixing a machine. People will walk by and make comments like OMG, whats that! The suits are the worst. "Don't you feel like a dinosaur" or " Boy, you're a dying breed." That doesn't bother me because they're walking back to their cubicle to stare at a computer screen for six more hours. Take that! I think that there's a lesson for tolerance in there somewhere.
     I happen to think that people who use typewriters are amoung the most interesting people I ever meet. They are creative people doing fun and interesting things in their lives. Its always fun to talk to people coming in the shop for the first time.

Shop news- I wanted to show this picture of a red Royal Quiet de Luxe because its just a knockout. A mom got it on Ebay and needed it cleaned up and repaired so she could give it to her daughter for Christmas. I wish I had a truck load of these machines.

Super exciting news. Ames has typewriter oil again. The rumor was true. I got a package from Ames yesterday and when I opened it up, OIL! I'll try not to bum out so much next time something gets discontinued on me. Must remember to keep things in balance.

Earlier in the week Matt sent me a link to Pimp My Typewriter. A site put up by mpclemens that features typewriters that people custom painted themselves. WOW. This was awesome. I had never thought about painting machines wild colors and combinations of colors. But it works and has given me lots of ideas. I've already picked out a handful of machines I'm going to experiment on this winter. I'll post the results. Matt's already come up with some color schemes for me. It might make for a neat contest. See who can come up with the most original creations. The link is http://www.flickr.com/photos/mpclemens/galleries/72157622673443179/

I had a Dad come in this afternoon and buy a mid 1920's Remington Portable Manual typewriter today. He was pretty cool. He totally got the vintage typewriter thing and was going to give it to his daughter for Christmas. She just went off to college this year and wanted an old typewriter to write her poetry on. I would say that this fits the bill. Sorry about the poor quality of the picture. Where's Abraham when you need him.

Well, thats it from the shop this week. Thanks everyone for checking it out. Next few weeks should be very busy in here. Have a great weekend.

In the Zone

2010-12-03T18:16:00.000-08:00

Early 1950's Optima

Today was one of those days, you know, where everything clicks and your in that zone. It starts off I as walk through the front door today at 9am. My eyes immediately look at a green typewriter case sitting in the corner where its been for four months. Its a green Optima from East Germany in early 1950's. I hadn't thought much about it since I got it but just then a clear voice inside me said you need to recondition this machine now. Somebody wants it today. No kidding. This happens from time to time. Your inner voice is always right as you shall see. So, after I settle in for the day, I stripped the machine and clean, oil and repaired it, replaced the platen and ribbon and thoroughly tested it out. As you can see, it looks great, hardly a blemish on it. It types great and in Congress elite too, one of my favorites. When I was finished I set it on the table in the front of the shop, intending to take a picture of it to put on the blog tonite. A half hour later, a women walks into the shop and says "My ten year old son has suddenly announced that he wants a manual typewriter for Christmas and I have no idea why." She sees the green Optima on the table and says " I love that typewriter. I want that. Is it for sale." With a big smile I say that it sure is. And I'm thinking, boy the universe sure does work fast.

     This kind of thing happens alot to me in here. It just reminds me of how tuned in I am to the energy of this place. As anyone whose been in the shop will tell you, this place has an aura, a energy that you can feel. I mean you've got hundreds of old typewriters here with all their history and stored energy in them. Its no wonder that people react so strongly when they come in here. I wish I could record the reactions of people when they first walk in the door. Lots of OMG's and this place in incredible. Its no wonder that I always look forward to coming into work.
     That was the first half of the day. I had several other sales and several repairs come in also as well as many people coming in for ribbons and just to look around. I sold a IBM Wheelwriter 6, the women sent a courier over to pick it up and also a man came in at the end of the day and bought a beautiful 1936 Royal touch control model for his ten year old hockey playing daughter. Now here's what really put the day over the top. Anyone who read last weeks post, knows I was upset about not being able to get typewriter oil anymore. Well, late in the day a friend of mine came in to visit and say hi. He's an 87 year old retired typewriter tech. He brought in his friend from Connecticut, also a retired typewriter tech, and he says he's got a present for me. Out of a bag he pulls a gallon of typewriter oil and says Merry Christmas. I took that gallon of oil and hugged it tight. Bill was laughing so hard because he knew I was desperate. I kind of hated to see this day end but tomorrow's another day.

