And when the owner of the house/apartment decides to redecorate, what happens to those typewriters? Into the trash, I expect. I have no problem with typewriters as decoration, as long as they don't as a result become disposable, like the cheap IKEA sofa that is no longer in style. Our next door neighbor has an old L.C. Smith (stuck keys from lack of use) sitting in her living room -- an object of curiosity but nothing more than that. I just hope she offers it to me when she decides she is tired of it.

Uwe wrote:

It's a tough call, but I'd much rather see a disused typewriter being kept as decoration than it being tossed in landfill or having its keys chopped. As long as the machine is appreciated and enjoyed, does it really matter whether or not it's actually being used?

I have two friends that each own one standard and have no intention of ever using their typewriter.In one case it's an Underwood that was owned and used by his father, and it's kept as a memento of him. He hopes one day to pass it on to his daughter who took journalism in school. The other guy has a Remington that is displayed along with other period items. He's a serious collector who deeply appreciates the value of vintage items, and enjoys the machine in a different way that we perhaps would. In both cases I provided them with detailed information about their machines, which they were very thankful for. I think they deserve to own these machines even if they don't intend to use them.

Most people, sadly, don't realize the history of these machines and how they helped to shape the business world, as well as communication in general.  In fact, we reminisce more about railroad steam engines, dial telephones, and even radio and black-and-white television sets way more than we do the lowly old typewriter.  But in its day, it was as important as the computer is today.  And because we don't appreciate it as much as we should, it has almost been erased from alot of minds as far as history goes.  It is up to us typewriter collectors to find these old relics, fix them up, give them love and attention they need and deserve, and show the world what it was like before the internet.
 

TypewriterKing wrote:

Uwe wrote:

It's a tough call, but I'd much rather see a disused typewriter being kept as decoration than it being tossed in landfill or having its keys chopped. As long as the machine is appreciated and enjoyed, does it really matter whether or not it's actually being used?

I have two friends that each own one standard and have no intention of ever using their typewriter.In one case it's an Underwood that was owned and used by his father, and it's kept as a memento of him. He hopes one day to pass it on to his daughter who took journalism in school. The other guy has a Remington that is displayed along with other period items. He's a serious collector who deeply appreciates the value of vintage items, and enjoys the machine in a different way that we perhaps would. In both cases I provided them with detailed information about their machines, which they were very thankful for. I think they deserve to own these machines even if they don't intend to use them.

Most people, sadly, don't realize the history of these machines and how they helped to shape the business world, as well as communication in general. In fact, we reminisce more about railroad steam engines, dial telephones, and even radio and black-and-white television sets way more than we do the lowly old typewriter. But in its day, it was as important as the computer is today. And because we don't appreciate it as much as we should, it has almost been erased from alot of minds as far as history goes. It is up to us typewriter collectors to find these old relics, fix them up, give them love and attention they need and deserve, and show the world what it was like before the internet.
 

It may be that for some people, such as those who have memories of slogging through typing term papers in school "back in the day," a typewriter doesn't exactly conjure up warm memories. Same for those who typed for a living, at least for a while -- the last thing they want to have in their houses is a typewriter. Not everyone has negative recollections, of course, and for some, the length of time that's passed has softened their feelings.  But I can see how a typewriter isn't the same thing for people as, say, their old transistor radio or record player.

  My 16 year old granddaughter  hand wrote  to me asking for one of my typewriters.  She reminded me of the fun she had playing with one when she last visited.  She added, "I promise to faithfully type letters  to you."  Sucker that I am I sent her my Olivetti Lettera 24 and Richard Poult's book..  Typewriter works well and is nice and compact.  Keeping my fingers crossed that she will bond with it (She is in accelerated creative writing, so just sayin' )