First of all, I should admit I have some kind of problem  after hitting the three-figure-mark and not stopping there... But I can give it up anytime I want, right? RIGHT?!

thetypewriterman wrote:

Sadly, very sadly, any typewriter on display in a museum which the general public would be able to use would end up being destroyed.  I can say this from first-hand experience having actually worked for a museum in a previous life !  Maybe the public have more respect for this sort of thing in other countries, but in the UK anything that is on open display tends to get destroyed in a most malicious way.  Usually uncontrolled (uncontrollable ?) children - but not always..........!

I´ve thought about that as well. I´ve been considering making temporary expositions, letting people try some typewriters which can endure some punishment and always being around to check if something goes wrong. A stable museum is much harder to manage for just one person.

So far I have experience with another kind of expositions: Playmobil. The experience has been mostly good, and sometimes I´ve been awed at how kind people can be. Thing is the starting point is horrible: in Spain if something is not nailed, glued AND welded to the floor some (insert insult here) will take it away and then brag about it. But sometimes it´s the opposite and when a little Playmo figure falls off people put it back in place!
 

Whenever I find time to do it, and in the end it can be quite a lot some days.

pdxtypewriter wrote:

Hello Typewriter Friends:
I already have an Olympia SM 9, and a Royal Quiet De Luxe (picture below), and they stay on the list. I like typewriters before 1965 or so.

1. Olympia SM9
2. Royal Quiet De Luxe
3. Hermes 3000, Elite type
4. Olympia SM3 or SM4, hopefully cursive
5. Olivetti Lettera 32 
6. Smith Corona Silent--or some other cool glass keyed machine from 30s or 40s.
 

First of all, I find these kind of questions very engaging and fun!

And now, here´s my suggestion for a collection. I´ll comment your choices (great ones, BTW!) and then I´ll pick from the typewriters I´ve tried.

1.- Olympia SM9: Agreed on that one. The SM9 is an all-enduring beast and it will never let you down. Since you already have one, not much to add here

2.- Royal Quiet Deluxe: Never tried one. In fact, I haven´t seen one either! They´re pretty rare in Spain, and when one pops up it´s usually overpriced beyond recognition. Happens more or less the same with Remingtons.

3.- Hermes 3000: Hard to argue with that one. It´s one of the best typewriters ever, so it´s a safe choice. As far as my experience goes with it

4.- Olympia SM3 / SM4: Unfortunately I haven´t been able to repair a SM3 I borrowed from a friend, so I can´t tell much about it. A similar option is the brutal Torpedo 20, able to take on anything or anyone.

5.- Olivetti Lettera 32: I think there´s something to point out here. So far, the chosen portables are portables... to a certain extent. I mean, you can´t just take them anywhere. Besides, typing with a SM9 on your lap can ve very exhausting becauswe it weighs a lot. I usually differentiate between semi-portable typewriters and fully portable ones. Larger typewriters are more durable, more stable and the normally can take much more punishment than little portables. Your choices are excellent workhorses, and if you´re

Something I see in typewriters (and maybe I´m nuts) is that they establish a bond between the machine itself and the owner. Maybe office typewriters are mere tools, but home typewriters are not disposable like plastic cutlery. You use them for years, and sometimes they are even inherited. Some of my typewriters are not "mine", I just store them. They belong to the people who have used it for decades and even if they have decided to sell them, the previous owners have left part of themselves on these machines. I even have a typewriter which has been used to write a poetry book, and IMVHO that gives that machine its own entity.

I want to think this is not that nonsensical. Some people stick to a watch for many years, and they´re more than just a trinket to know what time is it. Typewriters are writing junk, yes, but I bet they´re not the same as a gas meter, no matter how useful it is.

typeset wrote:

A word about pricing. I've found out that, at least in San Diego, buying from a dealer is the best, though not cheapest, option.

If you want a full working typewriter, then there´s no doubt about it: go for the dealer. You´ll get what you pay for, no bad surprises. Maybe you´ll even get shocked at how good a typewriter can be after a visit to the doctor if you´re used to "wild" typewriters.

As far as my experience goes, eBay is horribly overpriced, and then there comes the nightmare of shipping. That´s two serious setbacks, but there´s the thrill of the hunt as well. I´ve found my best typewriters in average/awful/abysmal condition, and after a good repair they´re just like new. Sometimes you´ll make a better investment taking some risks when buying, but it´s also true that it can explode on your face.

Conclusion? To be on the safe side, go to the dealer. But there´s always something waiting out there...