I discovered, by the way, that the typebar rests on the Fox are sand wrapped in leather. After 118 years, the sand is busting out. (Don't worry, it's not asbestos—the stuff doesn't look granular like this.)
Sad thing about those nice old RR stations is that the RR seldom lets them go. My home town was fortunate enough the Pennsy gave the old terminal and small amount of land to the town. The local Chamber of Commerce has maintained it as close to original as possible. The building is now used by the Chamber.
The Reading left theirs fall apart. There is a vacant lot there now.
Compelling photo and thought. The Northeast US certainly has a *lot* of liminal places like that which have become forgotten - That sort of thing is much rarer in the Southwest. Now that I'm up here, I can see the different attitude that people up here have for structural decay and ignoring the forgotten spaces right next to them. The number of buildings in town that are functional and maintained in the front and if you look in the back, are rotting and falling apart really surprised me. Probably has to do with the different scale of history here than in the SW - everything is decades older, and in some ways feels like it's much more integrated with the shape of the natural environment. In the desert, nothing ever gets the chance to rot.
I share an interest in places like this —once used for another purpose. I wonder if any features within the building were preserved when it was torn down. Your post also reminded me of a “marketplace” post regarding typewriters on a popular social media website. The machine available in my area was a non-operational Fox. It was formerly used as a prop for wedding decor and was now being sold. Not having a lot of repair skills, I passed this opportunity up. It was great to see that your machine is working (except the typebar rests), and to see the typeface.
Thanks. Yes, I got really lucky with this typewriter. When I bought it, circa 2000, I think it was in the estate of a lady who had died at an advanced age quite a few years ago. She may have been the original owner, and it was kept in its original case.
Great looking fox.
ReplyDeleteSad thing about those nice old RR stations is that the RR seldom lets them go. My home town was fortunate enough the Pennsy gave the old terminal and small amount of land to the town. The local Chamber of Commerce has maintained it as close to original as possible. The building is now used by the Chamber.
The Reading left theirs fall apart. There is a vacant lot there now.
It's nice when they can become little museums or town landmarks, even if they are no longer used for rail passengers.
DeleteCompelling photo and thought. The Northeast US certainly has a *lot* of liminal places like that which have become forgotten - That sort of thing is much rarer in the Southwest. Now that I'm up here, I can see the different attitude that people up here have for structural decay and ignoring the forgotten spaces right next to them. The number of buildings in town that are functional and maintained in the front and if you look in the back, are rotting and falling apart really surprised me. Probably has to do with the different scale of history here than in the SW - everything is decades older, and in some ways feels like it's much more integrated with the shape of the natural environment. In the desert, nothing ever gets the chance to rot.
ReplyDeleteThanks for these observations. "Liminal" is right!
DeleteI share an interest in places like this —once used for another purpose. I wonder if any features within the building were preserved when it was torn down. Your post also reminded me of a “marketplace” post regarding typewriters on a popular social media website. The machine available in my area was a non-operational Fox. It was formerly used as a prop for wedding decor and was now being sold. Not having a lot of repair skills, I passed this opportunity up. It was great to see that your machine is working (except the typebar rests), and to see the typeface.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yes, I got really lucky with this typewriter. When I bought it, circa 2000, I think it was in the estate of a lady who had died at an advanced age quite a few years ago. She may have been the original owner, and it was kept in its original case.
DeleteThe rotary phone behind the Fox caught my eye. Do you also collect old phones?
ReplyDeleteThat's my collection of one. I could really get into Deco-period phones and radios ... if I were a bachelor!
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