|
Post by mailartist on Mar 12, 2018 17:50:43 GMT
One of my pen pals mentioned a 90-minute documentary that I hadn't heard of before: "California Typewriter." There is a trailer online (link below), and we were able to stream the full version through our local library account and Hoopla at no charge. (It is also available through Amazon -- both DVD, and through Amazon Prime.) It's not a sappy, PollyAnna-ish expose with excellent production values. Instead, it gets you thinking about how "ye olde technology" can still fit in an e-tech life. Of particular interest is the actor Tom Hanks appears, who talks with great gusto about his typewriter collection. Also, The Boston Typewriter Orchestra, and the playwright Sam Shepherd. Well worth looking into . . . www.google.com/search?q=california+typewriter+trailer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b
|
|
|
Post by schnacks on Mar 13, 2018 12:37:36 GMT
|
|
|
Post by allanorn on Mar 13, 2018 18:54:19 GMT
Too funny; I just watched this on Amazon Prime. It's interesting for sure; I should consider getting up to the Bay Area to visit.
Now I want a second (or third?) typewriter if I can get my hands on some better ones.
|
|
|
Post by mailartist on Mar 13, 2018 21:17:34 GMT
Too funny; I just watched this on Amazon Prime. It's interesting for sure; I should consider getting up to the Bay Area to visit. Now I want a second (or third?) typewriter if I can get my hands on some better ones. I love that the first machine I got second-hand "just happened" to be the one that Tom Hanks would take to a deserted island, if he could only take one of his immense collection: the Smith Corona Silent. Sometimes "dumb luck" works in your favor . . . Now, if I could just dump the "smart" thing and revert to a functional rotary phone . . . .
|
|
|
Post by allanorn on Mar 14, 2018 2:33:29 GMT
Too funny; I just watched this on Amazon Prime. It's interesting for sure; I should consider getting up to the Bay Area to visit. Now I want a second (or third?) typewriter if I can get my hands on some better ones. I love that the first machine I got second-hand "just happened" to be the one that Tom Hanks would take to a deserted island, if he could only take one of his immense collection: the Smith Corona Silent. Sometimes "dumb luck" works in your favor . . . Now, if I could just dump the "smart" thing and revert to a functional rotary phone . . . . I would like to find a Smith-Corona portable for a good price to try out. The Sperry Rand Monarch I have has a high step between the rows and it is a beast to type on. Very durable, but I wouldn’t mind something with a shorter throw with my smaller hands/fingers. Open to others like Royal and Brother as well.
|
|
|
Post by tramplingrose on Mar 14, 2018 11:26:29 GMT
I just got a letter (type-written, no less) from a penpal who mentioned this documentary as well - I'll have to figure out how I'm going to watch it since I don't subscribe to any streaming services. Since we exchanged our last round of letters and I got my grandmother's typewriter back from the shop, I feel like typewriters are everywhere now! I was hoping somewhere my mom still had the old blue & white Smith-Corona I remember from childhood, but I think it got tossed out years ago. I'm on the hunt now for at least 2 more, because my husband & son each want their own, and I'm rather protective of the old family heirloom.
|
|
|
Post by mailartist on Mar 14, 2018 11:54:36 GMT
I just got a letter (type-written, no less) from a penpal who mentioned this documentary as well - I'll have to figure out how I'm going to watch it since I don't subscribe to any streaming services. Since we exchanged our last round of letters and I got my grandmother's typewriter back from the shop, I feel like typewriters are everywhere now! I was hoping somewhere my mom still had the old blue & white Smith-Corona I remember from childhood, but I think it got tossed out years ago. I'm on the hunt now for at least 2 more, because my husband & son each want their own, and I'm rather protective of the old family heirloom. See if your local library offers streaming for patrons. We can "check out" up to five movies a month, each one for three days max. All we had to do is enter our library card number, and request the film. We had immediate access (similar to an ebook check out). If they don't have streaming out there, they may at least be able to request a DVD copy for you through interlibrary loan. Contact them with the title, and see what they can do to access it. As for finding old typewriters, check online listings (such as Craig's List), or large flea markets. Our local Catholic parish has an annual rummage sale. Last year, I got two typewriters there (an electric, and probably the same old blue/white Smith Corona that you mentioned). The electric works perfectly (just needed a new ribbon which I found online), but the blue/white is in desperate need of a good "key clean." The "o's" don't type as little donuts, but as blobs completely filled in.
