Tag Archives: Manual Typewriters
Typewriters meet Tech on April 29!
Philly Tech Week 2016 starts not with a bang, but with a beep, with the Dilworth ARCADE Party an evening bash for the digerati.
On Friday, April 29, the west side of Philadelphia’s City Hall will be jammed with coders, gamers, electronic musicians and more.
But WAIT–what’s that sound? That clickety, clack, ding! ?
LAST YEAR, WE HAD JUST TWO TYPEWRITERS AT THE ARCADE PARTY; they were a hit and we’ve been invited back to do a full-fledged Type-IN.
Yes, there will be a Type-IN at the Arcade, showing off the noisy mechanical roots of word processing to the youngest generation, digital natives for whom the typewriter has a completely different attraction.
Brian Kravitz (of Philly Typewriter) and Michael Ardith (of Hometown Business Machines) will be on hand with two rows full of manual typewriters, from vintage desk top machines to sleek Italian portables.
We’ll also have an IBM Selectric –arguably the peak of analog typewriting history–available to astonish those who’ve never seen a type-ball dance like a hummingbird pecking words onto paper.
We will have a Speed Competition, and other surprise activities for your type-writing pleasure. It’s free, of course–thanks to Messrs. Ardito and Kravitz, and Trophy Bikes , the semi-official stamp and paper sponsor of the Type-IN at Tech Week.
The ARCADE PARTY starts at 5 p.m.. We figure the Speed Competition (with chintzy prizes) will start at around 7:30 p.m. NOTE: spaces limited for the contest. Please sign up in advance when you arrive!
Scrap Typewriter
Bought some neat film cases from JapanCameraHunter; wrapped in newspapers. The characters are unreadable; but I know a typewriter when I see one. Was going to say it could be a Royal KMG , but I have learned my lesson!
Typewriter Power leads to a tuff writer
This vintage comic pic of a guy getting clocked by a desk top–OW–led to a clear-eyed, cutting essay by author Claire Vaye Watkins about the writing world shaped mostly by white men, and its effects on a woman navigating it.
Design Quirk Resurfaces, 52 years later!
So here’s the OLIVETTI Lettera 32, designed in 1963 by Marcello Nizzoli as an up date to his classic Lettera 22.
–and here’s a 2015 FUJI Declaration urban fixie/single speed bike.
… Vereee Interesssting…. Yes we do sell that Fuji model at Trophy Bikes PHL. Thinking of bringing in an L32 to show next to it.
Filed under Olivetti Lettera 22, Olivetti Lettera 32, Uncategorized
Philadelphia Type-IN is tomorrow! RAIN OR SHINE–we’ve got it covered…
Please join us in the historic Manayunk section of Philadelphia on Saturday, May 16th, for the Type-IN.
We will be at Pretzel Park, Silverwood & Cotton Streets (just minutes from the Manayunk station of SEPTA regional rail). Starts noon, Typing Speed Contest at 1:30 (must sign up by 1 p.m.).
NOTE: If rain is more than 50% in forecast, we will set up in LUCKY’S LAST CHANCE, 4421 Main St., in their palatial second floor lounge. But current weather report shows a long clear stretch from before noon to late afternoon.
Among the typewriters confirmed in attendance:
Olivetti Lettera 22 (as shown above) ; Olivetti Lettera 32 ; Olympia Socialite; Olympia SF, Olympia SM-3, Olympia SM-9, Olympia SG-1; Remington Portable One. All of these will be in working condition and ready to try out. (another dozen machines are on the way from Staten Island, so expect a diverse selection to compare. FLASH: New typewriter guests confirmed late Friday night: Underwood 5 , Underwood Noiseless, Royal 10, Singer Pro Portable, SCM Sterling, Underwood 21, SCM Galaxy 12, & more!
THANKS AND HOPE TO HEAR YOUR CLACK, JACK!
Filed under Uncategorized
The Remington Agenda
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. 
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.
Kids Collide with Typewriters
Here’s an interesting episode on Kids Devour Technology — where a group of open minded kids get some time with some “ancient typing machines.” Halfway through, ha— “I love this and I want to keep it, actually…” says one. The unseen narrator tries to paint typewriter use as a primitive privation, though… of course, it’s a TV kids’ “educational show,” so let’s no be too hard on them. Any typewriter exposure is generally a Good Thing.
phillytyper 