At Lucky’s Last Chance in Manayunk; typing up the agenda for Saturday’s Type-IN! (Olivetti Lettera 32 fueled with vintage Anheuser-Busch letterhead. Tomorrow: gather up chintzy prizes for the Speed Contest, ha. 
Category Archives: Type-IN
The Remington Agenda
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 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!
SAVE THE DATE: Oct. 25th • 5th Annual Type-IN • Philadelphia
Please note TIME CHANGE! Gather at 2:30 p.m. for 3 p.m. start.
WORLD TYPEWRITER DAY wrap-up
Well, for WTD, decided to make use of a lovely electrical outlet right along the bike path near my house–loaded up a bike trailer hitched to the trusty Brompton folder bike with an IBM Selectric II, a long cord and a little school desk. Stuck an Olivetti Lettera 32 in the Brompton front bag and rode 7/10 of a mile to the spot, right next to the Schuylkill.
Felt a bit like a snafu at first as runners and cyclists zipped past, not even bothering to look at the printout of the original Sholes, Glidden and Soule patent from June 23, 1868–much less the sheet proclaiming it World Typewriter Day. But soon enough some more curious types gave the Selectric a try.
Jay and Javier weigh in for World Typewriter Day
Sadly, I was unable to follow through on R. Polt’s “alternative materials” suggestion. I had brought along a couple Chemex coffee filters to type on, but never got them out. Also a bit miffed that no one took me up on some suggested letter targets: had brought a sheet with the mailing addresses for President Obama, the Pope and Benedict Cumberbatch, among others. Maybe at the next Type-IN?
Millennial Youth writes analog letter with Selectric II, by the river’s edge.
But this young man, a recent Upenn grad, did take the time to write a quick letter to a family member–I lent him a fountain pen to sign it with. Both action were firsts for him, I believe, and I suspect, for the letter’s recipient. As the sun dipped low, loaded everything back onto the trailer and was home in time for a little dinner. Bless you, U.S. Patent Office, for making this World Typewriter Day possible.
PS -An hour later, the mailbox had a snack, clunking its satisfaction at the evening treat from our Penn grad, now a consultant for Accenture.
(Typewriter) Key (& Peele) make Time
Are these hot new satirists dueling on Olympias?
Filed under Olympia SM 3, public typewriting, Type-IN, Typewriters in the media
AD HOC TYPE IN
Found myself selling some excess typers at the FRANKLIN FLEA in Philadelphia — a nice gal from Singapore and her entourage took turns trying out the machines. She bought an inexpensive Traveler C to bring back home… and will be bringing a Type-IN to Singapore, I predict.
PS– if you’re near Philadelphia on SAT, Dec. 21, stop by the FRANKLIN FLEA to check out my booth full of manual typewriters, slide rules, Rolodexes and Filofaxes, Cassette machines and more. (801 Market St., 10-5pm — 45 vintage dealers–and me)
Filed under manual typewriter, Olivetti Lettera 32, Rolodex, Type-IN
Keep A Sharp Lookout
Can’t wait to try Mr. J’s Words in Flight method of airmail. BUT for the nonce, will stick with another medium of transport–the river near my home.
Tossing in the missive here–yes, it’s not completed yet-figure that if Typosphereans could read the whole thing online, they might not bother reaching out to grab this half-sized bottle–still containing a few drops of good Ouzo! (from Plomari ) And– ha-on the company’s website–their contact page shows paper rolled up in a bottle–bit of authorization for this move.
Cheers,
-/ mcget- phillytyper
Unidentified Flying Opus
Burst the balloon: Conceptual artist Jordan Johnson ties helium balloons to signed and numbered pages so that they fly away when he is finished typing them. Happening today, 3 September in (where else?) Brooklyn, NY.
- LETTERS TAKE FLIGHT
By Jordan Johnson.
Well, with the price of stamps these days, will not be surprised if this catches on all over the typosphere !
Johnson will be launching his missives today at the Marathon of Speeches in Brooklyn. This Brooklyn Paper article has a bit more–er, except the time. Have resolved to: 1) Shamelessly borrow this idea for the October Type-IN; 2) Type and send a quick letter using a similar method and slightly different medium of travel. More on that in the next post.
Filed under Manhattan Type-IN, manual typewriter, public typewriting, Type-IN
TWO TYPE-INs coming to Philadelphia: 13 Sept. + 19 Oct.
SO– Here’s the scoop: first one (Friday, 19 Sept.) is a big benefit to help make the 215 Lit Fest happen. So it costs money (a cool twenty), but you will have a good time in a bookstore like you have never seen.There will be typewriters, including an Olivetti Lettera 32 on auction, and other goodies.
Details RIGHT HERE.
Second one (Sat., 19 October) is part and parcel of the 215 Fest, which will bring a great array of literary and musical talent to Philadelphia. It’s outside, free and will feature amplified typewriter haiku… among other things! DETAILS SOON.
phillytyper 