On Sunday, August 28, we held our first KyTyper Type-In at a very cool coffee shop here in Lexington, A Cup of Commonwealth. These folks have a real heart for our city and for building community and were totally onboard with allowing us to hold a Type-In. It's always tough to know just how many people to expect at a Type-In. We were pleasantly surprised that about 20 people came for a few hours of typewriter fun. We were a little short on space but everyone took it in stride and seemed to make the best of it. It was fun seeing the various typewriters that people brought along. There was quite a variety of machines - everything from an...
I hope you enjoyed my last article on what to look for when buying a vintage typewriter. When possible, I always suggest buying machines locally. It will save you time and aggravation. Of course, I realize that many of us will also purchase typewriters from online sellers so I thought I’d put together a few tips that may help you avoid some of the pitfalls when buying online. When possible, buy from sellers who are nearby. The greater the distance a typewriter must travel to reach you, the higher the likelihood of damage occurring to the machine while in transit. If you know much about how packages are handled by the leading shipping companies, you know that they are handled...
I’ve bought a fair number of vintage typewriters in the past and most weeks I’m purchasing another one or two for my collection or to refurbish and resale. I’ve made some mistakes and thought I would share what I’ve learned. Hopefully, you will find this information helpful. Buy in person when you can. It’s always best to be able to inspect the typewriter in person. It’s very helpful to be able to examine the machine for yourself without having to rely on a someone else’s description and photos to determine the condition of the machine. Check the carriage. One of the first things I do when evaluating a typewriter is to move the carriage. Does it advance when typing? Is...
I had the privilege of meeting Richard Polt several years ago at a type-in I helped organize (along with my friend, Brian Brumfield). Richard is well-known in the typosphere and has recently written a book that will be of interest to all typewriter enthusiasts, titled The Typewriter Revolution: A Typist's Companion for the 21st Century. He graciously agreed to be interviewed about his new book and I am happy to share it with you. Why did you write the book? I was surprised and excited to see people in the 21st century adopting typewriters, not as collectibles but as creative tools. There are lots of dimensions to this development—art, psychology, politics, education… but I wanted to see if I...
One of the most frequent questions I receive is "Can you still buy typewriter ribbon"? The answer is "Yes!". We're very fortunate that typewriter ribbons continue to be manufactured and sold. One can buy ribbons for most typewriters, everything from the Selectric I typewriter to vintage manual typewriters of all kinds. The next question often is, "Where can I buy a typewriter ribbon?". I'm happy to report there are several good businesses that can ship a typewriter ribbon right to your door. Let me name a few that I've had good experiences with. Baco Ribbon. This is my go-to vendor for typewriter ribbons that I use and resell. The customer service is outstanding and the ribbons are great. Baco ribbons are...
