Hello Rilhardr and welcome to TT! I'd suggest starting a new thread with your questions as this thread is mostly just to allow new members to introduce themselves. You can either start a thread in the Standards sub-forum to discuss your needs for a re-enactment typewriter, or the Maintenance & Repairs sub-forum to get advice on fixing your machine.

Hi everyone,

Never good at these introductions, but here goes.

I collect antique fountain pens, telephones, and Aladdin mantle lamps.

After researching pen advertisments during the 19-teens, came across one for a typewriter.

Here I am!  Sounds fun & used to type on a Smith Corona portable many moons ago.

The problem now is conflicting information (some of it 5 years out of date) on the web, and on Etsy-- decals...

Uh oh... sounds like misleading or what we call franken-pens or franken-phones.  Someone has painted an item up all nice & shiney, put repro decal(s) on it, and now advertising it as "mint."

Maybe "Buyers Beware" so I signed up here to get educated before I buy.

Thanks for reading

--Brian
 

Retro-Z wrote:

I've been buying/selling and tinkering with typewriters for about 10 years now. Around 2013, I sold the last few I still had, but have recently been bitten by the bug again. I've always enjoyed the mechanical complexity, affordability, history, and visual design of these great old machines. They are all little (or sometimes NOT so little) works of mechanical art. 

I've always had a thing for the colorful, portable models from the 20s/30s and 50s/60s. One of my favorite models is the Olympia SM8/9, and I was recently fortunate enough to pick up another nice Olympia portable to replace the one I sold a while back. There are so many great typewriters out there, and I kick myself for passing on so many of them over the last decade. Anyway, I look forward to reading, learning, and sharing on this forum!!!
 

Cool.  If I run into problems with a Royal #10 I got off e-bay (assuming it survives the post office) maybe you can help me out.

The Olympia SM8/9's look uhmm... more portable?  ; D

Typewriters are making a comeback?  Recent local news story featured group of students meeting at a coffee house with their portables and typing away.  Looked like they were having fun. 
 

I had never really run into hipsters before until we visited Chicago for spring break.  We went to this place called Eataly, which was neat, but as my daughter said, "mom, I think we are in a Hipster Habitat!"  I'm still not really sure what they are all about.  I googled, but I couldn't make much out of it except they like to wear a mix of expensive vintage looking clothing, and actual vintage clothing, and like things like typewriters, gearless bicycles, and music most people have never heard of.  Most of the articles I found were filled with disdain for the hipster.

My husband has suggested that I should take one of my large typewriters to Starbucks. Either the Woodstock or the Underwood.  That would be quite a sight.  I'm not brave enough to do that.

Last edited by Spazmelda (29-5-2015 07:54:32)

Never heard of hipsters before you guys started mentioning them. :D