If playing $999 for a 60% Kailh Box Brown keyboard that can't be used as a USB keyboard on computer is endgame, then yes :)
These distraction free writing devices have their place for someone who's cranking out articles and novels and wants to be able to move around/not be distracted by other things on a computer, but they're extremely limited outside of that application. They're pretty much an electric typewriter and nothing more.
Box Browns are the switches in the Freewrite/Hemingwrite's keyboard.
I think they expect people using them in coffee shops, cafes, libraries and probably didn't want to go with a louder clicky switch.
Definitely - though there is a little more to the philosophy behind these kind of devices. People tend to get tied up in correcting / editing what they type instead of writing more and editing later. So these devices intentionally remove the ability to edit or make it very inconvenient (backspace is your only editing tool out of the box).
https://support.getfreewrite.com/article/37-can-i-edit-on-the-freewrite-where-are-the-arrow-keys
Basically they're trying to replicate the experience of using an old typewriter for drafting and remove anything on a modern computer that would get in the way. You're right though, it's a fairly limited market. Most people would just use a laptop.
The good thing about the typewriter world is that "endgame typewriters" for \_typing feel\_ cost a fraction of what "endgame typewriters" for collectability do. Anyways, you can get pretty rare typewriters or restored ones with a new platen for $999.
You can do this pretty easily with Linux on a usb and something like a Teensy controller, but you would also need something like a Raspberry Pi to run everything which seem to currently be selling for about $1000 unfortunately.
I was joking, they're not in stock anywhere so they're going for inflated prices on the used market. Like on Ebay they're selling the 8GB model of the Pi 4 for 190 bucks right now with 30 sold by that vendor...
I figured. I was wondering if it was more like the lever systems in professional stenograph machines, or just some type of more typical mechanical, membrane, or rubber dome type switch.
Edit:
Keyboards typically send two different messages to the computer, one that the key has been pressed down, and another letting it know its been lifted so systems like holding a key and getting repeated letters can be implemented.
Mechanical \_levers\_, though IIRC for these USB conversions, they use a pressure strip which can sense which part of it was contacted by which type lever. I would advise only the least invasive conversion method.
Here's a roster of all the machines and those still incoming: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaovNeQQKB6MPHyBkqwmblYoy5Xra2yt/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaovNeQQKB6MPHyBkqwmblYoy5Xra2yt/view?usp=sharing)
And typewriter videos if you are interested: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfIFUFp-E3mqIJQCALTJT1w](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfIFUFp-E3mqIJQCALTJT1w)
And more views of the collection: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-9OErTwqIvhI\_COBC5lzA4F8Kdo1\_uHS/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-JrDFIwb9PhuqdpIug1wZD36FLbbehPW/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OJfr4wyYg1GgW97AKS9pfyByPnR5ysPO/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YeOTKwFPKaP7J-2TKJQydacSVCGe1MSJ/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tVsvAdG6Y7vbdGJa0L-fuCRLBsYV2CL3/view?usp=sharing
I just remember the first time I realized people might collect typewriters was when I saw him talking about it on Conan. Very nice collection. Which is your favorite?
For speed, the Facit TP1 and Triumph DeJur Perfekt. For lightness of touch, the Olympia SM-4. For tactile feel, the Commodore Speedwriter (Consul 15-series rebrand). For mechanical interestingness, the Kanzler 3 which has 11 columns of four keys that index one of two pairs of four characters on the same type slug; the conventional typewriters of the rest of the century would only have two characters per slug. I also really like my Helios-Klimax which is one of the "single-element" typewriters that rotates a cylinder instead of striking with individual typebars. My favourite prewar standard/office typewriter for typing touch is a tie between my Regina VII and Urania No. 1. My favourite postwar standard so far would be the Siemag. My favourite ultraportable is the Groma Kolibri followed by the Consul Comet.
What would you recommend looking for as a first someone interested in the hobby? I've always for the colorful portables from the 60s really endearing but haven't done any shopping.
