Category Archives: Olympia Socialite

Philly’s PRETZEL PARK Type-IN gets some media coverage

WHYY/Newsworks was nice enough to send a photog/reporter to cover last Saturdays clack-a-thon in the park. Have to laugh that the first photo is of me obviously chiding a young person: “Errrmph! Please type with just two fingers to avoid key jams–it’s like you’ve never used a manual typewriter before, really!”

Here’s the link to the Newsworks story.

And here are a few pics:

Young people encounter vintage typing machines...

Young people encounter vintage typing machines…

Bryan Kruk always brings some lovely machines; here a pair of Olivetti ICOs -- one in matte black and one in a glossy piano black. Bellissimo!

Bryan Kruk always brings some lovely machines; here’s a pair of Olivetti ICOs — one in matte black and one in a glossy piano black. Bellissimo, Mr. K!

Ah, such a crisp design could only foster concision!

Ah, such a crisp design could only foster concision!

Let's have a closer look at that OLIVETTI ICO, shall we? You know what's really annoying--that this machine types as beautifully as it looks! Thank you, men and women of Olivetti, S.A.

Let’s have a closer look at that OLIVETTI ICO, shall we? What’s really astonishing is that this machine types as beautifully as it looks! Thank you, men and women of Olivetti, S.A.

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Filed under Analog Events, Hermes, Hermes Ambassador, International Typewriter Appreciation Month, manual typewriter, Olivetti Lettera 22, Olivetti Lettera 32, Olympia SF Cursive, Olympia SG-1, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM7, Olympia SM9, Olympia Socialite, public typewriting, Remington typewriter

Tweens Take Over Philly Type-IN!

When you schedule a Type-IN and it turns out to be set right next to a big Pumpkin Fest for kids, you toss the program out the window and just keep loading paper into those machines and unsticking the occasional rugby scrum of type bars. These Tweens dug typing, and we went way over schedule. Michael Ardito of Hometown Business Machines helped with crowd control, brought a stack of his typewriters and gave out a lot of cards. He also answered some typewriter history and technology questions from the kids. Numerous parents had whispered Xmas present conversations, about which we can say no more, nudge, nudge, wink-wink!

This young man comes from a typewriter-equipped home; he set to  and immediately began a chapter story.

This young man comes from a typewriter-equipped home; he set to and immediately began a chapter story.

This is about the fifth set of typers we had on the machines–and we had a blast. Thanks to one and all.

Here's a group pic of tomorrow's typists!

Here’s a group pic of tomorrow’s typists!

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Filed under Analog Events, Hermes Rocket Typewriter, manual typewriter, Olivetti Lettera 22, Olivetti Lettera 32, Olympia SF Cursive, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM7, Olympia SM9, Olympia Socialite, Philadelphia, public typewriting, Remington typewriter, Type-IN

Ach! Not one more Schreibmaschinen of the medium persuasion.

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Oh dang, for $5, really what else could I do? It followed me home this SM-3 , like five bucks these days is practically free; yes I’ve got an SM-9 (or four) , and have little use for one machine more. It may wind up on the basement shelf, next to that SG-1 that seemed lonely by itself. “Restorable,” that hopeful word, will likely send this machine, and me, up to New York and Gramercy… Sooner or later, new
platen and rollers, then back to the Wilmhelmshaven herd, gradually transforming this rowhome into Mount Olympia. It’s the only maroon two- tone Olympia I have got… Why did I get it? How could I not?

 

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this story stated that the Olympia SM-3 was the only two-toned Olympia in Mr. McGettigan’s collection. This is incorrect, as Olympia SM-9s are generally cream and dark grey; as are the 2 Olympia SFs that Mr. McGettigan failed to even mention in his missive. The Olympia Socialite might be also, but it’s in the basement and we’re not going to check it, as that will just weaken the entire narrative even more.  Phillytyper more or less regrets the error, though we do not even feel a faded shred of regret having 9 (or is it 10?) Olympia typewriters, as some people collect Maseratis or Corkscrews and THAT is really weird, so let’s worry about them first, shall we?

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Filed under manual typewriter, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM9, Olympia Socialite

OK, Seal of Geek Approval!

Geekadelphia was nice enough to mention us TWICE on their website,

First, the Type-IN Jr. (SAT., Dec. 8th) — at Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom St., 1pm-5pm.

( should you Wonder What Exactly Happens at a Type-IN, Click HERE!  )

BUT ALSO, they mentioned the following week’s OBSOLETE DEVOTION Analog Holiday Sale (Dec. 14-15-16, Fri-Sat-Sun) — which is what you do when you wind up with way too many pieces of Tech Classic. (typewriters, Rolodexes, Polaroid Cameras, Filofaxes and Etc.) You sell some so you can make room for more…

That happens from 6-9 p.m. This Fri-Sat-Sun. at Trophy Bikes University City, 3131 Walnut St.,  Philadelphia

(special note for Fountain Pen fanatics–sorry, we now only have a few, new Lamys for sale)

Or click below for the video version…

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Filed under manual typewriter, Olivetti Lettera 32, Olympia SG-1, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM9, Olympia Socialite, public typewriting, Remington typewriter, Royal Quiet De Luxe typewriter, Uncategorized

Hulking Desktop

Here’s a ’50s (?) Olympia SG-1, nicely gone over by Gramercy Typewriter (had my other one repaired by Tom at Cambridge up in Boston) and boy, is this thing solid. If I was a big heavy desk top, I’d certainly welcome a chance to get out of the house, so will definitely be lugging one of these fellows to the Type-IN on December 8th... heh, have to mention it again….

