- fountainpensplus
- Touch Typist
Offline - From: Eugene, OR, USA
- Registered: 11-10-2021
- Posts: 122
Re: New Member Thread
ravvale1 wrote:
Hi there. My name is Steve. I started this obsession/passion with a Hermes 2000 back in 2019, which I bought on eBay from a writing teacher by the name of Dean, who had written an essay on his eBay sellers page, explaining that while the computer and its great software might be the best *word* processing tool, the typewriter is the best *thought processing* tool.
I was struck by that idea, bought that machine (partially wanted a typewriter to write Quintin Tarantino a thank you letter for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and felt a typewriter was the best way to do that), and found that a) it’s true. And b) I have fallen in love with the typewriter as my best bet to write everyday.
So, in short; while I do have a small collection now (my current favorite and my main everyday writing tool being my Underwood TouchMaster Five aka “The Tank”), my main interest is using these brilliant machines for writing.
Great and grateful to be here.
Thank you for adding me.
Hello Steve and thank you for expressing your joy of typing. For me it was writing by hand becoming arthritically challenging. A neighbor reminding me that I once loved to type and then looking around I found this forum.
The first manual machine I roll over to my desk is also a standard; Olympia SG1. Thankfully I managed to find three great, rolling metal typing tables. At just under 40 pounds there is nothing 'portable' about it. The solid mass of the standards makes them the best to type on in my opinion.
George
- ravvale1
- New Member
Offline
- Registered: 07-1-2023
- Posts: 3
Re: New Member Thread
Hey George. Totally agree with everything you said. While I don’t yet have an arthritic challenge with writing with a pen, I have always had both a legibility problem and at least discomfort, if not pain writing that way. The computer was a kind of liberation, in that now, I could write, communicate and get through 10 years of rabbinical seminary, and years as a chaplain in the USAF.
But it still felt like a lacuna to me. It wasn’t me physically writing. And when I did, even I can’t read it sometimes. Never have that problem with a typewriter, no matter how many typos. As the title of a book about the beatniks says “The Typewriter Is Holy”! Amen!
- ravvale1
- New Member
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- Registered: 07-1-2023
- Posts: 3
Re: New Member Thread
The first manual machine I roll over to my desk is also a standard; Olympia SG1. Thankfully I managed to find three great, rolling metal typing tables. At just under 40 pounds there is nothing 'portable' about it. The solid mass of the standards makes them the best to type on in my opinion.
George
Just to add: yeah, while I love my portables, especially the Hermes 2000 and my recent acquisition of a Underwood 319 (basically Olivetti Leterra 32 with a plastic shell), there is nothing like the standards for getting hours of work done more easily for me.
I have a few older Underwood Standards I got either cheap or free, and hope to restore to use. The most likely candidate is the 150, which just seems like it needs cleaning, possibly a slight lubrication (not WD 40!), and possibly that’s it. That was $10. And other patient I hope will play again is an Olympia SG3; I got for about $25 from a ShopGoodwill auction. It already had a few problems, and I made it worse, by accidentally breaking the bolt that holds the carriage return lever in place. Hoping that I can get that one working also.
- fountainpensplus
- Touch Typist
Offline
- From: Eugene, OR, USA
- Registered: 11-10-2021
- Posts: 122
Re: New Member Thread
Hey George. Totally agree with everything you said. While I don’t yet have an arthritic challenge with writing with a pen, I have always had both a legibility problem and at least discomfort, if not pain writing that way. The computer was a kind of liberation, in that now, I could write, communicate and get through 10 years of rabbinical seminary, and years as a chaplain in the USAF.
But it still felt like a lacuna to me. It wasn’t me physically writing. And when I did, even I can’t read it sometimes. Never have that problem with a typewriter, no matter how many typos. As the title of a book about the beatniks says “The Typewriter Is Holy”! Amen!
