Cincinnati type-in celebrates Woz Flint's “The Distraction-Free First Draft"

This happened a few weeks ago (April 22), but it's still worth recording on this blog. Woz Flint, of Albuquerque, has (type)written a delightful little book about the joys and advantages of composing on a typewriter. It includes profiles of some typewriter users today, advice on choosing a machine, and more—but unlike my own heavy tome, it's breezy and non-encyclopedic. It's a quick, encouraging recommendation for writers who are considering giving typewriters a try.

Woz came through Cincinnati to read from her book at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. There was a curious audience, and many of them stayed to try out the typewriters that I and some other locals had brought.

Woz got laughs with the story of her struggles to write on a laptop:

I provided the Adler Privat and Voss on the table at left:

Some copies of my own book were also available:

The audience gives the typewriters a try:

Another insurgent brought this sweet '50s pink Royal:

El futuro es de las mujeres (y las máquinas de escribir):

Woz with family members who live in Ohio:

All told: a fine day for typewriter culture!

You can order The Distraction-Free First Draft here.

 

A visit to TB Writers Plus

I'm currently in the middle of a four-day writing retreat generously sponsored by Xavier Universty. They house 35 faculty at a Marianist retreat center in suburban Dayton, Ohio, feed us, and give us time to write. Of course, I brought my Remington Noiseless no. 7, and it's been doing good work for me.

But I had to interrupt my typing and take the opportunity to visit TB Writers Plus, a thriving young typewriter repair business created by the enterprising Trevor Brumfield. Trevor is an auto mechanic who discovered typewriters only four years ago. When he hosted a type-in last October, he was repairing typewriters from his garage. Since then, he has rented a large space in a historic building, done thorough research on the typewriter repair business, purchased tons of parts and equipment, hired two helpers, and attracted customers from around the country. He is a hardworking, methodical, dedicated guy who is in this for the long run. And his wife, Becca, is a great help!

TB is housed in the Davis-Linden Building, built in 1889 as the Davis Sewing Machine Company factory. The company also began building bicycles in the 1890s. 

Looking up and seeing signs for typewriter repair—and typewriters themselves—gives you a strange thrill, as if you have just entered a story from Backspaces and traveled back into the heyday of typewriters.

Trevor gave me a tour of the building, which now houses a variety of creative businesses.

This wooden floor is indented where workers stood in front of machines over the decades.

The huge freight elevator is hydraulically powered and extremely quiet.

Trevor showed me the various areas of the business, which already has the delightfully crammed and complex atmosphere of a longtime typewriter shop. 

Typewriters from various decades await service or offer parts. A machine is usually serviced within a few weeks after it's received.

These Smith-Coronas were recently cleaned.

The vault holds more customers' machines.

The work tables are well-equipped and well-lit.

Trevor tells me about rescuing an unused platen from an old business. 

I was happy to see these parts cabinets that used to reside in my garage. They were given to me by the owner of a Cincinnati repair shop after it closed, and I gave them to Trevor last year.

On top of the cabinets is a film-winding device that Trevor has modified to wind typewriter ribbons.

One area of the shop features machines that are ready for sale, and a table where people can sit and try them out.

Trevor has studied the paperwork systems of typewriter manufacturers and shops. He uses a laptop as necessary, but also makes intelligent use of paper records, as a typewriter man really should.

Tyler, one of Trevor's two employees, is a senior at Wright State University. He writes poetry, studies philosophy (we had a good talk about that), and creates a zine.

The folks in red from GLD Communications came in to film Trevor and Tyler for a TV spot. TB Writers Plus is getting some well-deserved publicity.

As I got ready to leave, a car from the 1940s casually turned the corner. My illusion of time travel was complete.

TB Writers Plus is located at 400 Linden Ave. in Dayton, Ohio. Make an appointment if you'd like to visit during the following hours.

Sunday 10AM - 10PM
Monday 7PM - 10PM
Tuesday 10AM - 10PM
Wednesday 7PM - 10PM
Thursday 7PM - 10PM
Friday 7PM - 10PM
Saturday 4:30PM - 10PM

Want to run a typewriter shop?

This is Tom Furrier, owner of the beloved Cambridge Typewriter in Arlington, Massachusetts. You may have read his blog or seen that Tom Hanks gave him a machine.

Tom is ready to retire, and he'd like to find someone who wants to take over his small, busy shop. He was training an apprentice, but in the end the apprentice did not decide to continue. Is there a trained technician or experienced amateur who wants to take the plunge? As readers of this blog surely know, there is a demand for typewriter repair a quarter of the way into the 21st century. The love of typewriters has proved to be far more than a hipster fad; it's a healthy way to resist the ever-growing encroachment of IT and AI. That's why I believe there will still be typewriter users 50 and 100 years from now.

If you've been dreaming of plunging into this profession, consider the success of Paul Lundy, who took over Bremerton Office Machine Company from nonagenarian Bob Montgomery; or Antony Valoppi, creator of Portland's Type Space, which combines a traditional typewriter shop with a cultural center; or Trevor Brumfield, a young man in his late twenties who has quickly built Dayton's TB Writers Plus into a busy enterprise (see it here).

You can reach Tom at info@cambridgetypewriter.com or furrierthomas@gmail.com.

 

Mark Hurst on robots vs. typewriters

 

Typewriter robot, as generated by a robot (Midjourney)

Mark Hurst, who recently interviewed me for his show Techtonic, has come up with the following list of ten differences between robots and typewriters.

