A Typer’s Dozen: Ted Munk

Most people associate Thomas Edison with the light bulb despite the fact that he wasn’t the inventor of this device. What Mr. Edison did was to salvage a good idea and make it great. So it goes with Ted Munk and the Typewriter Database. While Ted wasn’t the original creator, he is the one who salvaged the Typewriter Database and made it what it is today. And in my opinion, it is indeed great. It is hard for me to imagine a typewriter enthusiast that hasn’t encountered the Typewriter Database. (If you happen to be reading this and have not visited this site, then I’d suggest you consider doing so.) Even if you don’t take the time to document your own typewriters (which you really should) then you should at least take some time to explore the site.

But there’s a lot more to Ted’s contributions to the typewriter community than just the Typewriter Database (as if that isn’t enough). Ted has also searched out and republished many different documents related to typewriter repair by way of his Typewriter Repair Bible series of books. Those of us who like to work on our own machines tend to appreciate having a good service manual available. If you have a recent car or truck for example, you might be able to obtain just such a manual directly from the dealership. Other such manuals might be found at a decent bookstore. 

When it comes typewriters, it’s a totally different story. For one thing, it’s not like typewriter repair manuals were typically made available to the public in the first place. Add to this the fact that there certainly aren’t any local typewriter dealers to be found these days and the typewriters owned by most of us haven’t been made in many decades. For that matter, you really can’t even expect to find old examples of these manuals at a good used bookstore. (Those of us who actually have a typewriter repair shop local to us should consider ourselves very lucky.) The need for self-sufficiency among typewriter owners when it comes to the maintenance and repair of these machines is at an all-time high. Thus the value of Ted’s tireless efforts to make such books available to typewriter enthusiasts really can’t be overstated.

To top it off, as you might expect Ted is also a typecaster, and has been doing so for more than a decade. There’s still more to the “Reverend Munk” than what I’ve touched on here, as when it comes to life Ted’s been around the block a few times so to speak. While I could go on, I won’t. That’s because you can find out more for yourself over on Ted’s website. I’m guessing I won’t be the only one to find it to be an entertaining experience, therefore I encourage you to check it out. Thanks to Ted for all of his many contributions to the typewriter community as well as for his participation in A Typer’s Dozen!

Q: How many years have you been a typewriter enthusiast/collector, and how many typewriters would you estimate that have you owned in total over this time, including those machines that you’ve sold, loaned out or given away to others?

A: Loosely since the mid-90’s, but really since 2010 when I discovered the proto-Typosphere and actually became educated about the machines and their history. I try to keep my “for keeps” collection to around 40-50 machines, but I’ve had probably 150-200 or so pass through my hands to be enjoyed for a little while then usually given to someone who wanted one.

The for-keepsies

Q: What was your first typewriter and how did you end up with it?

A: The first typewriter I purchased for myself was a $4.95 1948 Royal Quiet De Luxe from a Goodwill in the mid-90’s. I was just amazed that such a beautiful object could be found, fully functioning for such an absurdly low price, so I had to buy it even if I knew nothing about it. That was the start of my First thriftin’ for typewriters phase, and over a few years led to me finding another half-dozen or so Smith-Corona Super-5’s which I often gave away to literary-minded friends, and my first Selectric II. All of this I did in pure ignorance of what the machines were or when they were made. At that time, they were all just “typewriters” to me and I (like many fresh collectors) was convinced that I was the only person on the planet afflicted with the desire to own them. Back then, there wasn’t a lot of easily available information that suggested otherwise.

My very first love

Q: If you could only keep just one typewriter out of those that you own, which one would it be and why?

A: Fortunately, I will never have to make that choice. It would be a tough decision to make. Maybe that first $4.95 QDL, but maybe my favorite SM-7, maybe a Tower Commander or maybe my Swissa. Probably something small and ridiculously common like a Royal Mercury or Brother JP-1, assuming that the *reason* I could only own one was I suddenly had to move into a Damnation Alley-style RV and avoid giant, radioactive scorpions.