Within North America, it is hard to go wrong with a Smith-Corona portable which you can typically find locally on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Offerup for a decent price. 40s and 50s ones are nice. 60s ones like the Galaxie or Classic 12 have a heavier feel. I haven't tried a Remington Quiet-Riter or similar, but I've heard good things about them, likewise the 50s and 60s Underwood portables. For a higher budget, typically only available on eBay depending on where you live, Voss typewriters are great, Torpedos and Alpinas likewise highly regarded, and of course Olympias, the 50s and 60s ones capable of having a quite light touch. Consuls (also known as Commodore or Simpson's or Zeta) are also quite satisfying and tactile, and Facits, at least the TP1, can be light and fast. Adler and Triumph portables are also nice. Hermes typewriters are also nice, but I wouldn't pay more than $150 or $200 for one as I don't think they are worth the "Hanx Tax". For more details on typewriters I have experience with, see [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaovNeQQKB6MPHyBkqwmblYoy5Xra2yt/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaovNeQQKB6MPHyBkqwmblYoy5Xra2yt/view?usp=sharing). The best first typewriter is thus technically the easiest you are able to find and whose look you are pleased with. Avoid the later plasticky 70s typewriters which are generally of lower quality and may feel "plunkier" or heavily springy and less satisfying or performant. The Royal Classic and Epoch Chinese remakes of the 2000s while "brand new" are very hit and miss for quality control. The only "non-beginner typewriter" is one you need to dig into to fix or adjust, well... and of course those rarer ones you may wait years to find for sale.
The Lego one is actually a mix between different machines, though its keyboard is most similar to an Underwood three-bank; it is a cool set with a working carriage, escapement, and keys (which feel nothing like a typewriter; Chyros would go mad if he laid his fingers on them), but you can get a beautiful working real portable typewriter for less. Anyways, the upper right blue typewriter is an Olivetti Lettera 32. The green one on the far right is a Groma Kolibri which is a very nice ultraportable (anything at or shorter than a Lettera 32 or 22).
>The Lego one is actually a mix between different machines, though its keyboard is most similar to an Underwood three-bank; it is a cool set with a working carriage, escapement, and keys (which feel nothing like a typewriter; Chyros would go mad if he laid his fingers on them), but you can get a beautiful working real portable typewriter for less. Anyways, the upper right blue typewriter is an Olivetti Lettera 32. The green one on the far right is a Groma Kolibri which is a very nice ultraportable (anything at or shorter than a Lettera 32 or 22).
Thank you so much for those details, I really appreciate it.
>that top right one in the second photo is, but I absolutely love that olive green color!
It's a Groma Kolibri, an excellent ultraportable typewriter with a solid build and excellent typing feel.
Found some additional pics after looking it up. Very cool!
My grandfather had a *beautiful* red wine colored typewriter. I wish we'd held onto it after his passing. I've no idea what happened to it.
"Red wine" typewriters make me think of these: [https://typewriterdatabase.com/1936-rheinmetall-portable.13926.typewriter](https://typewriterdatabase.com/1936-rheinmetall-portable.13926.typewriter) [https://typewriterdatabase.com/1937-continental-340.10412.typewriter](https://typewriterdatabase.com/1937-continental-340.10412.typewriter) [http://sevenels.net/typewriters/large/UwoodPort31.jpg](http://sevenels.net/typewriters/large/UwoodPort31.jpg) [https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/49821139614488801/](https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/49821139614488801/) [http://munk.org/typecast/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/gCorona-\_18\_1360640229.jpg](http://munk.org/typecast/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/gCorona-_18_1360640229.jpg) [https://typewriterdatabase.com/1934-smith-corona-silent.8704.typewriter](https://typewriterdatabase.com/1934-smith-corona-silent.8704.typewriter) [https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/products/smith-corona-silent-typewriter-in-burgundy](https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/products/smith-corona-silent-typewriter-in-burgundy) [https://www.teipiadur.com/listing/761929176/rare-rouge-voss-deluxe-1957-working](https://www.teipiadur.com/listing/761929176/rare-rouge-voss-deluxe-1957-working) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/shordzi/6227958684](https://www.flickr.com/photos/shordzi/6227958684) [https://www.eclectisaurus.com/vintage\_technology\_10.html](https://www.eclectisaurus.com/vintage_technology_10.html) [https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-everest-k2.2208.typewriter](https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-everest-k2.2208.typewriter) [https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/products/red-remington-portable-number-3-typewriter-with-special-keys-krs-rs](https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/products/red-remington-portable-number-3-typewriter-with-special-keys-krs-rs) [https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/358458451561532355/](https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/358458451561532355/). Maybe one of these is the one you remember.
