Pirates and Typewriters in Germany

One more sign that typewriter fanatics are naturally contrary?  

German Parliament Bans Laptops, Pirate Party Shows Up With Typewriter

Spotted at Geekosystem

Venice Type-In: The Aftermath

Lots of write-ups and photos on the type-in held this past weekend in Venice, California. Looks like lots of sun and fun was to be had...

• Venice Type-In
  A Typewriter A Day Keeps the Doctor Away
• Venice Type-In...
  Streamlines DeLuxe
• The Venice Type-In and Plumeria: The Grand Debut of the Oliver No. 5 Print Type
  A Machine for the End of the World

Plus, some coverage in the LA Weekly blog:

While some of the folks featured [in the film] had an almost mockable naivete -- earnestly wondering why the typewriter went out of fashion -- others recognize them for what they are: really cool antiquated devices that combine nostalgia and literary functionality.

I'll let you decide which category yours truly falls under. (I'm hoping for geeky naivete, personally.)

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Did you attend the type-in or the movie screening? Drop a note in the comments and let us know how it went.

Baffle Their Minds with Bullsh*t

Here's a new documentary about a New Orleans street typist:

Baffle Their Minds with Bullsh*t, Kerry Leigh

Looks intriguing!

To Get Your Munson On

Boing-Boing has a short blurb on a Munson typewriter recently added to the Martin Howard Typewriter Collection. I find it interesting to see these different early mechanical design that ran rampant before the turn of the 20th century.

Seeing those familiar octagonal shaped keys from my own Oliver 9, I wonder if the Munson's keys were really like that or if this was a rebuild.  I'm thinking the latter, but I am sure someone around here with more knowledge on these earlier typewriters can correct me.

A Woodstock's Story

"I'm an old, 98 year old Woodstock typewriter ...." Read the rest of the story, as told to Jeff Hendrie, in this 4-page PDF. And you can see the machine itself in the September 16 post.

"When Hell freezes over"

I've been corresponding with 16-year-old Jeff Hendrie, a passionate typewriter user who sent me this shot of his 1914 Woodstock (published here with Jeff's permission):

Jeff has created a font based on the typing of his Woodstock, which he used to express just how much typewriters mean to him:

Jeff's further comments (click to enlarge):

If you'd like to have the Woodstock font, you can download it here.

Thanks, Jeff, and keep on typing!

Relevant to our interests

Here's a slideshow on "retro activities" that includes "using typewriters" AND "vintage sewing machines" in the list.  The Type-in linked to is the first Snohomish type-in.

Link here

A Real Typewriter Store?

Gary Yokoyama/The Hamilton Spectator


Over at Hamilton Spectator we find this delicious article on a shop that still sells typewriters, pens and rubber stamps.  A throwback from when it opened in the 1920s.  I'd love to step inside this shop!

A Highlight Article of Chuck Ternes of Petaluma

 Jeff Kan Lee / PD

I've spotted another typewriter repairman article over at the Press Democrat. There's a bit too many references to key chopping or the end results thereof, but I still find it interesting to read.

Now, over at Flavorwire there is an article and some images of typewriters, but this time it's not a story on the old typewriter repairman or that "last repair shop", but a new Kickstart project to create a large format 244-page book. The project is 65% funded, so there is still a ways to go.  For $45, you can get a copy of the hardcover book and be listed in the acknowledgements.  Not a bad way to spend your money!

Young Novelist at the Keys

Spotted on Canada.com:

Young mystery writer shuns technology while plying craft

Plante said he first started collecting typewriters when trying to think of a project to do with a visiting aunt who would soon be leaving. As he enjoyed doing restorations he suggested they fix up an old typewriter.
[...]
Plante recognizes it's time to begin gradually refining his typewriter collection. He said he will soon weed out the ones he doesn't like and focus on specialty items: continentals, or maybe typewriters from Russia. 

 Future Typospherian and Brigade member perhaps? Somebody alert the Nano Rhino!