Typewriter Love

June 29, 2012 by Lorrie

Recently prompted by a newsletter from Janine Vangool of Uppercase magazine, I was inspired to do something I had been thinking about for a long time, and that was to buy an old fashioned typewriter. I had been watching a few on Ebay for a while (surprised at the variety available), and very nearly purchased an old vintage Imperial in red enamel, and another equally as old. But, given that the ribbons for the older machines are very hard to find, and are themselves ‘artifacts’, and also that I wanted the machine for practical purposes as well as aesthetic, I plumped for a 60′s portable Smith-Corona Calypso in Teal, with white and red keys. The seller (Mark Law) was very helpful, and included instructions on where to get new ribbons and respooling. It arrived today, and it’s fabulous.

Like most women of my generation, I learned to type at school, in a big room, with about 40 other girls, all typing very badly to music (which got faster and faster, causing much hilarity) on big old black and gold Imperial machines. You had to be strong to thunk those keys down, and I remember the A/a always being so faint on the paper. We were being taught ‘touch typing’, and the ‘a’ key is assigned to the little finger of the left hand. Ironic I always thought, that the most used key is assigned to such a weak little finger!!!

I always have enjoyed typing (therapeutic in many ways), and loved the old machines. One of my earliest memories is going to my mothers office and being allowed to have a go on her typewriter. I loved bashing away on it as fast as I could, copying my mother (as she could type, then and now, faster than I can form words). When I was older I was given a small Petite typewriter for my birthday (which was gold coloured), and I was so proud of it. As I got older I had many others, and I think the last one I owned that I typed my first dissertation on, had a ‘golf ball’ mechanism.

Anyway, I have looked forward o my teal coloured Calypso arriving with great anticipation, as has my little girl, and envisage lots of fun showing her how to use it. So, look out for more hand typed entries…

9 Responses to Typewriter Love

Janine June 30, 2012 at 9:43 pm
I’m so happy that you have your own machine – and a lovely blue one no less!

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- Lorrie June 30, 2012 at 11:15 pm
  Hi there Janine…
  
  Yep, really thrilled and the little one loves it to bits, I don’t think the novelty is going to wear off very soon. Though it looks more turquoise/blue in the images, it’s actually closer to teal, one of my fave colours. I have the bug though, am keen for another!!
  
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Talia July 2, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Hi Lorrie
We used to have three typewriters – three different languages…
This one is a beauty :-)
Enjoy
Talia

Reply
- Lorrie July 2, 2012 at 8:22 pm
  Thank you Talia and….three?!! My gosh, what languages? Let me guess..umm, Hebrew, English and…(off the top of my head) French??
  
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  - Talia July 2, 2012 at 8:30 pm
    Oui ! Exactement !
    But…no one was pretty as yours.
    
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    - Lorrie July 2, 2012 at 8:34 pm
      Wow, I got it right! I must admit, I chose it as much for the colour as the design, I have a particular fondness for teal/turquoise, and I thought the colour was offset beautifully by the white and red keys.
      
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TaraFly July 3, 2012 at 9:25 pm
When I was learning to type (on my grandmother’s clunky black typewriter from the ’40s)… I developed my own style, using only my strongest fingers (2-3 per hand).
Later in elementary school, the teachers were strict about proper finger positioning, but I never did manage to type as fast (or as accurately) as I can using my method.

Although my friends tease me mercilessly when watching me type, because it looks odd to see my little fingers jumping around?! LOL

Of course, even weak fingers can use a computer keyboard…. but now it has become a habit. And does it really matter? ;P

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- Lorrie July 3, 2012 at 10:19 pm
  Hey Tara…
  
  No, it doesn’t, I think you should do whatever works for you. I never use my little fingers now. I use both thumbs, four fingers of left and right hands, and I am not entirely sure I am using all the correct placings, pretty much but not exact, hard to say without being observed. However, I do touch type (in that I am looking at the screen and not my hands) and have a very fast speed, I can type pretty much as fast as I can speak. Having said that, not nearly as fast using the type writer, as I am having to apply so much more pressure….boy, do you have to thunk those keys hard. Orla loves it, and is almost too hard.
  
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