Mmm… typewriters…
I got a small, portable typewriter for Christmas when I was about eight years old. I loved it. I’d type up random letters to no one. Well, except maybe my mother… I did click out a note one time in sixth grade to inform her how much it would cost for us to have a vacation at Walt Disney World. Not really sure where I got my figures from, though. To account for inflation, it probably would have set her back about 23 grand in today’s cheddar.
In elementary school, I had a few classes over the years where we made our own books. It was up to us to write the stories, illustrate them, and even assemble the pages and cover. There were a few times I went into my mother’s office for the day, just to use her typewriter (or have her use it for me) to hammer out my stories of puppies, or wizards, or alliteration. I still have those books, and I love seeing the imperfect, varied-toned letters dancing around the pages.
In high school, we took typing classes. I will assume they still do this, though on computers, now [cue "I'm getting old" music]. We had those wonderful IBM Selectrics – made famous because of their golf-ball shaped typeball. The feel of effortlessly breezing through text, combined with the melodic sound of the keys, was crack for the senses. For anyone who remembers typing on a manual model, you know the relief your fingers felt from not having to put in a workout. Do you know that they still sell electric typewriters? I did not know this. For about a hundred bucks, that magic can be yours.
Today, I work part-time in a vintage shop, and we have our share of manual typewriters come and go for sale. I always love checking out the kids who are drawn to them like flies, amazed by something that must seem so archaic to them. But they still amaze us adults, too, which is why they have seemingly not gone away, but experienced a little nostalgic rebirth. In our house, we have two 1920s beauties that were my grandfather’s: a Remington and an Underwood. I even managed to score a dusty-green, 1950s Royal Rugged Quiet DeLuxe at a yard sale for a scandalous five bucks. I think a collection has begun. Old typewriters really are pieces of art, after all.
Here are some of the ways you can add a little retro type flair to your life:
- MyTypewriter.com – If you’d love to get your hands on an oldie, you can always check eBay or craigslist, but MyTypewriter.com has a wonderful selection, too. They even stock ribbon and old manuals to make your find functional again.
- The Virtual Typewriter Museum – This is an online curation that offers history and insight to why typewriters were such an important part of our lives, as well as a gallery of models and collectibles.
- miTypewriter – This iPad app works on iPhones, too, though admittedly takes a little more patience with the smaller screen. Turn your keypad and screen into a typewriter and just giggle at the sounds, like I did, or use it to create emails in two classic typewriter fonts. I have to admit that I laughed when I read a reviewer’s lone comment, asking where the return button was. You use the handle on the left, silly! [cue more "I'm getting old" music]
- USB Typewriter – There have been a few crafty people who figured out how to take old typewriters and convert them into keyboards for iPads. Jack Zylkin is one such genius, who sells his models on Etsy. Set up like a docking station, you can hit the physical keys and pretend you’re pounding out a novel in a secluded, woodsy cabin. Almost more exciting was the unveiling of Typescreen, which had a mechanism that flipped up onto the iPad to hit each key on the screen as if it were a piece of paper… until people realized it was an April Fool’s joke. One can always dream.
- Keira Rathbone – There are some artists out there who flat-out blow my mind with their work. British artist Keira Rathbone is one of them. Her art, as you may guess, is made using a typewriter selected from one of apparently 30 that she owns. Still life, architecture, and even humans are part of her repertoire. I can’t imagine the planning and patience involved. Check out her work. Go. Now.
- Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type – For some reason, I have developed a thing for cows and sheep and ducks. A children’s book with cows and ducks AND typewriters? Yes, please. This book by Doreen Cronin has been a favorite for over ten years now. You can even watch a cartoon version of her story on YouTube. Personally, Duck is my favorite.
Tina Jett is an artist, writer, photographer, and world-explorer. Her husband describes her with the phrase, “It’s like she lives in a coloring book.” See how that vision influences the work on her 
the click clacking of keys is what I miss and the sound of the “return”…at 14 I had a summer job in an office and that sound made me feel uber professional
“…made me feel uber professional.” HA! That is so true!! I spent a summer in my mom’s office, once, as well. That ding at the end of the line and the zzzip back to the left side of the page was the best.
Typewriters. Sigh. They’re just so dripping with nostaglia. We never had one when I was a kid, but my grandfather did. He wrote stories and letters and I’m sure he even wrote lists on his typewriter. The font was in script and it’s amazing how much just seeing it takes me back to being a kid. When we moved him out of the house he’d lived in for 50+ years last spring, all of his kids and theirs agreed that I should get his typewriter seeing as I am the most avid writer of the group. Thanks for the reminder. I think I might drag it out and type something tonight.
That is awesome! I’m glad you got that wonderful piece of his life. I know this script font you speak of, I think; it’s pretty swell. We watched a little news story about author David McCullough last year. He writes all of his novels in the most adorable tiny cabin behind his house… with no electricity. He cranks out those best-sellers on a MANUAL. I so love him just for this alone, though he is one of the cutest older men, ever.
“I bought my Royal Standard typewriter in 1965. It was secondhand. I have written everything I’ve ever had published on it, and there is nothing wrong with it.”
Here is a delicious article about the man and his machine:
http://blog.wellreadlife.com/my_weblog/2009/12/david-mcculloughs-ode-to-slow-and-a-tribute-to-the-typewriter.html
Le sigh.
One of the first typewriters I had was either an Underwood or a Remington. I’m not sure because I don’t think as a kid I bothered to notice the maker, but it was a big ol’ clunker that my mother found at a flea market for almost nothing. It reminded me of those old cash registers I’d see at general stores and dime stores (which, sadly, have mostly disappeared). I learned the basics on that machine and started to type all of my correspondence with it: to my father whose secretary would kindly reply, to Santa Claus to make sure he could read what I wrote, and to the neighbors who never replied. I eventually taught myself how to type on my older brother’s Smith-Corona which was a great little portable but it had no character like the antique that got me started. Anyway. Long response but I love typewriters!
Aaahhh… I love that you used to type out your letters to Santa. I’m pretty sure I was guilty of that, too. Great response!
I am so happy to report that I have discovered (and purchased) an old Olympia “Progress” portable typewriter. Possibly circa 1930′s. I found it in a charity shop where it had been lying for a few days – was surprised that nobody had snapped it up before now. Anyway, I have ordered a new ribbon (thank goodness for Ebay), and cannot wait until I can press most heavily and deliberately upon those round black keys. It has a left carriage return handle, and not an undo or delete button in sight!
P.S I’m old enough to remember when electric typewriters came out. In school we had one per class, and took turns each week to have a go….