I agree with needing a case. If it did not have one, the machine is probably in pretty poor shape. Our Oliver 9 is an exception.
The ideal typewriter must be interesting. It should have a unique typeface, color or just be relatively obscure. I've broken this "rule" more than once.
An interesting machine need not be perfectly functional. I am willing to take my chances and sometimes take a few lumps.
When all my collecting started I set a maximum price and quantity of machines per quarter of the year as to keep things under control. That all went out the window when I bought over a dozen machines in less than 4 months!
My goal is: The typewriter must be a manual.
It must have a case. (no room for nice office machines)
It must be a working machine or require minimal repairs ( and this has not always happened)
I still keep the cost limit if at all possible. When a typewriter needs shipped sometimes I have to go over the limit.
Now if I could quit buying typewriters every few weeks.
1. It must be from between 1935 to 1965 (although my first Olivetti Lettera 32 was purchased in 1981, but it IS the same design as the first models from the Sixties). Anything from before 1935, I find them a little clunky to use. I'm talking mainly about my 1928 Royal Portable. Works like an old farm tractor, but it looks very, very cool.
2. It must be made of metal. No plastic.
3. It must have a case also. No desktop models for me.
4. It must be nice to type on, but I only find this out once I've purchased it. That's the only risk.
5. Each typewriter must be different. Having said that, I have two Lettera 32s, an Olympia SM2 and SM3, and a mid forties Royal QDL with another one arriving from eBay sometime in the next week or so. So there goes THAT rule.
So as you can see, my rules have been broken again and again. But I've had fun!
Speegle you crack me up. 1. manuals only 2. interesting in some way - typeface usually but "Speed Keys" sold me recently 3. To keep it I have to like using it.
I used to pick up everything and now I have a ton to give away.
1) I must like it: be it manual, electric or electronic. 2) Must be usable or easily repaired 3) Must be able to be put to regular work (hey, to this day I still fill forms on my typewriters!) 4) Pretty much what Speegle said... and boy, those big Selectrics use up a lot of space! (but I love typing on them!)
I am limited by space and money, so I generally stick to functional typewriters, but I have bought (with good results) typewriters which were explicitly stated to be non-functional.
I also like the range of history, so I will buy typewriters from any era. I have a folding Corona and a word processing daisywheel Smith-Corona typewriter and many in-between. I love 'em all.
I also have standards and portables, metal bodied and plastic bodied, electric (powered carriage and manual carriage) and non-electric, older and newer, with case or without, etc.
However, given my limits, and the fact I use typewriters for writing, I strongly prefer Corona and Smith-Corona and American made typewriters in general (Remington and Underwood, pre-WWII in particular). A good functional typewriter as a writing tool is the first preference. I have found, as I'm sure others have, the best manual typewriters for writing are from the era right before and right after WWII.
Since I view typewriters as the ultimate pen, I have a strong preference for manual typewriters, although I do like electrics, I keep my number of them sparse as they are not used as much.
I love this post! How did I miss chiming in? My rules:
1. Manual 2. Fully functional 3. Something I do not already have, be it because of typeface, color, or make 4. Portables only, with cases ... A rule only broken for my Remington Noiseless 7
These are just the rules for acquisition... I have given away or sold half the typewriters I've acquired, and one I keep are nice to type on, rare, have an unusual typeface, or all three.
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13 Kommentare:
Discipline has not been my strong suit.
I agree with needing a case. If it did not have one, the machine is probably in pretty poor shape. Our Oliver 9 is an exception.
The ideal typewriter must be interesting. It should have a unique typeface, color or just be relatively obscure. I've broken this "rule" more than once.
An interesting machine need not be perfectly functional. I am willing to take my chances and sometimes take a few lumps.
When all my collecting started I set a maximum price and quantity of machines per quarter of the year as to keep things under control. That all went out the window when I bought over a dozen machines in less than 4 months!
My goal is:
The typewriter must be a manual.
