ᛏᚼᛁ ᛏᛁᛒᛁᚢᚱᛁᛏᛁᚱ ᛘᛅᚾᛁᚠᛁᛋᛏᚬ

Now I've seen it all. 

Lukasz K. in Sweden contributes this version of the Typewriter Manifesto in runes.* Not just that, but runes typed on a typewriter!

*There are several different runic alphabets. This one, I believe, is the alphabet used on the Rök runestone, the origin of Swedish literature. For my post title, I used a different alphabet, the Younger Futhark.

Where do you get a typewriter that types runes??

You build one. More precisely, you print a runic typewheel for your Blickensderfer. Lukasz was inspired by Leonard Chau's 3D-printed typewheels to create his own, with tips from Leonard. I just love these international, collaborative innovations in typewriter technology!

You can read Lukasz's account of creating his own Blick typewheels here, and read about his runic typewheel here. He also has other fascinating posts about typewriters.

Now ... who will be the first to identify the language of the manifesto Lukasz typed?  ;)

The Siemag portable typewriter

The Express and the Siemag:

Skeleton shift on the Siemag:

You can forget about easy access to the escapement (the Express is the same):

The problem I ran into with the ribbon mechanism is that it depends on a hook that hooks around a tiny screw. On my Siemag, this hook kept sliding right off. 

Interestingly, the corresponding hook on the Express curves around more, so that it can't possibly get detached from the screw—a much better design. Could it be that this tiny difference made Siemag portables less reliable and contributed to their swift demise??

I was able to connect these two pieces by wrapping the hook in some shrink tubing, puncturing the tubing, and running a wire through the puncture and the screw hole. Ridiculous, but functional. The ribbon color change doesn't work, but at least you can type.

Click here for more examples of Siemag portables on The Typewriter Database.

Click here to see a big Siemag.

New typewheels for the Blickensderfer typewriter

You are looking at a revolution in retro writing technology.

Those who know antique typewriters will recognize this as a typewheel for a Blickensderfer ("Blick"), invented by George C. Blickensderfer and made in Stamford, Connecticut. This design was made in several models from 1894 to about 1919. (See the details on The Typewriter Database). It features interchangeable typewheels, a three-bank keyboard (usually arranged in the "Scientific" layout with the most common letters on the bottom row), and inking by roller.

The design was briefly revived by Remington as the Rem-Blick (aka Baby Rem), mostly manufactured in 1928. But for nearly a century, Blicks have been "obsolete" collectors' items and curiosities.

Here are some Blicks I've had in my collection over the years.

no. 5 (Polish DWIAMENSOR "Scientific" keyboard)

no. 6 (aluminum, QWERTY)

no. 7 (English DHIATENSOR "Scientific" keyboard)

no. 7 (aluminum, DHIATENSOR)

no. 8 (aluminum, DHIATENSOR)

no. 9 (DHIATENSOR)

Home Blick (DHIATENSOR)

Rem-Blick (QWERTY)

Blicks are very clever, but also relatively slow and tiring compared to a typebar typewriter. If only it were easy to find a Blick Electric, a 1902 model (available in a few variants) that anticipated the IBM Selectric! But these machines are extremely rare.

But let's get back to that revolution in retro writing technology:

This is a brand new, made in 2023, interchangeable type element for Blicks. Not only that, but it is equipped with a typeface that was never available for Blicks before: Steile Zierschrift, a decorative type, as pictured here in the 1928 Ransmayer-Rodrian (RaRo) catalogue.

And here's a new typewheel that features an extremely rare italic Remington typeface designed by the famous Frederic Goudy. (This one has been used, so there's ink on it.)

They even come in their own neat containers with screw-on tops.

But do they really work? 

Yes, they do work!

The new typewheels use the font design skills of Brent Carter and the 3D printing wizardry of Leonard Chau. This is the most precise 3D printing I've personally seen — there's no "pixelation" on these small, fine shapes. They're available in several more typefaces, and either in the Blick DHIATENSOR layout or in QWERTY. (QWERTY seems most likely to be found on the aluminum model 6.)

Here are some wheels getting cured after 3D printing. Yes, you see script and Vogue!

Maybe your Blick needs a little attention before it's ready to type. Do you need ink rollers? Buy a box of gun cleaning felts (7mm) and ink them with Bates Numbering Machine ink. Are your feed rollers flat? Recover them with automotive tubing or heat shrink tubing.

Now are you ready to order your own new typewheels? Leonard Chau can be reached via email (leonard.chau@yahoo.com), Instagram (@blick_elements), or Facebook (Leonard Chau).

Backward and onward!

(Video by Leonard.)