Just haven’t been able to get my hands on machines during the stay-at-home and what-have-you. It’s weird. Most of my machines are all at my dad’s workspace, and I’ve been reluctant to share airspace there because of his health. My husband is still working in an essential job, so my daily “pool” of contacts is around 30 — not including the members of the public with whom they are in contact. You’d think with no job and supposed extra time on my hands, I would figure out a way to delve into machines. Sadly, I don’t think I’ve touched a one save for moving the ever-growing pile around the house ..read more

This is a placeholder post. I need to scan some documents this week and tell the story about the typing contest that happened last Wednesday. For now, here is my favorite typing machine at the moment. 1949 SC Silent (paper washi tape added for zing): I don’t know why, but I fly on this thing and my errors are few. I even took her to a writing retreat on Saturday and got soooooo much work done. I thanked the other retreat participants for tolerating her sound. I am in love. It’s silly. She even smells good. And yes. Even though I am a staunch feminist and humanist, she is a she. Here is some f ..read more

It’s a month for typewriter events for me. This is nice, as it gets me in the mindset for my trip to Herman’s in October. My friend Hollie has a gorgeous store with all sorts of delightful mid-century modern things. I volunteered to sit and type poems, etc. for her grand re-opening tonight. This is the first time ever that I’ve done this! I had no idea how it would go. I had been thinking about various machines I could use when I remembered I had this beauty. It took a little time earlier today to get it typing well again, but it finally warmed up to the task. I think when I threatened to onl ..read more

As luck would have it, I was able to make it to my second typewriter gathering this month, this time in Oklahoma City. Hosted by Russtic Typewriters, aka repairman Cody Russ, it was a stellar first-time go. The bookstore kept tabs on attendance and counted over fifty folks coming in for the event. I was determined this time to focus less on ribbons and repairs and more on having fun and helping folks. Mission accomplished, though I didn’t take a ton of photos. (Someone else did, with a real camera, so I am sure we will see them online soon.) The bookstore, Full Circle Books, is a beautiful spa ..read more

I got to drive out to the gathering again this year (I missed it last year). The trip out was fast and easy, and it’s fun to be staying with my old housemate and friend in Lakewood. There are always fun machines here, and wow, the food! The best part, though, is the people. The small group, most of whom know one another, and we get new folks now and then. What fun! Here we are sitting around after a fantastic lunch, listening to FISHerman telling us stories about super-collectible machines and low, low serial numbers. I arrived with three machines and will leave with… five? One was on loan to ..read more

Posting these photos quickly to help someone else with a repair ..read more

Last year the case was smaller and the machine was still in it: I’ve got an empty 1940s Underwood case at home. I think he’s gonna get a Christmas present this year ..read more