Hi, I'm Stuart. I'm 48 and live in the UK. I'm old enough to recall the tail end of the age of typewriters: my big sister was given a toy 'Petite' typewriter as a gift one Christmas, and I recall playing with that as a youngster. And I remember doing a couple of typing lessons on some big old standard machine at school in the early '80s, but, by that time, computers were already beginning to take over, and I was an enthusiast for all things digital. I only caught the typewriter bug relatively recently. A few years ago, on reading about the end of typewriter manufacture in the UK, it occurred to me that I should get one & try it for size.I'd already become newly-enamoured of other pre-digital technologies: film cameras, vinyl LPs, fountain pens & what not. My first purchase was a 1961 Underwood Touch-Master Five: an impressive contraption; but I only got a few months' use out of it before trouble with the ribbon reverse prompted some haplessly botched tinkering on my part which only made things worse. I put it aside, and at length parted company with it. Then, about a year ago, I caught sight of an Olympia portable in a local junk-shop, and brought that home with me. It was, I learned, an SM5, and it worked beautifully. Since then, I've made a start at a small-time collection, with five machines to my name so far. My latest acquisition was an Invicta portable dating from 1949 or so. I greatly enjoy using them all for writing letters to friends & family. Cheers,Stuart / misteraitch

Welcome Stuart! 🎞🎞🎞

tojeem wrote:

Is that a Graflex Crown Graphic I spot in your display picture?

Yes indeed! Although I confess that I haven't used it a great deal: I think I bit off more than I could chew attempting large-format photography... I do enjoy using medium-format cameras though, especially TLRs, and 35mm SLR cameras too.

Hello,
I'm Tony and I live in France. I will try to remember my English lessons to talk with you.

I bought a typewriter because it’s a distraction-free tool only. I had never touched (I'm 32 years old)
I bought first an olivetti lettera 32. I was immediately impressed by the intelligence of the engineer who made it. I thought about the Swiss watch and the clocks. So I started to get interested in it on the web. I bought a second machine (probably an olympia sg3).
Then 2 other (sm 8 and 9) I will put pictures to have your confirmation. I found an optima and a royal but I will wait to buy them. I only have 2 hands…
Regarding the primary purpose, writing is all I had dreamed of ... Only the writing and the pleasure of typing on the keys. See a text come to life before its eyes.
I was looking for a useful object and discovered fascinating machines. May be the beginning of a passion.
 

AccidentalScribe wrote:

Why Hello Friends! Im Raschelle (Ray-Shell) I live in a small town outside of Houston Texas.
My love of typewriters started at an early age I had a sears typewriter when i was 12 that my nana gave me but at that time you couldn't just order a ribbon offline. yaay for modern conveniences. I played with it for a few years but my parents eventually gave it a way and i havent had one since. Although i have been searching. not much to find around these parts unfortunately 

I am an aspiring writer and blogger, but i just prefer paper to technology. I sold my ereader very soon after getting it because i feel a disconnection from the word when its not paper. Strange I know.

All that to say i am very new to type writers I literally bought one  Saturday november 12. Its an Olympia Deluxe SM9 and its in fabulous condition. I paid 50$ at an antique mall it looks very well taken care of or possibly restored it even had a relatively new ribbon in it. the case is in great shape as well.
its funny I had my heart set on a smith corona for Christmas. but I saw this little guy in the corner of my eye and i knew i was meant to take him home.

This is my first typewriter. 

Welcome, Raschelle! And I think you should know that if you have an SM9, you will have a hard time finding another machine that's as good. So unless you have a collecting urge, you've just saved yourself the trouble (and money) associated with trying a bunch of machines.

Agree with you about the words needing to be on paper.