Anyone Use a Typewriter?

Oddjob27

Lately, I've been exploring more and more ways to explore my creative side. I've been working on starting up a blog (thanks to @thebadgerpiper for the inspiration). I recently discovered something called "Typecasting" which is a form of blogging where you type on a typewriter and then upload a scan of your post. But the information out there on typewriters is, surprisingly, overwhelming. As I venture through this, was wondering if anyone here uses a typewriter?

If you are knowledgable on the subject, any info towards selecting a typewriter would be appreciated!

If you'd like to take a gander at my blog, bowlerhatandpipe.wordpress.com. Thankful for any visits and reads!

motie2

@oddjob27 -- Agent McGee (aka Elf-Lord) on NCIS finds using a typewriter helps his creativity flow.

i used to favor the Selectric typewriter, myself. But now I'm all about the keyboard.

thebadgerpiper

@Oddjob27 I don't own a typewriter, but the writer in me would love to own one someday. My grandparents owned a typewriter, and when I'd spend time at their house, I'd play around on it in my grandma's office. While the computer was more fascinating to me at that age (my family wouldn't get a computer until I was a teenager), I still appreciated the typewriter, and thought it was cool.

judandhispipe

I got one up in the attic, I think, that I used in college. Having written 20 page papers on one, I have no desire to ever do it again.

ghostsofpompeii

The thing I remember most about using a typewriter is having a lot of "White-Out" on hand for mistakes.

mapletop

@ghostsofpompeii

My recollection as well.

motie2

In my neighborhood there was no White-Out. We called it Correcttype.

PappyJoe

We were in an antique/junk shop last weekend and I saw a couple of 1950 era manual typewriters and they were priced at $250 each. I told the owner that if he sold them for that amount he should hit up other flea markets and buy the old manual typewriters they have for $50 each and make a fortune reselling them.

I learned to type on Underwood manual typewriters in high school and was able to achieve 45 words a minute error free. We had to type 28 words a minute error free to pass the class. 

Once I moved up to IBM Selectric typewriters, my speed got up to a modest 90 words per minute. The last time I looked a timed test on a computer keyboard, I hit 110 words a minute. That was shortly after I retired from the Coast Guard and worked for a Temp Agency and I had to take a typing test.

Oddjob27

@PappyJoe The 1950s - 60s era manual typewriters are what I'm looking for. I've been debating between the Olympia SM series vs the Smith-Corona Silents. There is a great documentary called California Typewriter I recently came across, great stuff if you enjoyed the typewriter. The Smith-Coronas and the Olympias can easily go up to $250, most of the ones I'm seeing are around that price. But I've found some that are under $100. The only difference is that the ones that are $200+ are usually serviced by a typewriter tech and will come with a 90 day promise. So... risk it not working or just fork up the money for the assurance. Haha! but 110 wpm is blazing fast! I'm around 98wpm. Maybe i'll take a speed test again today haha.

ghostsofpompeii

I just took a photo of the tobacco I'm smoking today and just so happened to use an antique typewriter we have, so I thought I'd include the photo on this post as well since it pertains to typewriters.

motie2

Ah, the problem posting photos you mentioned elsewhere.

Oddjob27

Well, here it is all! My "new" Corona Sterling. It's dated as a 1941 year model!

riobrusa

I had one, just don't remember what happened with it. Also I don't missed it, computers are a lot more practical.

Londy3

@Oddjob27, wow! Where did you get that?  Looks like new.
I have not touched one of those in years! Didn't know you can still buy them.

thebadgerpiper

@Oddjob27 That is awesome!

PappyJoe

@Oddjob27 - How did you date it to 1941? I didn't realize they made portable typewriters that small back then.

Oddjob27

@Londy3 got it from a local guy who was selling it. Belonged to his dad.

@PappyJoe Portables started coming out around the mid-1930s but the "modern" designs started coming out in the 1940's. Did research through a website called Typewriterdatabase and several other blogs to breakdown the serial number. In this case, my typewriter is a Corona Sterling aka 3A which started production in 1940, but the 3A was released in 41, afterwards most of these models were branded Smith-Corona. There is a possibility that this is a 1942 model but the serial number seems to be in line with those made in 41. 

PappyJoe

@Oddjob27 - Cool. I always like finding ways to "date" antiques. I don't see many old portables but do see a lot of the pre-WWII typewriters around.

ghostsofpompeii

Gonna try once more.

ghostsofpompeii

After being unable to post pictures for a month or two I'm finally able to post pictures again. So this is the picture of the antique typewriter I've been trying to post since this discussion started.

Oddjob27

@ghostsofpompeii Woah!! Beautiful Underwood! That's a great photo! And... talk about determination to get the photo up! Haha! That's awesome. thanks for posting!

ghostsofpompeii

@Oddjob27 It's a beauty - but damn heavy. Not something a secretary would have carted around. Once it found a place on the desk it probably stayed there for the duration. 

mapletop

The definitely built stuff to last back in the day, I miss that.