Apocalypse Typewriter

Q: Out of all the typewriters that have passed through your hands over the years, is there a particular typewriter that you wish you could have back?

A: Specifically, I gave my best Monkey Ward 440T to my nephew some years ago, and I have sometimes missed the swift, easy typing action that machine had. Generally, I regret not keeping the first Breadbox Quiet-Riter I found. That machine was a delight, and for some reason I’ve let every Quiet-Riter I’ve found go back out into the world since then – which means I generally miss Quiet-Riters because I haven’t found another in a couple of years.

Thunderbird 1

Breadbox Quiet-Riter

Q: Which typewriter took the most time and/or effort for you to obtain?

A: The only one that took any effort at all was the Swissa, which I had shipped from Switzerland. Even that was just expensive rather than effortful or time-consuming.

Q: Would you say that you’ve spent more time working on typewriters or typing with them?

A: Typing, invariably. Lately, though, since the NCV is still around and I haven’t done any serious thrifting for well over a year, I’ve spent a lot more time “improving” the machines I do have. Replacing bits, adding soundproofing and fine-tuning the adjustments to my taste. Lately, I’ve gotten into casting new rubber feet for my machines, in the quest for the original typing experience the way it was when all your rubber bits were fresh. It’s a magnificent improvement to have a fresh platen and feet on a machine. Basically loving the ones I’m with, as the song goes.

Q: What single development stands out to you for having the most positive impact on yourself as a typewriter enthusiast/collector?

A: personally? Becoming a part of the Typosphere and becoming friends with my local typewriter repairman. They’re interlinked in my mind as practically the same event. Without that, I’d never have taken up either the Typewriter Database project or Operation O.O.P.R.A.P., and that would have made my life much less interesting. (:

Q: What one piece of advice would you give to those who are just getting started with typewriters?

A: Rule #1 – you aren’t required to save them all. Be selective and get the machines that really attract you. Taking on too many at once will discourage you and lead to stubbed toes as you start leaving them on floors in hallways because you don’t have anywhere else to put them. Exercise patience and restraint – there *will always* be more to find.

Q: What are all of the uses that you’ve found for your typewriters (be it correspondence, writing books, typecasting, etc.) and which one of those would you say has consumed the most of your “typing time”?

A: Typecasting mostly, and a lot of random gibberish typed up just because I like the experience of typing on these beasts. I produce pages and pages of typescript each week, and just a little of it makes it onto the blog. The rest is just steam-blowing and introspection, screeds and just plain gobbeldygook.

Q: If you could modify a movie, TV show, or a song from the past to include a typewriter in some way, what would your choice be and how would you involve the typewriter?

A: Star Wars (A New Hope). The SW universe is seriously lacking in any sort of writing instruments. No pens or paper and there aren’t even computers with actual keyboards. The only books are handmade Jedi texts that are mainly a MacGuffin in the last trilogy. It’s nuts. Besides, the Death Star totally needs black Selectric 721’s on every console. 😀

Q: What other things in life do you enjoy besides typewriters?

A: I suck the marrow out of every day above the dirt. Oh, you mean what other *things* I like… Ahh, well, I enjoy the usual suspects like fountain pens, film cameras, retrocomputing, staplers & tape dispensers and other vintage office stuff. That is pretty much de rigueur among our type of folk, and I’m not immune. Old stuff from thrift stores for cheep is my bag. 😀

Q: What one question do you wish someone would ask you about typewriters or typewriting that you haven’t been asked thus far (and how would you answer that question)?

A: Oh, I’ve been asked a lot of questions about typewriters, and when it comes to typewriting the answers all come from within. I suppose one question I’d like to be asked more often is: “would you take this box of typewriter service manuals, NOMDA mailers and ‘Your Man Friday’ issues to scan for the Archive?” My answer to that question will always be “YES!” (: