Could those of you who love collecting typewriters imagine yourselves still having fun after your typewriter buying days had come to an end? That’s where I find myself now and I have to say that I’m enjoying my typewriters just as much now if not more than ever before. For one thing, at this point I have managed to work out most every problem that I have encountered with those machines that I own. No matter which typewriter I might choose to sit down and use, I can look forward to doing so free of issues. I have no doubt that new problems will arise at some point down the road (or perhaps an old problem will return to haunt me). That’s okay however as I have enjoyed tinkering with these machines in addition to writing with them.
What I am finding difficult is developing new content for this blog. Recently I thought that I might try my hand at writing reviews of those typewriters that I own now that I have been able to spend a few years using them. Rather than writing some sort of detailed review that stretches on forever (1 once tried to write such a review of my Olympia SG3 and it went on for something like seven pages) , I thought a more casual review might work better. More of a profile based on my experience if you will. What I wound up with read more like a love letter to the machine in question (this 1955 Voss ST24 that I am using now) . Then it dawned on me that this is likely to be the case with most all of the typewriters that I own. I only tended to buy those machines that others with similar tastes in typewriters thought highly of, while I only kept those machines that I ended up thinking highly of (with a few exceptions of course, none of us are perfect just as with our typewriters).
It seems to me that reading love letters that someone like me has written to his typewriters would be a bit boring, not to mention maybe just a bit strange. While plenty of others out in the typo sphere have managed to keep things interesting by writing about topics that are considered “typewriter-adjacent”, I don’t know how much this appeals to me or how much demand might exist for any additional content along these lines. For a while I was contributing short one page pieces of fiction to the One Typed Page site and I suppose that I could do the same thing here on The Typewritemosphere. At least those pieces involved the use of a typewriter. What it boils down to is that I’m feeling a bit stuck.
So I figured why not just ask those persons who take time out of their days to read the content that I create what they think. Does anything that I’ve mentioned sound of interest to you? If not exactly interesting, would you be likely to read it anyway9 Do you have any thoughts or suggestions of your own as it relates to this matter? I am open to any and all suggestions, though I don’t know how likely I would be to implement them. While my dogs make for a good photo op when seated at one of my typewriters, their typing leaves a lot to be desired. Or maybe it doesn’t, after all I can’t speak their language. Still, it’s not likely going to work out.
Please drop me a comment below if you feel up to it. While I will likely be able to come up with some additional ideas at some point, after my second attempt at writing a typewriter review I realized that it might be in my best interest to seek out the input of others. Thanks for reading by the way.
…Bill
AFTERTHOUGHTS: I forgot to mention that I don’t have an interest in creating blog posts that essentially read like personal diary entries. While those people experiencing difficulties falling asleep might find the stories of my life to be helpful bedtime reading, I really can’t see this going well for anyone involved. Besides, there are many others out on the typosphere who have this aspect of blogging covered who actually manage to do a good job of it.
Good Morning, Bill
Per your query, two things come to mind: (might be relevant or not).
1. Writing and communication relations “precepts” as explained to me once in JRN350.
(the word “rules” is used because I can’t remember it exactly, verbatim).
a) rules of engagement
b) rules of disclosure
c) reciprocity
and
2. This was in BUS450, although it was also likely in BUS101 but I slept through that one for a passing grade. I think it was pertaining to consumer engagement in advertising but might as just as well been applied to; vacation rentals and used car lot sales.
a) Attention
b) Interest
c) Education
d) Desire
e) Close (leaving the consumer feeling happily rewarded and wanting more).
Topic suggestions:
High and low point experiences in typewriter repair and ownership. (aka “war stories”)
The ones that got away.
When a typewriter is not a typewriter.
Why, and “ins and outs” and how to typewriter shop on; Ebay, ShopGoodwill auctions, Ebay, etc.
End morning coffee.
j kealani kai
Thanks Jim. I’m blown away by the fact that you can recall the course numbers of the classes you took. Meanwhile I find myself struggling to remember what years I was in school. Your topic suggestions are much appreciated.
Your dog at the typewriter photo inspires many a tale. Anthropomorphize your furry friend.
Cub reporter, aspiring novelist, ace detective or advice columnist?
Thanks Mike. While I can’t pronounce it, thanks to you I’ve learned a new word today. No doubt my dog could not only type anthropomorphize spelled correctly, but also pronounce it correctly (if she felt like it that is). Everything with her is mood-dependent.
Don’t let your brain stonewall you from the joy of tickling the keytops. Worrying about what other people want to read is nothing more than FEAR, and you don’t need some punk band from the 80’s stopping you from typing & posting whatever warms yer cockles. (:
I want your review of one of your machines, all the countless pages of it, and I want it by next week. We’ll start with that a couple times and then expand out once you’ve knocked a couple bricks out of that fearwall. 😀
I actually typed out multiple attempts at a review of my Voss ST24. In the end, they all read like love letters to this once smoky temptress. So I elected to focus on something much goofier instead.
Forgot to mention.
Awesome picture of a lovely dog. . . . !
k
While she couldn’t be bothered with sitting down and knocking out a reply at this hour, my dog Una says thank you.
I like to read other typists views about using these machines, what they like and dislike, how they manage to use a particular machine in their work to get the best from it, etc.
Also, in more general terms how you use typewriters to create is always of interest to me.
I’m certain it’ll be more interesting to read than you realize!
Thanks Joe. You’ve brought up some interesting ways of thinking about things that I hadn’t considered before. Much appreciated.
I’d be curious to know your thoughts on where you type a letter or blog post and how or why you would choose a particular spot to do so. Do you have a spot that feels more creative rather reflective, for example.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts Werner, much appreciated.
Just today I was thinking about how much I enjoy typing when I can look outside the window and see snow falling. This along with typing when it is raining outside are when I feel like my writing/typing is the most productive.
Everyone’s life is different. Just because some people write about their daily life doesn’t mean we wouldn’t be interested in reading about yours.
Besides blogging, I’d like to read the details about how you interact with each machine. For example, some in my collection are just better than others. Do you have a preferred typing technique for each one, like two-fingered for one and touch for another? Those kinds of details are interesting.
Also, how do you like to format your typings? When you type just for yourself, are they formatted differently than if it were a letter to someone? How about archiving your writings, what system do you use? How about when ribbons start to get faint, how far do you go before replacing a ribbon? Do you save worn but still workable ribbons for other machines? Et cetera ….
More good thoughts, all of them noted. Thanks again Joe!
My vote is for more Larry & Peggy, Typewriter Reviews, and Guth’s thoughts on (insert any topic here).
Ah yes, Larry & Peggy, lol. While not L&P, I did just post the beginning of a story that I was attempting to write about Ruth & Ronnie (see my post “Unfinished Business”). Totally different vibe, but still pretty goofy. Maybe you’ll have a suggestion or two for me as to where I might take the story next? Thanks Eric!
I wouldn’t call it love, but when I get a “new” typewriter up and running, affectionate words of praise along with a TWDB type sample are the first things I write. Like you, I feel like I could easily stop collecting since nearly all of mine provide a fine writing experience. Fourteen out of my 58 are electric models that I above and beyond prefer to type upon. However, I am a collector by nature, so I’m sentimentally keeping the manual ones for travelling or a change of pace. Eventually I may let go of some duplicate models, but I’ll always be happier having at least a few dozen typewriters.
Thanks Mei. Like yourself, whenever I bought another typewriter, especially if any tinkering was required on my part, the first thing I would do after the machine was in decent working condition would be to sit down and use that typewriter to write what I thought about it and how I felt about the way it typed. While that exercise might reveal a thing or two that still needed to be tweaked, in that moment I was generally feeling pretty enthusiastic.