It’s raining. Well, it’s actually misting. Well, that’s not really either true, it’s more like high humidity where you get wet by just standing there. Anyway it is refreshing!
One of my favorite coffeehouses in town is the Bean Cycle. It used to share space with a used book store and printing press company called Wolverine Farm. Within the past year, they moved to a new location of its own. It is a place for local authors and poets to sit and write, have a coffee, connect with other writers and have their work published. This past week I stopped by and discovered they had four older typewriters that customers could use. Just bring your own paper. I’m tempted to bring some paper and plunk away as its been a few years since I used one.
7 Comments
Tom Dills
Nice! I’ve got an old Underwood machine but I’m not certain of it’s provenance. The last time I had it out was for a “Letter to Santa” when the kids were little. That was a long time ago, but I’d bet that other than needing a new ribbon it probably works fine. I’d love to see a photo of that letter once you’ve typed it!
Monte Stevens
I guess the new millennials would call this an analog device. As Scottie would say, “How quaint.”
Joe
I haven’t felt typewriter keys under my fingers in many a year. We had an old Royal I believe that I used for homework papers and such. I can still recall the sound of the bell. There’s a movie out recently called “California Typewriter” that I’ve been wanting to see and has Tom Hanks with his large collection.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5966990/?ref_=nv_sr_3
Monte Stevens
The last time I touched one was probably in junior high (a couple years ago). Good memories and I still remember the line we typed at least a zillion times, “Every good man must come to the side of his country.”
Joe
We had two sentences:
The Quick Brown Fox Jumped Over the Lazy Brown Dog.
and
All Good Men Must Come to the aide of Their Country.
Though lacking Romance, I do much better on a computer
Cedric Canard
As beautifully crafted as many of these machines were (especially the non-electric models), I can’t say I feel any nostalgia for them or any desire to use them. Though I have seen some computer keyboards made to replicate the look and feel of these old typewriters and some do look rather gorgeous made of brass with round key pads much like the one in your photo.
Monte Stevens
I understand you on that one, Cedric. There was no desire to even touch the keys but I had to stand and stare. I would have enjoyed watching someone use it.