It must have a case. (no room for nice office machines)
It must be a working machine or require minimal repairs ( and this has not always happened)
I still keep the cost limit if at all possible. When a typewriter needs shipped sometimes I have to go over the limit.
Now if I could quit buying typewriters every few weeks.
1. It must be from between 1935 to 1965 (although my first Olivetti Lettera 32 was purchased in 1981, but it IS the same design as the first models from the Sixties). Anything from before 1935, I find them a little clunky to use. I'm talking mainly about my 1928 Royal Portable. Works like an old farm tractor, but it looks very, very cool.
2. It must be made of metal. No plastic.
3. It must have a case also. No desktop models for me.
4. It must be nice to type on, but I only find this out once I've purchased it. That's the only risk.
5. Each typewriter must be different. Having said that, I have two Lettera 32s, an Olympia SM2 and SM3, and a mid forties Royal QDL with another one arriving from eBay sometime in the next week or so. So there goes THAT rule.
So as you can see, my rules have been broken again and again. But I've had fun!
I kinda play it fast and loose with the rules:
1. Typewriter must be cool-looking.
2. Typewriter must be *mostly* metal.
3. Typewriter must work.
4. Person selling typewriter must refrain from irritating me for the entirety of the sale.
I started out with these rules:
1) Under $40
2) Functions
3) Cosmetically sound
After I got enough to be noticed and started taking up "too much" space, I changed to:
1) Functions
2) Ok'd by wife or easily sneaked into the home
3) Cosmetically sound
4) Top model for comfortable writing per Typosphere and PTF
That was good for about a year or so. My current rules, now that I have collected every typewriter I "need":
1) Free or really super cheap
2) Something I have to try out
3) Not going to end my marriage, if acquired
Speegle you crack me up.
1. manuals only
2. interesting in some way - typeface usually but "Speed Keys" sold me recently
3. To keep it I have to like using it.
I used to pick up everything and now I have a ton to give away.
My rules are very simple:
1) I must like it: be it manual, electric or electronic.
2) Must be usable or easily repaired
3) Must be able to be put to regular work (hey, to this day I still fill forms on my typewriters!)
4) Pretty much what Speegle said... and boy, those big Selectrics use up a lot of space! (but I love typing on them!)
1) Must meet my expectations of what is aesthetically desirable and stylish. I don't always know that myself but it's a gut-feeling.
2) "As is" is definitely out!
3) Plastic is out unless if it's an Olivetti
4) We must be emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually compatible. Yes, it's like finding a wife. ( :
I've tried to have some rules, but once I've broken them all... Now I only have one rule! It has be enough interesting to make really wanting it :)
Rules? Yes. I make them up as I go along :-)
Thanks for all your comments!
It was great fun to read them.
I am limited by space and money, so I generally stick to functional typewriters, but I have bought (with good results) typewriters which were explicitly stated to be non-functional.
I also like the range of history, so I will buy typewriters from any era. I have a folding Corona and a word processing daisywheel Smith-Corona typewriter and many in-between. I love 'em all.
I also have standards and portables, metal bodied and plastic bodied, electric (powered carriage and manual carriage) and non-electric, older and newer, with case or without, etc.
However, given my limits, and the fact I use typewriters for writing, I strongly prefer Corona and Smith-Corona and American made typewriters in general (Remington and Underwood, pre-WWII in particular). A good functional typewriter as a writing tool is the first preference. I have found, as I'm sure others have, the best manual typewriters for writing are from the era right before and right after WWII.
Since I view typewriters as the ultimate pen, I have a strong preference for manual typewriters, although I do like electrics, I keep my number of them sparse as they are not used as much.
I love this post! How did I miss chiming in? My rules:
1. Manual
2. Fully functional
3. Something I do not already have, be it because of typeface, color, or make
4. Portables only, with cases ... A rule only broken for my Remington Noiseless 7
These are just the rules for acquisition... I have given away or sold half the typewriters I've acquired, and one I keep are nice to type on, rare, have an unusual typeface, or all three.
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