     About a month ago I got a call from a Martin Howard in Toronto. He was looking for an item to use in a exhibit he was commissioned to do for the Smithsonian in D.C. I couldn't help him out but we talked about typewriters for awhile and he told me that he collected early American typewriters from the 1880's and that I should check out his website. I did and so should you. These are the first American machines restored back to their original condition and professionally photographed. They are simply stunning. How he got his domain name I'll never know. Check it out at http://www.antiquetypewriters.com/

I got this machine in last month and just got around to reconditioning it this week. I wasn't sure which model it was at first. After checking Olympia websites I figured out it is a SM-5. They called this color caramel. The picture doesn't do it justice. This thing shines. It has a luster that is just gorgeous. I predict that this machine will be sold within a week.

Check out the red Royal Quiet de Luxe in the background. That repair came came in around lunchtime. Some lucky girl is getting that for Christmas.

O.K. one more story. Early in the week a elderly gentleman came in to get a ribbon for his typewriter. He look around at all the antique machines on the shelf out front. A big smile came over his face as he pointed to an old Remington 6 Standard and he said I remember that machine. You want to hear a funny story. I said oh yeah and moved in closer. He was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas during WWII training to be a code breaker which he said was a really cool job. There were about twenty-five other men in the class and they had to take a typing class first thing every morning. They were typing on these old Remington 6's that had been modifyied for code breaking class. He said that the platens easily snapped out of the machines in two seconds. A few nights every week the guys would be out till 2am and had to get up at six to go to classes. It wasn't unusual for someone to fall asleep over the typewriter during typing class. When this would happen, the instructor would sneek over to the sleeping soldier and quietly snap the platen out of the machine. Then he would stand a few feet behind the soldier and loudly clap his hands. The man would snap awake and immediately start typing as fast as he could. The whole class would roar laughing as the soldier had no idea what was wrong.

Just picturing that happening is making me laugh. Well, thats it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. Everyone have a great weekend. Go do some Christmas shopping.

Typewriter Event In Philly

2010-11-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

Announcing the first Philadelphia

Type-IN

A Pleasant Afternoon of

Manual Typewriting

SATURDAY, 18 December,1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

BRIDGEWATER’S PUB, South Concourse30^th Street Station, 30^th & Market Sts.Philadelphia

SEE a choice display of vintage writing machines • BRING your favorite functioning manual typewriter (plus one or two to swap/sell) • COMPETE in a typing contest; win modest prizes • COMPOSE a holiday letter (we’ll supply paper & stamped envelopes) to your loved ones • CONSULT with an experienced typewriter technician • ENJOY the excellent kitchen & vast selection of craft beers at Bridgewater’s Pub •

The Type-IN is FREE, but please RSVP to phillytyper@gmail.com with Type-IN on the subject line.

humbly sponsored by trophy bikes university city

& the trophy bike garage of northern liberties

A few days ago, I got an email from someone in Philadelphia who was putting together a gathering of manual typewriter users. He wanted to know if I would post his flyer on my blog to help spread the word. You bet I would! I also really wish I could go. I got really excited after reading his flyer and email. It would be so cool if people around the country started organizing typewriter events. Typewriter enthusiasts from all walks of life getting together to share stories, experiences and support each other. We need to do something like this in Boston. This growing interest in old manual typewriters and typewriters in general is such a joy to watch. I'd love to hear your comments on this.

A friend of mine sent me this link to the New York Times article earlier this year about Cormac McCarthy's Olivetti L-32 selling at auction for $254,500. Most of you know this but not everyone and it was a very important typewriter story. The NY Times article had alot of good information in it. I know that after the auction I couldn't find a L-32 anywhere for a reasonable price for about six months. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/cormac-mccarthys-typewriter-brings-254500-at-auction/

Last week I had to reorder a bunch of cleaning supplies I use to repair typewriters including typewriter oil from Ames Supply Co. They sadly informed me that they can't get typewriter oil anymore. The company that made it no longer does. And, they don't know anyone else making typewriter oil. This was a real bummer. I need a good oil to repair machines. I immediately called several other wholesalers and heard the same story. This is a familiar story these days. As anyone in the business will tell you, its gets harder every year to get what you need to run a repair shop. Every year more ribbons and parts are discontinued making my job more difficult. But today I got some good news. My friend Matt from New Jersey called to say that he saw on the typewriter forum that Ames just scored a supply of typewriter oil and its in shipment. He knew that I would be excited and he was right. I'm a happy camper now. I don't know why that bothered me so much but it really did.

