one typist in the 21st century
Monday, June 18, 2018
Saturday, June 16, 2018
This is The One
Mr. E knows my mind. He was the only one to guess which typewriter I selected yesterday.
An early L.C. Smith with an intact paper table decal for $45 is a good deal. What you can't see in the photo is that everything was working, and typing just felt good. Here's a view from the back. Yes, it needs cleaning, but note that the decals are still gold. A good sign!
As for some of the other guesses:
The 1921 Remington portable whose owner traveled to the Far East was cool, but I wouldn't know quite what to do with a beaten-up case with fragile labels. At $99 it seemed a little expensive. Apparently others agree, because it's been sitting in the mall for over two months.
The Underwood Crest is a rare model, but I already have one. Actually, I decided last year that I'd donate it to Urban Legend Typewriters (to raise money for WordPlay Cincy). And you know what? It has sat around in the shop longer than any other typewriter, ever. I guess I didn't love it, and no one else does either. It is not a terrible typewriter, but none of these late Underwood portables is great, and there is something about that green color that isn't appealing. So $52 might not have been a good investment. It was also really dirty in some parts you can't see in the photo.
The Woodstock was priced right at $33. But that depressing gray paint ... and it would have needed lots of work. I already have one of this model in black that I enjoy a lot.
Having brought my treasure home, I wasted no time in cleaning it up and equipping it with a fresh ribbon.
Now it's for sale at Urban Legend, along with 6 other machines I've refurbished. (And the Crest, but it has been put in its case to wait for a time when this world is ready for it.)
Giddy up!
An early L.C. Smith with an intact paper table decal for $45 is a good deal. What you can't see in the photo is that everything was working, and typing just felt good. Here's a view from the back. Yes, it needs cleaning, but note that the decals are still gold. A good sign!
As for some of the other guesses:
The 1921 Remington portable whose owner traveled to the Far East was cool, but I wouldn't know quite what to do with a beaten-up case with fragile labels. At $99 it seemed a little expensive. Apparently others agree, because it's been sitting in the mall for over two months.
The Underwood Crest is a rare model, but I already have one. Actually, I decided last year that I'd donate it to Urban Legend Typewriters (to raise money for WordPlay Cincy). And you know what? It has sat around in the shop longer than any other typewriter, ever. I guess I didn't love it, and no one else does either. It is not a terrible typewriter, but none of these late Underwood portables is great, and there is something about that green color that isn't appealing. So $52 might not have been a good investment. It was also really dirty in some parts you can't see in the photo.
The Woodstock was priced right at $33. But that depressing gray paint ... and it would have needed lots of work. I already have one of this model in black that I enjoy a lot.
Having brought my treasure home, I wasted no time in cleaning it up and equipping it with a fresh ribbon.
Now it's for sale at Urban Legend, along with 6 other machines I've refurbished. (And the Crest, but it has been put in its case to wait for a time when this world is ready for it.)
Giddy up!
Friday, June 15, 2018
A successful safari
It's time to play that old game: Which One Did He Buy? I think the answer will be obvious, but maybe not. (There are multiple photos of one typewriter and its case, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is The One.)
For a little added difficulty, I'm not typing the prices; you can make them out on the tags if you click on these photos to enlarge them.
These photos are presented in random order, but the one I ended up buying was a machine I spotted after I'd given up hope—it was in a booth that "never" has typewriters, and it was the last spot I reached in my complete circuit of the largest antique mall in town. Which just goes to show that the old collector's saw is true: You Never Know.
For a little added difficulty, I'm not typing the prices; you can make them out on the tags if you click on these photos to enlarge them.
These photos are presented in random order, but the one I ended up buying was a machine I spotted after I'd given up hope—it was in a booth that "never" has typewriters, and it was the last spot I reached in my complete circuit of the largest antique mall in town. Which just goes to show that the old collector's saw is true: You Never Know.
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