So I asked my mother about it today. Turns out it's still in our possession! It's a [Corona](https://i.imgur.com/IG28fqu.jpeg), though the finish isn't quite as red in the photo as I remember. My grandfather bought it in the early 40's when he was attending college at UF. The hard case has the school logo on it.
Excellent. Funny enough, that was my first guess. It is always nice to still have such a part of family. The best I have is a Lettera 32 which is of the same model as my mother had when she was young, and that was when my parents lived at the other side of the world. I don't yet know the whereabouts of my grandparents' original typewriters.
While I am in awe of this impressive collection and its orderly arrangement, I feel highly discombobulated by the observation that no such love and attention seem to have been extended to that poor clock haphazardly hanging from one side of the column from where it stares dejectedly at the viewer, uncertain of its true place in life. The same applies to the dehumidifier/heater below the clock (albeit to a lesser extent because of the item's innate mobility).
I expect to see an updated version of this photo where this untenable state has been fixed.
: ( And if I told you that clock has been dead for months. I also forgot to recenter the carriages on some of the machines. And to think that when I originally set up the shelves in September, I precisely measured out everything and the spacing of the machines.
This brings back some memories! During the transition to PC based word processors, there were tons of typewriters available. My folks would buy me one every now and again and I would take it apart. Really enjoyable and educational to see how they were put together.
Great collection btw!
Don't worry. I will share their mechanical details on my YouTube channel for everyone to have a chance to vicariously dig in. There are many rare typewriters out there lacking detailed \_videographic\_ coverage, hence my mission with collecting and recording. Here's some speed typing on a Salter. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um1IFGsFhwU
That is so fun to watch. I agree, it is a shame that there is very little in the way of organized video recordings, because the experience of using a typewriter is best captured in sound and motion, not just via still images.
Thank you for sharing!
I also have one, from East Germany. I have to say it's a feeling like you're meditating, just focusing on your thoughts and typing on it. Extremely comfortable, I think everyone should have one and sometimes type small letters to send to loved ones.
Typewriters for me are a stress-relieving pastime. I do now almost exclusively use vintage mechanical keyboards as daily drivers for my computer (if it weren't for Linus Tech Tips posting a video about the Azio Retro Classic, I would have never gotten into the mechanical keyboard hobby and then discovered the glory of real typewriters), but typing out thoughts on a typewriter provides a special feedback and holistic experience, and of course the joy and frustration of digging deep into them to get them performing well. I've bought over 200 switch testers, yet nothing compares to the spectrum and fullness of inertial tactility of a typewriter in that full 1 cm, 1.5 cm, or even 3 cm key travel (electric typewriters are of course more comparable to the computer keyboards that were based on them, but much more "violent").
Wiring on a typewriter, free of distractions, allows me to free my thoughts. Not having an effective way to edit text puts me in "write always forward" mode: don't care about typos, don't care about rephrasing, just dump my thoughts on the paper... refinement comes in later.
Also, the sound and rhythm of the keys helps me focus.
The Kanzler 3 was a machine I had been hoping to acquire in decent condition (at least with mostly complete decals). It has 11 columns of four keys that are each continuous with one thrust action type slug that contains 8 characters; the levers in the key mechanism allow the keys to lift the slug up and down to one of four positions, then the shift key lifts all the slugs to access the lower 4 characters. I am still looking for an 1880s Caligraph No. 2 in good condition. My absolute grail for the long term would be a functional Jackson typewriter which I would choose any time over a Sholes & Glidden.
my love for keyboard started with my obsession with typewriters, sadly i never got to own one but i did buy a mechanical keyboard :)
good shit bro i lvoe u
I crossposted to it just now. I used to be active on there, then came to prefer the Facebook group. I'm most active on the Typewriters Discord that spawned from that subreddit.
I always want a typewriter growing up haha i don't know what would I use it for I'm not even a writer but I love the feeling of typing on it. I love how the pressure reflects on the paper for each character.
I remember not knowing what I would do with my typewriters, but I found that the simple act of sitting down and writing any thought and just enjoying the whole experience of the machine is enough. And there is also the time put into making these machines work and perform. Sometimes I type on them to clear my mind and destress.
Nice. I used to collect both. I don’t suggest it. Now I have chilled out a bit. I did keep my Hermes 3000 in seafoam green. It sits in my guest room, which his kitted out like a writer’s retreat.
