1 - JeffMo74
- Platen Punisher
Offline - Registered: 29-12-2017
- Posts: 78
How many machines do you have?
So I'm new to collecting (since December 2017) and I already have 20 machines. I was wondering how many machines most people have. Do you repair and keep them or do you repair and sell them? Do you have a favorite way of selling them (app, shop, craigslist, other)? Asking for a friend. Well, that friend is my wife. She thinks I'm nuts.
Jeff
Sub-topic: All-time favorite machine you have ever owned and why.
- Javi
- Touch Typist
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- From: Valladolid (Spain)
- Registered: 27-5-2016
- Posts: 182
Re: How many machines do you have?
20 machines in 2-3 months is quite impressive! Now, as for the questions...
Right now I have 192 typewriters. The last one is a Königer Eurographic, and shortly the number will be reduced to 191 because I have a Corona Special ready to be given to my uncle. I´ve never sold any of my typewriters (in fact I´ve only sold a mechanical calculator, a Summira 7) and my repairing abilities have improved over time. Collecting since 2012 and still going on!
My favourite machine... If I can pick two of them these would be the one I started collecting with, my grandfather´s Olivetti Linea 98 and the Continental Silenta. The first has great sentimental value and at the same time its fast and suits my typing better than anything else I´ve tried so far. The latter is the perfect balance between engineering and performance while still looking awesome.
TaktaktataktaktakcluccluctaktaktaktaktakDINGtaktaktaktakCREEEEEEEEECtaktaktak...
(Olivetti Linea 98)
- Fleetwing
- Typewriter Talk Vet
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- From: Hartford, CT USA
- Registered: 30-6-2015
- Posts: 1,011
Re: How many machines do you have?
JeffMo74 wrote:
So I'm new to collecting (since December 2017) and I already have 20 machines. I was wondering how many machines most people have. Do you repair and keep them or do you repair and sell them? Do you have a favorite way of selling them (app, shop, craigslist, other)? Asking for a friend. Well, that friend is my wife. She thinks I'm nuts.
Jeff
Sub-topic: All-time favorite machine you have ever owned and why.
This gave me a chuckle -- the "asking for a friend" part. I can relate! Probably need to (she'd say "No, you must") start unloading them. I guess I've got around 30.
- colrehogan
- Key Master
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- From: Granite City, IL
- Registered: 05-2-2015
- Posts: 612
Re: How many machines do you have?
Right now, the typewriter database says I have 43. However, that is probably a bit low as there are several that aren't on there. I think the number may be close to 50. 
Smith Premier typewriters are cool!
- Lucas Dul
- Speed Champion
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- From: Chicago
- Registered: 01-1-2018
- Posts: 250
Re: How many machines do you have?
I only have four. Nobody else in my household appreciates them like I do...they see them as “clutter” or “hoarding behavior.” 
Typewriter Service Tech (and avid nerd)
- Markmotown
- Touch Typist
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- From: Villanova, PA
- Registered: 16-12-2015
- Posts: 183
Re: How many machines do you have?
I've got 13 in my office, 5 at home, and 10 on my workbench.
I think the exuberance phase wears off after a while, and the rate of acquisition does as well, once you've seen more of "everything" and have more of them, too. I mean, how many Underwood 5's do you really need?
- skywatcher
- Moderator
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- From: The Prairies of Alberta
- Registered: 14-3-2013
- Posts: 735
Re: How many machines do you have?
Hi Jeff
What I found when I started collecting was I went kind of nuts about these machines, so probably have 50+. Now that I've been collecting for a few years, I've found I tend to gravitate towards a certain time period and style of machine. I've come to the point where I'm starting to thin the herd a little and focus more on quality than quantity. I can see myself eventually getting down to a dozen or so machines that I really enjoy using. The machines I move on have all been fully cleaned, serviced and tuned up with a new ribbon so whomever buys one from me gets a good working unit ready to type. Hope this sort of answers your question and gives you a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.
All the best,
Sky
We humans go through many computers in our lives, but in their lives, typewriters go through many of us.
In that way, they’re like violins, like ancestral swords. So I use mine with honor and treat them with respect.
I try to leave them in better condition than I met them. I am not their first user, nor will I be their last.
Frederic S. Durbin. (Typewriter mania and the modern writer)
- JeffMo74
- Platen Punisher
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- Registered: 29-12-2017
- Posts: 78
Re: How many machines do you have?
So what I think most everyone is saying is that I can comfortably get another 20-30 machines...thanks! What about everyone's favorite...maybe favorite "workhorse" of a machine, one you love to use frequently?
- •
Thread Starter- Fleetwing
- Typewriter Talk Vet
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- From: Hartford, CT USA
- Registered: 30-6-2015
- Posts: 1,011
Re: How many machines do you have?
Well, the SG-1 and SG-3 are always nice to use. I also like the Royal FP a lot.
For portables, Olympia SMs are all great; I'd give the nod to the segment shift machines (SM8 and SM9). The postwar Smith-Coronas, the 4 series (the "speedline" body style) are really nice. I think I like them better than the 5 series of the 1950s, and the 5s are excellent.
- Berwyn bill
- New Member
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- Registered: 10-1-2018
- Posts: 5
Re: How many machines do you have?
I have about 20 or so but some are parts mules to fix others. My favorites are my 1940 Underwood Champion Typemaster, 1947 Royal QDL & Mercedes k45. It's hard to pick favorites because they're all different but all wonderful.