A few days ago a minister from a north shore church came in with a Olympia SM-7 repair. He said that this was the machine he took to college and now he uses it to type out marriage certificates. Several months ago he decided to treat himself and buy a new manual typewriter. You know, the Olivetti 35 from China for around $100.00. He said he almost died after taking it out of the box and trying it. After two minutes he repacked it and sent it back along with an angry letter about what a poorly made product they sold him. So now the SM-7's looking pretty good again. We had a good laugh about it and he says that I should keep one of those new machines on the table so people will see it and want to buy one of the older better machines.

Another perfect example of why older is better.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We have much to be thankful for! Have a great weekend everyone.

Teenagers and Typewriters

2010-11-19T17:27:00.000-08:00

Thirteen tear old Emma checks out a Corona flattop

Now, most people these days wouldn't put those two words in the same sentence. Around here, we do all the time. The neatest thing going on in the shop in recent years has been teenagers coming in and buying vintage portable manual typewriters. It started out as a handful of kids coming in over the summer seven or eight years ago and grew every year to the point that its no longer a trend. Parents started coming in and buying them as Christmas gifts and birthday presents for the kids. Its so funny watching some of the dads coming in with their kid, and he'll walk in with his head down and say "I don't know why but for some reason my kid wants a typewriter. What do you have." Then I'll glance over at the kid and give him a wink as he's gazing around the room in awe.

After awhile I started asking the teens that come in why they were interested in typing when they had their computers. I got lots of different answers but the most common ones were, its cool and different or its more fun than my computer. It took awhile to figure out but most teens don't think twice about typewriters. The ones coming in are the creative type of kids. That is the ones that are the future writers, artists, musicians, poets, actors, photographers, etc...

I sell alot of vintage typewriters every year and over half of them are to teens. I include high school and college kids amoung them. They are dicovering that connection between typing are writing that older writers have always talked about. I for one, am very excited about young people becoming typewriter enthusiasts and I see many teens that are totally into it and started collecting typewriters.

     For me, nothing is more fun than watching a sixteen year old girl (or boy), picking out a old Corona or a shiney black 1930 Royal for their birthday present. Its fun to watch the process of them deciding which machine to buy as they line up six or seven machines that they like and slowly eliminate them down to two or three and then agonize over that final decision. Some kids imediately see the machine they want and its a easy choice. The best part are the killer smiles on their faces as they leave the shop with their new old typewriter. Its like Christmas morning all the time. I never get tired of that. Sometimes I'll get a phone call from a parent months later saying how much their daughter loves the machine and still types everyday. How cool is that!
     Many more teens are bring in their parents or grandparents typewriter or picking them up at garage or yard sales and getting them cleaned and tuned up to use. Older kids are getting them on Ebay. But they're finding them and using them in many different ways. My daughter has had a 1940's Royal Companion since she was seven and I can see her now typing up newsletters to friends and dinner menu's for the week for my wife and I. I wish I could post some of them, they're hysterical, but my daughter would kill me.
     I guess that there is still life left in those old clunkers after all. LONG LIVE TYPEWRITERS!

before

Its been pretty busy at the shop this week. I got buried in repairs early in the week. So I've been chained to my bench all week trying to catch up. I had a perfect example of a before and after picture on a Burgandy Corona repair that came in on Monday and picked up on Friday. Check out the difference. Thats what we do around here, take beat up machines and make them fully functional and beautiful. I had some nice sales too. An older gentleman came in and bought his wife a beautiful Royal Model 10 for her birthday. That was sweet. Today I sold a Green Olympia SM 3 in mint condition to a man who was replacing a rusted out Olivetti Praxis. Great choice.
My friend John is coming in tomorrow and bring in a L-32 in mint condition for me and more vintage typewriter ads. I've got to get a scanner so I can post some of these ads here because they are really cool. A lot of history in many of these and some are just plain funny. I've got close to a hundred of them now and sell them in the shop.

after!!!

Well, thats it for this week. Thanks for checking it out. Everybody have a great weekend!