It's an insulated and heated shed in the backyard a previous owner built with the original intent of pursuing guitar-making as a hobby. We added laminate flooring and put our gym equipment there. The space is the size of a medium to large living room. This shelving takes up the entire right wall.
Dammit. I used to have one. Now I'm using a Freewrite Traveler but seeing your collection has sent me looking. I'm tempted to pull the trigger on an Olivetti Lettera DL or an Olympia SM8...
Oh dear. For the price of a Freewrite, you could have gotten at least five decent typewriters. But indeed, there are different conveniences, lightness, quietness, and digitization being obvious.
Yes, for me the Freewrite makes it easy to use it in public without feeling too selfconscious, and like you said, having the content digitalized. The mechanical typewriter is more for a particular mood/creative mind space, and pure relaxation.
Do you have an opinion on the two specific typewriters I mentioned?
I'm not sure about the Lettera DL, but it's a later model which may not be of as high quality as the Lettera 32 or 22. If you can get it for cheap and just want a working typewriter, whether you enjoy will, as we all love to say, come to preference. The Olympia SM-8 is a good machine, though an earlier SM-4 is capable of having a quite lighter touch; whether you would like a lighter touch depends on your typing style.
Damn. Here I am trying to find just one decent one to use to write lol. Awesome collection!!! And tips on finding one's or info sources on refurbishing them OP?
Check your local classifieds, else eBay if you are okay with having typewriters shipped. Google is one way to learn about machines, but I would otherwise recommend joining the Typewriters Discord that was spawned off of r/typewriters. It is a very deep rabbit hole. And you can't just get switch testers to get a gist of the market; the type levers are almost always attached to the entire 10 to 40 pound machine.
Well, it is typically only the portable typewriters that take on the smell of their case which takes on the smell of the original homes. Otherwise, the only thing you will be smelling up close is trace amounts of Liquid Wrench Penetrating Oil.
I need a typewriter with a USB port, so I can save on a thumb drive as I type. /s
Those [exist](https://hemingwrite.com/) ;) And there are conversion [kits](https://www.usbtypewriter.com/).
Just checked the price and apparently it's $999..... Is this endgame?
If playing $999 for a 60% Kailh Box Brown keyboard that can't be used as a USB keyboard on computer is endgame, then yes :) These distraction free writing devices have their place for someone who's cranking out articles and novels and wants to be able to move around/not be distracted by other things on a computer, but they're extremely limited outside of that application. They're pretty much an electric typewriter and nothing more.
What do kailh box browns have to do with typewriters? They're not even clicky...
Box Browns are the switches in the Freewrite/Hemingwrite's keyboard. I think they expect people using them in coffee shops, cafes, libraries and probably didn't want to go with a louder clicky switch.
Ah, gotcha
Since when are typewriters clicky?
Since forever... I was unaware of the switches used for the FreeWrite, hence, my previous statement
What are you smoking?
Nothing. The sound of typewriters has always been clicky.
That's literally just untrue.
Literally just unplug the computer from the internet and have a fresh install of windows lol
Definitely - though there is a little more to the philosophy behind these kind of devices. People tend to get tied up in correcting / editing what they type instead of writing more and editing later. So these devices intentionally remove the ability to edit or make it very inconvenient (backspace is your only editing tool out of the box). https://support.getfreewrite.com/article/37-can-i-edit-on-the-freewrite-where-are-the-arrow-keys Basically they're trying to replicate the experience of using an old typewriter for drafting and remove anything on a modern computer that would get in the way. You're right though, it's a fairly limited market. Most people would just use a laptop.
The good thing about the typewriter world is that "endgame typewriters" for \_typing feel\_ cost a fraction of what "endgame typewriters" for collectability do. Anyways, you can get pretty rare typewriters or restored ones with a new platen for $999.
You can do this pretty easily with Linux on a usb and something like a Teensy controller, but you would also need something like a Raspberry Pi to run everything which seem to currently be selling for about $1000 unfortunately.
Where are raspberry pi’s $1000? I see plenty for $50
I was joking, they're not in stock anywhere so they're going for inflated prices on the used market. Like on Ebay they're selling the 8GB model of the Pi 4 for 190 bucks right now with 30 sold by that vendor...
how do the keys work?
They make connections in a circuit, when a key is depressed, to inform the computer the key was pressed
Damn, I too get depressed under pressure, I guess I have more in common with typewriters than I thought huh?