BTW, this picture comes by its flare and graininess honestly–taken on Kodak Tri-X running through a ZEISS IKON Contessa folding 35mm rangefinder (also mid-1950s, just like the Olympias), with, er, a bit of fogging in the lens, and a shutter that gives you 1/25 at the 1/60 setting — but it’s a charming camera and the junk man only wanted $20, so….

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Filed under Olympia SG-1, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM9, Olympia Socialite, public typewriting

Son of Type-IN is tomorrow

The Recipe:

About 6 or 8 of our typewriters, easy. Maybe more. Sure, Martin Remy (Remington Portable #1), you may come with us–ditto Herr Doktor Olympia S.M. Nein, and Oli Lettera 32. Who else? Well, we’d better bring a Quiet-Riter so things don’t get too Nois-Ee. I suppose that at this kind of high-class do, a Socialite would certainly be welcome–but we’d better bring that square, Mr. Smith-Corona Classic 12, as a chaperone. Beyond that, it will be potluck.

One long “church picnic” table, since we said “potluck.”

A portfolio stuffed with regular typing bond, nicer stationery, envelopes, stamps, and the Speed Typing document–up till now a carefully-kept secret (even from myself!) — it’s a selection from Ernst Kreuder’s novel, The Attic Pretenders — an escapist fable and the first book published in Germany after WWII.

A little tripod and a few various (yes, digital) cameras. A small stack of event programs, sure to increase in value if stored properly.

Two typewriters as Grand Prizes for the Speed Typing Competition. Some lesser, er, “typoswag” for the runners-up.

A couple of short, type-written Radio Commercial scripts (one for our bike shop, one for the US Postal Service) that I am going to try to get some lucky people to read at our Station Breaks. Any variety show worth its salt must have the traditional “Word From Our Sponsor”, right?

A comb–since CBS Sunday Morning says they’re bringing a TV crew!

Ah, I know there’s something else, but it will be on a list somewhere–just have to find my map which has all my lists marked on it.

A Personal Appeal: If you  are planning to come, do please RSVP to phillytyper@gmail.com, so we’ll now how many deviled eggs to bring!

— thanks for typing, and just as important, reading what others type.

cheers

–mcget/phillytyper

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Filed under manual typewriter, Olivetti Lettera 32, Olivetti Valentine, Olivetti Valentine typewriter, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM9, Olympia Socialite, Philadelphia Daily News, public typewriting, Remington typewriter, Royal Quiet De Luxe typewriter, Type-IN

It’s ON! Son of Type-IN. Sat. 10 Dec. Philly. Same Place.

We're expecting you....

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Filed under Hermes Rocket Typewriter, manual typewriter, Olivetti Lettera 32, Olivetti Valentine typewriter, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM9, Olympia Socialite, public typewriting, Royal Quiet De Luxe typewriter, Type-IN, Uncategorized

Two Mature Technologies Walk Into A Bar…

Oh, so sorry for the long delay in posting here… stuck in ActualSpace, neglecting PixelSpace.

So… one day I realized that both typewriters and cassette recorders have this ribbon-y thing running through them, back and forth.

Both are chunky, and both create permanent artifacts. Both are occasionally feeling a bit, er, neglected under a wave of glowing tablets.

So, let’s invite fans of both to a cozy bar (restaurant, too, so yes Matt “Manyfingers” Cidoni, you are legal/invited!) in Philly, I thought, and called Mr. Fergus Carey before I could re-think. Fergie of course being Fergie, said, “Why not?” and now hello Tape N Type.   A Type-IN, but louder.    Activities will include: (but are not limited to) : Typing Speed Competition with wifty prizes, Mystery Mixtape Box (“One Tape Enters, One Tape Leaves”), Headphone Charades, Typewriter/Boom Box Swap, Instant Interviews and no doubt more. Bring Typewriters, Audio Cassettes and machines to play same, headphones/earbuds, journalist-style portable tape decks, Carbon Paper, and mixtapes to toss in said MM Box.

WHEN: Sat., 15 Oct. 2-6 pm

WHERE: Fergie’s Pub 1214 Sansom St., downtown Philadelphia, just blocks from Market East Station.

PRICE: Free, if you’re carrying anything relevant to the above list of Mature Technologies!

RSVP to phillytyper@gmail.com.

Here’s the poster below as a pdf

TAPEnTYPE

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Filed under Hermes Rocket Typewriter, manual typewriter, Olivetti Lettera 32, Olivetti Valentine typewriter, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM9, Olympia Socialite, Philadelphia, public typewriting

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Filed under Olympia Socialite, Uncategorized

Message on a woven, waterproof Medium

GIant leap sideways--this is a scan, not a photo, like I've been doing. Better? Who knows?

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Filed under Olympia Socialite, public typewriting