A Typewriter With Some History

2010-11-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

Top cover of case depicting Boot Camps

Every once in a while someone walks in the shop with a typewriter repair in a beat up, graffiti covered or travel sticker covered case. This imediately gets my attention because it usually means a machine thats been around the country or world. This machine was both.

Left side panel showing stops in Great Britain

The young lady bring in this repair, Alexandra, quickly told me that this machine belonged to her grandfather and that it was now her most prized possession. With great pride she told me her grandfather was a reporter for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette for most of his life. He was working as a reporter up untill he past away in his 90's. I started to ask questions about the meaning of all the countries and towns in Europe. She said her grandfather was in WW II as a reporter and was sending stories back home. He painted on the case everywhere he went, which you can see is all over war torn Europe. On the left side panel he drew the troop transport ship he took to Bristol. The bottom shows the landing craft number he was on that landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy.

Right side panel shows stops in Europe

The right panel shows all the stops he made on the Army's march through France, Belgium and Germany. What a amazing journey this man and his typewriter went on. One can only imagine him typing stories on this machine as he hears artillery bombardment in the distance. Or writing of heroic deeds witnessed firsthand on the frontlines of the battlefield. If only this machine could talk...

This machine looks like its been in a war.

Finally you can see that the machine is very worn and beat up. It had not been used in some time as it was severely rusted. I was able to remove alot of the rust and get the machine back into really good running condition again. Alexandra was very excited when she picked up the machine earlier this week. She said she plans to write creatively on it and can't wait to start. I'm sure the energy stored up in this machine will only help to inspire her writing.

In other news this week, I've had many repairs come in week and a few typewriters sales. This afternoon a couple from Manhatten, in town on business came in and purchased a Hermes 3000. One of the nice ones with the curved front. Boy was he happy to find that. After typing for about ten seconds, he looks up at me with huge smile and says "This is it. This is it. I'm so happy." That makes my day too!

Looking forward to a visit tomorrow from Abraham. He's bringing in a few machines. We always have a good laugh together and hope the Bruins go all the way this year.

I've got a fun story for you next week. Check it out if you can. Have a great week everyone!

Welcome to my new blog

2010-11-04T17:35:00.001-07:00

My home away from home

Thanks for checking out my very first posting. I hope all you typewriter enthusiasts out there will check this out from time to time. I will try to post new reports each week about what's going on in the shop. I will share interesting stories from customers, feature classic and cool machines that pass through the store. Down the road I would like to feature a column on maybe typewriter repair tips or a machine of the month thing. I would really, really like your comments about what you would like to see in this column. This blog will be a work in progress for a while.
These past few weeks I've been really building up my stock of vintage manual typewriters. I sell lots of old machines between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I like to have a large and varied collection for people to choose from. My friend John from Cambridge has been instrumental in picking up really mint condition stuff. I mean the machines that people start to drool over when I open the case. My friend Abraham has also been extremely helpful and supportive. So much so that I recently appointed him the Typewriter Ambassador of New England.

This Goverment issue WWI LC Smith just sold

I'm getting lots of Olympia SM3,4,7 & 9's in different colors and typefaces, including script. Also bunches of 1930's Royal portables and Model 10's, Olivetti L-22 & 32's, pre-WWII Corona flattops , and curved fronts and many other odd machines that I'll post pictures of after they have been reconditioned.

A couple of weeks ago I made a new friend, Matt from New Jersey. He found my web site a few months ago and starting calling me to talk about typewriters. Eventually he said his sixteenth birthday was coming up and he was going to tell his mother that all he wants is to go to Boston so he could check out my shop. Well , a few weeks later he calls up all excited and says I'm coming to Boston. Matt and his mom drove up 5 hours and showed up at 10:30 Friday morning. They stayed all day Friday and a few more hours on Saturday. Matt brought up three of his favorite machines for me to repair which I did in time for his trip home. I think he typed on every machine in the shop and clearly was having the greatest time. I am extremely impressed with Matts passion for typewriters and his extensive knowledge. He researches everything thoughly. Matt is also a typecaster and has his own blog called Adventures in Typewriterdom. He's well worth checking out. Its great to young people so passionate about typewriters and picking up the torch from us older folks.

     On Labor Day, Boston's local NPR station aired a story on my shop. If you listen to it you'll hear few good typewriter stories.

     Thanks again for checking out my first blog. Please comment and make suggestions. I really want to know what you would like to see on here.