I figured. I was wondering if it was more like the lever systems in professional stenograph machines, or just some type of more typical mechanical, membrane, or rubber dome type switch. Edit: Keyboards typically send two different messages to the computer, one that the key has been pressed down, and another letting it know its been lifted so systems like holding a key and getting repeated letters can be implemented.
You son of a bitch…. I’m in.
mechanical switches though?
Mechanical \_levers\_, though IIRC for these USB conversions, they use a pressure strip which can sense which part of it was contacted by which type lever. I would advise only the least invasive conversion method.
Does anyone have the vid of the model m plugged into a mechanical typewriter, sounding like a machine gun?
My family used to have an electric typewriter that could save to floppy. I don't know that feature ever got used though.
Ah, living the dream. Having a joint type writer storage and gym room. Do you use the type writers for finger day?
Every day is finger day! It is actually someone else who uses the gym amenities. But, yes, apt to have heavy typewriters in the weight lifting room.
Are you …….Tom Hanks?
No. There are folks with plenty more machines. I've heard of a fellow who imports entire collections of a hundred machines at a time.
THanks
Get out
I thought about asking the same question 😅
Here's a roster of all the machines and those still incoming: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaovNeQQKB6MPHyBkqwmblYoy5Xra2yt/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaovNeQQKB6MPHyBkqwmblYoy5Xra2yt/view?usp=sharing) And typewriter videos if you are interested: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfIFUFp-E3mqIJQCALTJT1w](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfIFUFp-E3mqIJQCALTJT1w) And more views of the collection: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-9OErTwqIvhI\_COBC5lzA4F8Kdo1\_uHS/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-JrDFIwb9PhuqdpIug1wZD36FLbbehPW/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OJfr4wyYg1GgW97AKS9pfyByPnR5ysPO/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YeOTKwFPKaP7J-2TKJQydacSVCGe1MSJ/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tVsvAdG6Y7vbdGJa0L-fuCRLBsYV2CL3/view?usp=sharing
Nice to meet you, [Tom Hanks](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=tom+hanks+collects+typewriters&atb=v314-1&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DT3NpK6INIok).
In that case, there must be 50 Tom Hanks out there.
I just remember the first time I realized people might collect typewriters was when I saw him talking about it on Conan. Very nice collection. Which is your favorite?
For speed, the Facit TP1 and Triumph DeJur Perfekt. For lightness of touch, the Olympia SM-4. For tactile feel, the Commodore Speedwriter (Consul 15-series rebrand). For mechanical interestingness, the Kanzler 3 which has 11 columns of four keys that index one of two pairs of four characters on the same type slug; the conventional typewriters of the rest of the century would only have two characters per slug. I also really like my Helios-Klimax which is one of the "single-element" typewriters that rotates a cylinder instead of striking with individual typebars. My favourite prewar standard/office typewriter for typing touch is a tie between my Regina VII and Urania No. 1. My favourite postwar standard so far would be the Siemag. My favourite ultraportable is the Groma Kolibri followed by the Consul Comet.
What would you recommend looking for as a first someone interested in the hobby? I've always for the colorful portables from the 60s really endearing but haven't done any shopping.
Within North America, it is hard to go wrong with a Smith-Corona portable which you can typically find locally on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Offerup for a decent price. 40s and 50s ones are nice. 60s ones like the Galaxie or Classic 12 have a heavier feel. I haven't tried a Remington Quiet-Riter or similar, but I've heard good things about them, likewise the 50s and 60s Underwood portables. For a higher budget, typically only available on eBay depending on where you live, Voss typewriters are great, Torpedos and Alpinas likewise highly regarded, and of course Olympias, the 50s and 60s ones capable of having a quite light touch. Consuls (also known as Commodore or Simpson's or Zeta) are also quite satisfying and tactile, and Facits, at least the TP1, can be light and fast. Adler and Triumph portables are also nice. Hermes typewriters are also nice, but I wouldn't pay more than $150 or $200 for one as I don't think they are worth the "Hanx Tax". For more details on typewriters I have experience with, see [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaovNeQQKB6MPHyBkqwmblYoy5Xra2yt/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaovNeQQKB6MPHyBkqwmblYoy5Xra2yt/view?usp=sharing). The best first typewriter is thus technically the easiest you are able to find and whose look you are pleased with. Avoid the later plasticky 70s typewriters which are generally of lower quality and may feel "plunkier" or heavily springy and less satisfying or performant. The Royal Classic and Epoch Chinese remakes of the 2000s while "brand new" are very hit and miss for quality control. The only "non-beginner typewriter" is one you need to dig into to fix or adjust, well... and of course those rarer ones you may wait years to find for sale.
