We will be sending pics “live” from the Type-IN…
— mike…
Filed under Uncategorized
December 10, 2011 · 12:37 pm
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
17 syllables; and a lament
where haiku happened
Above, at his typewriter, the Haiku master Nick Virgilio.
He wrote this:
My spring love affair
The old upright Remington
Wears a new ribbon
See more of his work and a lovely typed letter to another poet at
which is where the above picture came from.
And I had better confess with these three dashed off lines–
Cold December chills
Fifty thousand orphaned words
Failed NaNoWriMo!
A picture’s worth 1,000 words; 41% of a picture follows!
A long & wordy alternative to the usual short & snappy press release:
It’s been a year since the first Type-IN was held in Philadelphia at Bridgewater’s Pub, within 30th Street Station. This ad hoc event had several parts–—a typing speed competition with chintzy prizes; a typewritten letter/mailing session; and the swapping/selling of typewriters. About a dozen people attended. So did a squad of reporters attracted by the atavistic clacking of one-off printing presses. They wrote of the old typewriter’s newfound charm, versus the tide of fluorescent plastic now decreed to be the proper way to read and write. A number of stories ensued; even the New York Times took notice.
Since that first dinky event, Type-INs have been held in a dozen cities in the US [and a couple in Switzerland].
Neotyping was already underway elsewhere—via the Internet “Typosphere”, of course. Fewer writing machines are being slaughtered to make jewelry from their keys, instead being treasured by hipsters, which can’t be all bad.
The components of a Type-IN are hardly set in stone; it must include functioning manual typewriters and paper. Beyond that, the only limitations are what can be accomplished with a manual keyboard, conversation, and perhaps a beer. For that reason, many Type-INs have been staged in pubs.
It is my opinion that using an acoustic guitar affects what music is being played; same with a manual typewriter. Hand typing materializes writing that appears permanent and polished, yet fallible. You are suddenly holding an actual artifact that can be immediately examined, mailed, filed, given away or crumpled in a ball and arced into a trash basket.
Typewritten pages can be read by anyone—but not by everyone at once. They can’t be directly scanned for commercial, political or criminal gain. They can be scanned and shared as a hybrid of hand and web.
While various agencies may still open and read letters, the risk of this is small. There is the fact that high tech (even with so-called touch screens) is low touch. Our hands evolved to act with skill and force on the world we describe in words. Here are three words about manual typing: Privacy. Proficiency. Permanence.
For these and other reasons (such as having far too many typing machines), there will be a second (Son Of) Type-IN, in Philadelphia, on Sat., Dec. 10th from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Bridgewater’s Pub–located in 30th Street Station, 30th & Market Streets.
Attendees can expect to encounter: a Typing Speed Competition (fastest woman and fastest man each will win a typewriter), a Holiday Letter Writer Session — with nice stationery and envelopes provided– a typewriter swap/sale, a Roller Call (we’ll explain it when you get there), and a bit more, all within the casual confines of a classic saloon/restaurant.
(all ages • FREE with manual typewriter or stamped envelope
RSVP: phillytyper@gmail.com info: http://www.phillytyper.com )
— Michael McGettigan
Filed under Uncategorized
Bob D., Joan B, Olympia SG
Er, for some reason never thought of this clip before… but there’s something neat about Dylan trying to get a lyric from notebook to typed page (I think, you can see him sort of nodding his head to check if a line scans OK… ) while Baez warbles for the camera… each pursuing their path as single-mindedly as possible under the circumstances…. Looks like Joan is playing a Gibson… Thanks R. Polt, who says Dylan is strumming an Olympia SG1!
Filed under Olivetti Lettera 32, Uncategorized
It’s ON! Son of Type-IN. Sat. 10 Dec. Philly. Same Place.
We're expecting you....
Olympian apparition haunts skating rink
Type Writ(ing) Large, courtesy of Kodak Carousel
Filed under manual typewriter, Olympia SM 3, Olympia SM9
phillytyper 