Hi Steve,
Everything you mentioned about handwriting had been my experience. Then about 4-5 years ago I wanted to change that. It is seriously embarrassing not to be able to read ones own handwriting. The first thing I did after watching a number of videos about improving my writing was to get some fountain pens. I write in cursive and felt that the rolling ball of the pens I was using was like being on roller skates and for me hard to control. The other discovery was to write slower and space the letters just a bit. Before long my handwriting was fully legible and I was having fun doing it. Sadly in the summer of 2021 my letter writing had become painful and a letter would take many hours to write. Re-discovering writing with a typewriter meant no legibility issues and I once again was having fun doing it. Even today one of my penpals can be challenging to read some of it easily. That said, there are few things more wonderful than getting a personal letter in the mail!
George
- colrehogan
- Key Master
Offline
- From: Granite City, IL
- Registered: 05-2-2015
- Posts: 609
Re: New Member Thread
It has been ages (last login was 10-6-2019!) since I have been able to log in here. I am not really a new user, but since it's been so long since I logged in, I figured I would post here. My favorite typewriters are Smith Premier, Olympia, and Smith-Corona.
This forum is where I first learned about the Smith Premier typewriters and the whole notion of an upstrike or blind typewriter.
Nice to finally make it back here.
Diane
Smith Premier typewriters are cool!
- Uwe
- Moderator
Offline
- From: Toronto, Canada
- Registered: 12-3-2013
- Posts: 4,355
Re: New Member Thread
Welcome back, Diane. It has been a long time!
- •
Thread Starter- WJC
- New Member
Offline
- From: United States
- Registered: 20-1-2023
- Posts: 17
Re: New Member Thread
Hi all! I'm WJC, and I got into typewriters a couple years ago when I picked up an Olivetti Lettera 25 at my local Goodwill. I'm from the US, and though I'm new to typewriters, I find them fascinating and useful, and I'm glad to be here!
A Royal fangirl, through and through.
- Uwe
- Moderator
Offline
- From: Toronto, Canada
- Registered: 12-3-2013
- Posts: 4,355
Re: New Member Thread
Glad to have you here, WJC! 
- •
Thread Starter- colrehogan
- Key Master
Offline
- From: Granite City, IL
- Registered: 05-2-2015
- Posts: 609
Re: New Member Thread
Welcome, WJC!
Smith Premier typewriters are cool!
- Kalani
- Touch Typist
Offline
- From: Fountain Pen Network profile
- Registered: 26-8-2021
- Posts: 154
Re: New Member Thread
Hey George. Totally agree with everything you said. While I don’t yet have an arthritic challenge with writing with a pen, I have always had both a legibility problem and at least discomfort, if not pain writing that way. The computer was a kind of liberation, in that now, I could write, communicate and get through 10 years of rabbinical seminary, and years as a chaplain in the USAF.
But it still felt like a lacuna to me. It wasn’t me physically writing. And when I did, even I can’t read it sometimes. Never have that problem with a typewriter, no matter how many typos. As the title of a book about the beatniks says “The Typewriter Is Holy”! Amen!Hi Steve,
Everything you mentioned about handwriting had been my experience. Then about 4-5 years ago I wanted to change that. It is seriously embarrassing not to be able to read ones own handwriting. The first thing I did after watching a number of videos about improving my writing was to get some fountain pens. I write in cursive and felt that the rolling ball of the pens I was using was like being on roller skates and for me hard to control. The other discovery was to write slower and space the letters just a bit. Before long my handwriting was fully legible and I was having fun doing it. Sadly in the summer of 2021 my letter writing had become painful and a letter would take many hours to write. Re-discovering writing with a typewriter meant no legibility issues and I once again was having fun doing it. Even today one of my penpals can be challenging to read some of it easily. That said, there are few things more wonderful than getting a personal letter in the mail!
George
"Aloha" George,
Your mention of "arthritic challenge" and typewriters to the rescue. . caught my attention.
Over the past many years, my former Palmer Business Script cursive handwriting letters with fountain pens has devolved into an illegible jagged script on arthritis RBD's, (really bad days). Vintage typewriters to the rescue. And, electrics (SCM Electra 120's) on double RBD's for longer letters. Tinkering and restoration/refurb is a bonus hobby!
Anyway, thanks for your interesting input on "arthritic challenge" per handwriting. .
jimmy
"fountain pen network online forum". (still love handwriting)
https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/
thanks, steve, as well for your input.