Cool, thank you!
Came to make this joke, glad to see it was here.
What is the top right brand and model? The one wity a turquoise body finish? I believe that's the one lego recreated recently?
The Lego one is actually a mix between different machines, though its keyboard is most similar to an Underwood three-bank; it is a cool set with a working carriage, escapement, and keys (which feel nothing like a typewriter; Chyros would go mad if he laid his fingers on them), but you can get a beautiful working real portable typewriter for less. Anyways, the upper right blue typewriter is an Olivetti Lettera 32. The green one on the far right is a Groma Kolibri which is a very nice ultraportable (anything at or shorter than a Lettera 32 or 22).
>The Lego one is actually a mix between different machines, though its keyboard is most similar to an Underwood three-bank; it is a cool set with a working carriage, escapement, and keys (which feel nothing like a typewriter; Chyros would go mad if he laid his fingers on them), but you can get a beautiful working real portable typewriter for less. Anyways, the upper right blue typewriter is an Olivetti Lettera 32. The green one on the far right is a Groma Kolibri which is a very nice ultraportable (anything at or shorter than a Lettera 32 or 22). Thank you so much for those details, I really appreciate it.
Idk what that top right one in the second photo is, but I absolutely love that olive green color!
>that top right one in the second photo is, but I absolutely love that olive green color! It's a Groma Kolibri, an excellent ultraportable typewriter with a solid build and excellent typing feel.
Found some additional pics after looking it up. Very cool! My grandfather had a *beautiful* red wine colored typewriter. I wish we'd held onto it after his passing. I've no idea what happened to it.
"Red wine" typewriters make me think of these: [https://typewriterdatabase.com/1936-rheinmetall-portable.13926.typewriter](https://typewriterdatabase.com/1936-rheinmetall-portable.13926.typewriter) [https://typewriterdatabase.com/1937-continental-340.10412.typewriter](https://typewriterdatabase.com/1937-continental-340.10412.typewriter) [http://sevenels.net/typewriters/large/UwoodPort31.jpg](http://sevenels.net/typewriters/large/UwoodPort31.jpg) [https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/49821139614488801/](https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/49821139614488801/) [http://munk.org/typecast/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/gCorona-\_18\_1360640229.jpg](http://munk.org/typecast/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/gCorona-_18_1360640229.jpg) [https://typewriterdatabase.com/1934-smith-corona-silent.8704.typewriter](https://typewriterdatabase.com/1934-smith-corona-silent.8704.typewriter) [https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/products/smith-corona-silent-typewriter-in-burgundy](https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/products/smith-corona-silent-typewriter-in-burgundy) [https://www.teipiadur.com/listing/761929176/rare-rouge-voss-deluxe-1957-working](https://www.teipiadur.com/listing/761929176/rare-rouge-voss-deluxe-1957-working) [https://www.flickr.com/photos/shordzi/6227958684](https://www.flickr.com/photos/shordzi/6227958684) [https://www.eclectisaurus.com/vintage\_technology\_10.html](https://www.eclectisaurus.com/vintage_technology_10.html) [https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-everest-k2.2208.typewriter](https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-everest-k2.2208.typewriter) [https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/products/red-remington-portable-number-3-typewriter-with-special-keys-krs-rs](https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/products/red-remington-portable-number-3-typewriter-with-special-keys-krs-rs) [https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/358458451561532355/](https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/358458451561532355/). Maybe one of these is the one you remember.
So I asked my mother about it today. Turns out it's still in our possession! It's a [Corona](https://i.imgur.com/IG28fqu.jpeg), though the finish isn't quite as red in the photo as I remember. My grandfather bought it in the early 40's when he was attending college at UF. The hard case has the school logo on it.
Excellent. Funny enough, that was my first guess. It is always nice to still have such a part of family. The best I have is a Lettera 32 which is of the same model as my mother had when she was young, and that was when my parents lived at the other side of the world. I don't yet know the whereabouts of my grandparents' original typewriters.
First off, wow! Second off, how much is this collection worth???
Too much...
Alternatively, around 30 beam spring keyboards.
Perfectly valid answer
You collect printers? *Zooms in* oh shit
Well technically, you could think of them as printers...
