Earlier this year, the Denver Post ran an article about a “type-in” in Albuquerque. Part of a national movement, type-ins bring together typewriter enthusiasts and those curious about old school writing machines. Antique typewriters go for high amounts on bidding sites and there’s even a documentary (trailer available online) called “California Typewriter” featuring Tom Hanks and John Mayer coming out this summer.
At the IJN, we may not be hosting a type-in, but we could. Betwixt our computers needed to produce a newspaper in the digital age are all manner of typewriters, a visual and physical reminder of how newspapers, and any kind of writing, were once produced.
We’ve got the full gamut: From an early — extremely heavy — 20th century Royal, to mid-century Royals and a Smith-Corona Clipper, to the early electrics, including a Coronamatic 8000 and aqua green IBM Selectric (a cult classic), to the latest and greatest of typewriter technology: Smith Coronas that were early generation word processers (remember those?).
By the way, in case you were wondering, these all still work. That’s the great thing about old technology. It may not be up to date, but it holds its intended function far longer than do newer, snazzy iPhones and MacBooks, all of which require constant upgrading until they are eventually phased out.
Curiosity piqued? Would you like to take a trip down memory lane? Stop by our office to tickle the keys — we’ll have a piece of paper waiting for you.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com