|
|
|
Post by tramplingrose on Mar 14, 2018 13:50:45 GMT
If they don't have streaming out there, they may at least be able to request a DVD copy for you through interlibrary loan. Contact them with the title, and see what they can do to access it. As for finding old typewriters, check online listings (such as Craig's List), or large flea markets. Our local Catholic parish has an annual rummage sale. Last year, I got two typewriters there (an electric, and probably the same old blue/white Smith Corona that you mentioned). The electric works perfectly (just needed a new ribbon which I found online), but the blue/white is in desperate need of a good "key clean." The "o's" don't type as little donuts, but as blobs completely filled in. I will see if I can get that from our local library. I have it in the back of my head to visit the couple antique shops here in town - I just haven't had the time to check them out. And during the summer, the city paper publishes a map with all the rummage sales listed for that week. I might have to be that person who makes frequent stops at every garage sale I drive past! Mailartist, aren't you in MN? When I was searching for a place to "tune-up" my grandmother's old Remington, I found a couple places around the Twin Cities (that's where I thought I was going to have to send mine). Otherwise, I can give you the name of a good shop in South Dakota!
|
|
|
Post by MKB on Mar 19, 2018 17:25:18 GMT
After viewing this video, I went to check out a Smith Corona Streamline (beautiful 1940’s burgundy model). Only, when I went into San Francisco to see it, it wasn’t working. One of the keys wasn’t connected, the shift was slow to return, and the machine had some light rust. I had to decline, bummer. Then after talking about wanting to use it for writing letters, and that I also use a fountain pen, the guy just plain gave it to me.
After some tinkering and polishing up, I was able to get it mostly working. The “L” sticks and there is an issue with the right margin not functioning properly. Still, if I’m careful to watch the right margin and pull the L key back frequently, I can use it.
|
|
|
Post by mailartist on Mar 20, 2018 0:40:35 GMT
I was able to get it mostly working. The “L” sticks and there is an issue with the right margin not functioning properly. Still, if I’m careful to watch the right margin and pull the L key back frequently, I can use it. "Mostly working" is what I love most about a typewriter (especially a manual one). It's a solid box of levers and mechanics, and since typing is so intimate a process, you become aware of a machine's quirks. Some of them can be "adjusted away," I suppose, but I think that some just add to the personality of the device and demand your respect. It's a bit like singing a duet, where you have to blend your voice with the other party, only in this case, you have to discover, and come to respect, the machine's temperament (which keys you have to hit a little harder, for example, and which will gum up if you type too fast). I suppose a fountain pens could have similar personalities, but with the large number of moving parts, no two typewriters handle in the same way. (There are You Tube videos of typewriter geeks going through cleaning/adjusting/using various models. Not sure if there's one for your new machine, but it's worth checking out.)
|
|
|
Post by MKB on Mar 21, 2018 13:46:56 GMT
So, the beauty of this old mechanical machine is that with enough poking and fidgeting I was able to get the stuck key working and the margin issue fixed. I noticed another issue with the left margin not holding. I could see something that was bent that shouldn't be, so I coaxed it into the proper shape, and now everything is working properly. I'm so thrilled, Ding!
|
|
|
Post by schnacks on Mar 22, 2018 17:08:47 GMT
So, the beauty of this old mechanical machine is that with enough poking and fidgeting I was able to get the stuck key working and the margin issue fixed. I noticed another issue with the left margin not holding. I could see something that was bent that shouldn't be, so I coaxed it into the proper shape, and now everything is working properly. I'm so thrilled, Ding! WOOT! May the typing commence! Enjoy.
|
|
|
Post by mailartist on Mar 22, 2018 18:41:43 GMT
Now, how to fit a traveling notebook into the platen . . .
|
|