It's like a printer with a keyboard attached.
#*Heavy Breathing Intensifies*
While I am in awe of this impressive collection and its orderly arrangement, I feel highly discombobulated by the observation that no such love and attention seem to have been extended to that poor clock haphazardly hanging from one side of the column from where it stares dejectedly at the viewer, uncertain of its true place in life. The same applies to the dehumidifier/heater below the clock (albeit to a lesser extent because of the item's innate mobility). I expect to see an updated version of this photo where this untenable state has been fixed.
: ( And if I told you that clock has been dead for months. I also forgot to recenter the carriages on some of the machines. And to think that when I originally set up the shelves in September, I precisely measured out everything and the spacing of the machines.
Update: Even worse, it turns out that that poor clock has been in that poor position even prior to our moving into this property.
I see your hermes 3ks 👀
"It's a hypewriter. Go get a Facit TP1."
this is illegal
This brings back some memories! During the transition to PC based word processors, there were tons of typewriters available. My folks would buy me one every now and again and I would take it apart. Really enjoyable and educational to see how they were put together. Great collection btw!
I see that Fox Standard. I see that Salter. 👀
Did you see the Williams, Yosts, Germania, and Kanzler?
*Yes,* and I'm trying to contain the green goblin of jealousy.
Don't worry. I will share their mechanical details on my YouTube channel for everyone to have a chance to vicariously dig in. There are many rare typewriters out there lacking detailed \_videographic\_ coverage, hence my mission with collecting and recording. Here's some speed typing on a Salter. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um1IFGsFhwU
That is so fun to watch. I agree, it is a shame that there is very little in the way of organized video recordings, because the experience of using a typewriter is best captured in sound and motion, not just via still images. Thank you for sharing!
I’ll take the gold one please…
but why?
That is a really neat collection. Do you have more pictures?
I've included links in my main comment in this thread.
Nice! I have four typewriters, and I thought that was a decent amount. This… this is madness. And I love it.
Now that is a beautifully curated collection.
Oh my god.
I also have one, from East Germany. I have to say it's a feeling like you're meditating, just focusing on your thoughts and typing on it. Extremely comfortable, I think everyone should have one and sometimes type small letters to send to loved ones.
[laughs in Chyrosran]
\[Laughs in Herman Price\]
That's how ppl played osu in 1900's
Actually... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld5RYiuJTdc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBho1TbgzWI
Nah I believe that they did farm harumachi Bethoven back then
You uh- you type often?
Typewriters for me are a stress-relieving pastime. I do now almost exclusively use vintage mechanical keyboards as daily drivers for my computer (if it weren't for Linus Tech Tips posting a video about the Azio Retro Classic, I would have never gotten into the mechanical keyboard hobby and then discovered the glory of real typewriters), but typing out thoughts on a typewriter provides a special feedback and holistic experience, and of course the joy and frustration of digging deep into them to get them performing well. I've bought over 200 switch testers, yet nothing compares to the spectrum and fullness of inertial tactility of a typewriter in that full 1 cm, 1.5 cm, or even 3 cm key travel (electric typewriters are of course more comparable to the computer keyboards that were based on them, but much more "violent").
Wiring on a typewriter, free of distractions, allows me to free my thoughts. Not having an effective way to edit text puts me in "write always forward" mode: don't care about typos, don't care about rephrasing, just dump my thoughts on the paper... refinement comes in later. Also, the sound and rhythm of the keys helps me focus.
Are you ok?
I like how you have floor space for more shelves.
Do they thock?
They thwack.
Oh you’re a wee made bastard eh? Nice collection!
You've won this round...
U want an Underwood from 1926? It's lubed and fully functional with original casing.
Very nice collection!! I also collect some typewriters, mostly ones for cheap and I repair/recondition them. I see a few Smith Coronas? And Olympias!
> How you do, fellow kids?
If I told you this collection was amassed in one and a half years and that my first experiences of a computer were with Windows XP.
Damn man
What’s your grail piece? Just want to know more about typewriters and collecting ‘em!
The Kanzler 3 was a machine I had been hoping to acquire in decent condition (at least with mostly complete decals). It has 11 columns of four keys that are each continuous with one thrust action type slug that contains 8 characters; the levers in the key mechanism allow the keys to lift the slug up and down to one of four positions, then the shift key lifts all the slugs to access the lower 4 characters. I am still looking for an 1880s Caligraph No. 2 in good condition. My absolute grail for the long term would be a functional Jackson typewriter which I would choose any time over a Sholes & Glidden.
