The power of a Travel-Riter

Meet Remington Travel-Riter #TR122761, made in December 1954.

Yes, it needs a bit of work. But don't underestimate the power of a humble portable. This typewriter was kindly donated to WordPlay Cincy by its original owner. Toni writes:

I taught myself to type on that typewriter which I received for my birthday in the second grade.... I was obsessed with being a secretary and told my parents that was all I wanted for my birthday.

So what became of this obsession?

I am attaching photos of the 3 awards I received my senior year at Wickliffe High School in 1965...the typing award (pin), the John Robert Gregg Shorthand award (bronze medallion) and the Olivetti-Underwood Award of Merit for the Outstanding Business Student.  The Guidance Counselor told me later that there was a heavy discussion in the business department because usually 3 different kids received those awards but the woman in charge said "there is no comparison....  Toni deserves all three of them!"   And so they awarded them all to me!  I actually got a degree in Business Administration with a teaching certificate with the intention of teaching business subjects in high school but I liked working in offices more than teaching it so I worked in business, often as a supervisor or office manager.  Still work part time as a bookkeeper two days a week.

As Toni says, "It all started with that typewriter!" Who knows what it may do for some other kid in the future?

Thank you, Toni, for giving us your typewriter and your story.

A perfect 10

Please join me in admiring the most beautiful Royal 10 I've ever encountered. Made in 1927, this typewriter is still glossy, gleaming, and working like a charm. The shift is easy, the keys are snappy, the decals are bright.

This Royal was driven the 200 miles from Toledo to Cincinnati by the woman who owns it, so that I could service it at The Urban Legend Institute. I spent an hour brushing out eraser shavings and dust (which were much less plentiful than in your average old typewriter), lubricating the carriage rails, wiping the paint clean, polishing the chrome and paint, and putting in a fresh ribbon.

The typewriter belonged to the owner's father. She used it, among other things, to write an A paper in high school in the '70s (this paper came along for the ride, and I got to admire her skillful typing). And now the typewriter is going to write items for her daughter's wedding—a wonderful way to let the spirit of her father participate in her daughter's new life.

The owner says that her father used to spend time cleaning the machine with Q-tips, and it has been kept covered. The moral? Simple but consistent care and consideration will let a good typewriter carry on long after its constructors and its original owner have passed away.

Another moral: condition matters. Look for a typewriter that's been treated well, and it will perform the way it was meant to perform. What a treat!

Short-Order Poetry at the MPMF

 

One of our WordPlay kids came downtown with Program Coordinator Kirsten Zook ...

... and was soon participating in the fun.

The poetry-making accelerated as night fell ...

... until poems filled the clothesline. 

Here's an account of last year's Short-Order Poetry event on the Chase Public blog.