• Surveillance: robots have multiple cameras and sensors to watch you and the surrounding environment, often sending surveillance data into the cloud for further proccessing. Typewriters, though, have no surveillance. None. Zero. No cameras, no sensors, no listening, no spying, no cloud.

• User autonomy: robots claim that they’ll do the job, so that people can attend to other things or just go to sleep. Typewriters demand that the writer step up and put in the work, because otherwise it won’t get done. If robots cause atrophy, typewriters encourage growth.

• Mechanism: robots hide their mechanical nature under a smooth android exterior (or a robot-seal fur coat) while presenting an illusion of sentience. Typewriters bare all, displaying their levers and typebars in plain view.

• Environmental impact: robots’ AI engines consume massive amounts of electricity and fresh water, not to mention the rare metals and chemicals used to construct the robot. Typewriters consume sheets of paper, an occasional ink ribbon, and manual power to press down the keys.

• Truth: robots express whatever version of reality was coded into them by their company’s engineers; typewriters invite the writer to express the truth however they can word it.

• Scale: robots run algorithms at ultrafast processor speeds, communicating with other devices through high-speed internet connections; typewriters operate at human scale, with finger-sized keys working at the speed of human thought. And communication uses postal mail.

• Value to Silicon Valley: robots, as the embodiment of AI, are seen as promising assets for future exponential growth. Typewriters, on the other hand, are considered by Big Tech to be bygone relics, irrelevant to the new tech age.

• Longevity: robots, like other digital devices, need to be replaced frequently to stay up-to-date; typewriters built 50, 80, even 100 years ago are still working faithfully with their original parts.

• Business model: robots, typically designed by growth-at-any-cost tech companies, rely on constant upgrades, monetization of surveillance data, and recurring fees; typewriters, once purchased, need no further investment or payment, beyond paper and an occasional repair.

• Legacy: the impact of robots is ephemeral, lasting only as long as robots continue to function. Typewriters, on the other hand, produce the written page – which can last for hundreds of years and change lives and cultures based on the words it contains.

You might wonder what a robot would say on this topic. OK, here are ChatGPT's ten comparisons between robots and typewriters, generated at my request. 

1. Purpose:

   • Robots are designed for automation and performing tasks, often in industrial or service settings.
   • Typewriters are designed for human input to create written documents, which are typically used in office or personal writing.

2. Functionality:

   • Robots have a wide range of functionalities depending on their design, from manufacturing to household chores and even advanced AI-driven tasks like customer service.
   • Typewriters are limited to typing text on paper and do not have other functionalities beyond their primary purpose.

3. Technology:

   • Robots incorporate advanced technologies like sensors, actuators, and AI algorithms to operate autonomously or under human control.
   • Typewriters are mechanical or electronic devices designed specifically for typing characters onto paper or digital media.

4. Interaction:

   • Robots can interact with their environment and humans, often through sensors, cameras, and programming that enables them to respond to stimuli.
   • Typewriters have no interaction capabilities beyond the manual input of keys by a human user.

5. Mobility:

   • Robots can be mobile, with wheels, legs, or other locomotion mechanisms, allowing them to move within a defined space or even across varied terrains.
   • Typewriters are stationary devices meant to be used on a desk or table, with no inherent mobility features.

6. Complexity:

   • Robots can be highly complex machines, with intricate designs and programming that allow them to perform sophisticated tasks autonomously.
   • Typewriters are relatively simple devices compared to robots, with mechanical or electronic components for typing characters.

7. Maintenance:

   • Robots require regular maintenance, including software updates, hardware checks, and repairs to ensure optimal performance.
   • Typewriters also require maintenance, such as cleaning, lubrication, and occasional repairs, to keep them in working condition.

8. Productivity:

   • Robots can significantly increase productivity in various industries by performing tasks faster, more accurately, and tirelessly compared to human labor.
   • Typewriters helped increase productivity in offices before the digital era but have been largely replaced by computers and word processing software.

9. Customization:

   • Robots can be customized and programmed for specific tasks, allowing for versatility in different applications and industries.
   • Typewriters have limited customization options beyond basic adjustments like typeface and margin settings.

10. Evolution:

• Robots continue to evolve with advancements in robotics, AI, and automation technologies, leading to more capable and versatile robotic systems.
• Typewriters have evolved into digital devices like computers and smartphones, rendering traditional mechanical typewriters nearly obsolete in modern contexts.

You'll notice that ChatGPT repeatedly characterizes typewriters as deficient and outdated.

I think Mark's list is completely true, and ChatGPT's is mostly true. But what a difference in perspective! I highly recommend Mark's whole blog post on the topic.

Free Thoughts (with a Blick)

My friend and I continued our end-of-the-academic-year tradition for one last time, before she's off to a tenure-track position in Minnesota.

This time, I ramped up the eccentricity by typing on my 1912 Blickensderfer no. 6.

Her Underwood Champion definitely typed thoughts more neatly—and excellent thoughts, too! But fun was had all around. A steady stream of students and faculty stopped by to request words on topics both silly and serious.

Spelling correction: keratin

That's "outrageous bag."

In memoriam

Poet Tyrone Williams, who typed with me five years ago,

died last month after a brief illness. I visited him shortly before he passed away.

He chuckled as I recited the poems he'd written on that day in May, 2019.

This is my favorite.