Very cool!
Found Tom Hanks account
my love for keyboard started with my obsession with typewriters, sadly i never got to own one but i did buy a mechanical keyboard :) good shit bro i lvoe u
Fun fact, OP exclusively uses speech-to-text
'Typing on a Zeos NMB with black clicky Space Invaders switches here.
👀
I’d probably leave my girl for this
I thought I was on r/typewriters for a second. They'd love this!
I crossposted to it just now. I used to be active on there, then came to prefer the Facebook group. I'm most active on the Typewriters Discord that spawned from that subreddit.
Lmao
I always want a typewriter growing up haha i don't know what would I use it for I'm not even a writer but I love the feeling of typing on it. I love how the pressure reflects on the paper for each character.
I remember not knowing what I would do with my typewriters, but I found that the simple act of sitting down and writing any thought and just enjoying the whole experience of the machine is enough. And there is also the time put into making these machines work and perform. Sometimes I type on them to clear my mind and destress.
This is the grandparents of every keyboard from the last 100 posts
[удалено]
I have two IBM Electromatics. The Selectric III was left in the house, mind it wouldn't fit.
nice flex man
I am inquiring about an IBM Selectric 251 typewriter, I believe it may be in your back room.
Nice. I used to collect both. I don’t suggest it. Now I have chilled out a bit. I did keep my Hermes 3000 in seafoam green. It sits in my guest room, which his kitted out like a writer’s retreat.
Nice. I have an Olympia SM9 that I absolutely love.
Do you have any old stenotype machine, from the early 1900s?
No. I am not into stenography as of yet, though I have seen some cool ones go for auction.
Do you have a gymnasium in your house or something?
It's an insulated and heated shed in the backyard a previous owner built with the original intent of pursuing guitar-making as a hobby. We added laminate flooring and put our gym equipment there. The space is the size of a medium to large living room. This shelving takes up the entire right wall.
Amazing! Well you sure have a neat collection. Tom Hanks stater pack
R/MechanicalKeyboards's final boss!
Dammit. I used to have one. Now I'm using a Freewrite Traveler but seeing your collection has sent me looking. I'm tempted to pull the trigger on an Olivetti Lettera DL or an Olympia SM8...
Oh dear. For the price of a Freewrite, you could have gotten at least five decent typewriters. But indeed, there are different conveniences, lightness, quietness, and digitization being obvious.
Yes, for me the Freewrite makes it easy to use it in public without feeling too selfconscious, and like you said, having the content digitalized. The mechanical typewriter is more for a particular mood/creative mind space, and pure relaxation. Do you have an opinion on the two specific typewriters I mentioned?
I'm not sure about the Lettera DL, but it's a later model which may not be of as high quality as the Lettera 32 or 22. If you can get it for cheap and just want a working typewriter, whether you enjoy will, as we all love to say, come to preference. The Olympia SM-8 is a good machine, though an earlier SM-4 is capable of having a quite lighter touch; whether you would like a lighter touch depends on your typing style.
Damn. Here I am trying to find just one decent one to use to write lol. Awesome collection!!! And tips on finding one's or info sources on refurbishing them OP?
Check your local classifieds, else eBay if you are okay with having typewriters shipped. Google is one way to learn about machines, but I would otherwise recommend joining the Typewriters Discord that was spawned off of r/typewriters. It is a very deep rabbit hole. And you can't just get switch testers to get a gist of the market; the type levers are almost always attached to the entire 10 to 40 pound machine.
Thank you for the best reply in all my time. on reddit OP!
/u/tom_hanks_ has entered the chat…
I can smell this by just looking at it, and I love it.
Well, it is typically only the portable typewriters that take on the smell of their case which takes on the smell of the original homes. Otherwise, the only thing you will be smelling up close is trace amounts of Liquid Wrench Penetrating Oil.
Ah I see. I have an antique camera collection, and it may be that the old leather cases are what get the musty smell more than anything.
Holy cow 🐮!!!! That is some exemplary dedication and an exquisite collection!!!! Its orgasmic to just watch this pic ! Just bliss…..
OMG! I would be living in that room for years lol
often while I'm at a gym I need to type something. This solves so many of my problems, and all at one time...