Typosphere vintage renewal in typewriters

While I have dropped many of my former magazine subscriptions for lack of time to read them, one I have kept is "Treasures" which covers the gamut from antiques to collectibles, two of my passions. This May 2014 edition featured "Typewriters:Soft Return"  by Jason Zasky with photos  by Richard Port on pages 22-27.  Besides the nostalgia,  and history, I learned of current day  type writer repair services; such craftsmen are few and far between but notable.  One repair service is Bill Wahl of  Mesa (Arizona) Typewriter Exchange; Bill runs the business started by his grandfather in the late 1940's.  Another is  Tom Furrier of Cambridge Typewriter in Arlington, Massachusetts. As mentioned most lack a web presence. Neither have apprentices and both are a soon to be  last of their breed.  If you  think "so what, who uses a typewriter?"  get a copy of this magazine and article.  I was amazed to learn that police departments, including the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department and the New York City Police Department still use typewriters today to complete reports they must do in triplicate.  Fascinating, and almost unbelievable in this day of computers and so many smart machines.  The collectors are also out there as well as the EBay sellers and buyers.
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My 1961 Underwood portable typewriter.

 For me this  is of interest because I still own my Underwood Portable, the Golden Touch model that was a  present in 1961, my  junior year of high school in western Pennsylvania.  It has traveled with me to California in the 1960's, our son used it to learn to type and in school, and it crossed the country back to Minnesota here when we retired. For a time  my elderly mother in law used it to keep her records. When she went into a long term care facility I brought it back home and today it is  sentimental to me  having been a part of my households for over 50 years and still in tip top shape complete with its original suitcase box and even the  booklet that it came with .  She is certainly not as portable as my smart phone or tablet as she has substantial heft and solidness, but she is gorgeous today and worth admiration.  

I learned there is an anti modern trend, an anti-culture  of preteens and college students who are newly discovering typewriters and are fascinated by them.  I recall seeing a typewriter for sale a year or so ago in western Pennsylvania and  being amazed, "who'd buy that."  Oh what a surprise to read of the new appreciation.  There are some bloggers out there in the typosphere, "Adventures in Typewriterdom" is but one mentioned in the  magazine article.  Typosphere, a new word, I love that. 

Notice the  lovely golden ears that supported
 the paper up as I typed. 

Back in the day, we all took at least a semester of touch  typing in high school regardless of  whether we were in the academic college preparatory trac as I was, we would be expected to submit typed papers in high school and for sure  that would be a requirement in college.  Today I know so called college graduates who never had to  research nor prepare a paper through their f years of college.  Of course the students in the commercial classes who were  bound to go on to business training and careers took typing and as I recall  most of the  guys in vocational classes as well. Learning to type  was expected, a  skill that would serve me all my life and still does today as I sit at keyboard.  Of course I have the smart phone and tablet and  can swipe with the best, but the feel of the keys is basic.  After reading this and taking her photos to send along to the deditor's request for photos of what we have, I  spent a bit of time tickling her keys.  That solid feeling is still there.  And  you know I have worn  the letters off computer keyboards in the past, but on the Underwood, as heavy use as she had in her day, the keys are just like new...no wearing away of the letters.  But then she's neither plastic nor made in China. 

George L Hossfield

Look at  the booklet which closed with a message from George L Hossfield, ten times winner of the World's Professional Typing Championship.  Yes there really  was such an event. I have scanned the cover and opening and closing pages...what a trip, proof that they really don't make'em like they used to and quality and value last to become vintage.  Years back our 19 year old granddaughter was visiting and had not seen a typewriter before, she was not interested.  Little would she know that  the anti group would  try to revert, as the typosphere culture kids  take great pride in trekking portable typewriters with them to Starbucks and the like and showing off the sound of the keyboard.  It is purely accidental that I kept the typewriter and I admit when we moved from CA Jerry said, bring it along,  you might want to use her someday.  I am glad we have her and was happy to read about the remaining  relevance of type writers. I even found a package of old time Co-Rec-Type-Rite Out with her. That was the kind that had to be positioned atop the paper and the same error keys re-struck to erase. Read what Mr Hossfield says about spelling, correct English and  taking pride the work you turn out.  More lost skills and another reminder of what made me me.  This will fit Facebook, "throwback Thursday."

Booklet cover original

First page