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Typewriters experience a comeback
upi ^ | Dec. 19, 2011

Posted on 12/20/2011 6:00:06 AM PST by JoeProBono

NEW YORK, - New York typewriter sellers said the low-tech machines are experiencing a comeback among writers who like to avoid distractions.

Paul Schweitzer, 73, whose Gramercy Typewriter Co. was founded by his father Abraham in 1932, said he started working on laser printers when typewriters fell out of fashion in the 1990s, but he has lately had many customers bringing in old typewriters to be restored, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

"They have their computers, they have their blackberries or iPads or whatever it is, but they still would like to have a typewriter. They like the idea of pressing the keys and having the words hit the paper," Schweitzer said.

Donna Brady of Brady & Kowalksi Writing Machines said she and her partner have had a lot of interest in the typewriters they sell at Brooklyn Flea.

"The more disconnected we get from other humans because of electronic devices ... the more we kind of want to get away from those gadgets," she said. "A lot of people still want to be productive, but would like to get away from the screen."


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KEYWORDS: typewriter
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To: JoeProBono

Darn!! A little less on top and her nipples would be showing.


21 posted on 12/20/2011 6:38:19 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Dear God, thanks for the rain, but please let it rain more in Texas. Amen.)
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To: JoeProBono

hahahahahahaahahaha, very good.


22 posted on 12/20/2011 6:45:01 AM PST by annieokie
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To: abb
The rhythm of a printing unit tapping out “Fox” became so ingrained that myself and many co-workers could often tell by the sound if a machine was garbling.
23 posted on 12/20/2011 6:46:15 AM PST by Roccus (Obama & Holder LLC - purveyor of fine arms to the most discerning drug lords. (202) 456-1414)
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To: Roccus; abb

I’m gettin’ old.

“printing unit” should be “typing unit”....SHEESH!!!


24 posted on 12/20/2011 6:48:43 AM PST by Roccus (Obama & Holder LLC - purveyor of fine arms to the most discerning drug lords. (202) 456-1414)
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To: abb
In my last newsroom assignment, I was the only person in the building who could re-set a new box of paper and get the sheet running straight between the rollers.
Pity AP never delivered one that wasn't dripping with oil...
25 posted on 12/20/2011 6:51:57 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: KarlInOhio

I have a lamp exactly like those in the pic sitting on my desk. Can’t recall when/where I got it.


26 posted on 12/20/2011 6:52:11 AM PST by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: M. Thatcher

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comeback


27 posted on 12/20/2011 6:53:04 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas gerit)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Pity AP never delivered one that wasn't dripping with oil...

Although I never worked on AP machines, all that oil is what kept 'em running 24/7/52.

28 posted on 12/20/2011 6:54:38 AM PST by Roccus (Obama & Holder LLC - purveyor of fine arms to the most discerning drug lords. (202) 456-1414)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks; Roccus

I’ll be back in a minute. I have to finish up my story of last night’s meeting of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury (known as a county commission in other states). That’s one of the beats that I cover.


29 posted on 12/20/2011 6:54:54 AM PST by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: miss marmelstein
A guy told me he once went to a bankruptcy auction for some failed high tech startup.

He said he's standing in line to pick up his winning bid package, mostly low tech office stuff, and chatting with the other winning bidders.

They came from hundreds of miles away to bid on the high tech stuff, graphic workstations, etc.

They're bragging about the SparcStations, and other prized stuff of the day, and he has to admit the most exciting thing he's getting is a Selectric. They all laughed.

30 posted on 12/20/2011 6:59:20 AM PST by Calvin Locke
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To: JoeProBono

“Girl hams do it with Vibroplexes.”


31 posted on 12/20/2011 6:59:32 AM PST by Erasmus (Rage, rage, against the dying of the light. Or, get out your 50mm/1.2.)
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To: A_perfect_lady


32 posted on 12/20/2011 7:00:39 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas gerit)
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To: JoeProBono

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date".


33 posted on 12/20/2011 7:01:39 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (Ceterum autem censeo, Obama delenda est.)
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To: Roccus

Just as I was leaving the profession in 1980, we got a small white (and very quiet) desktop printer from AP. It used the same large box of paper.
We discovered that the generous globs of oil in the old machines helped carry off the paper chaff. The new machine clogged repeatedly with fluff from the AP paper.


34 posted on 12/20/2011 7:03:58 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: JoeProBono

The last typewriter manufacturer in the world closed its doors this year. If a ribbon manufacturer still exists it won’t for much longer. So if you want to be part of this “comeback” you had better start stocking up on replacement parts and supplies while you still can.


35 posted on 12/20/2011 7:04:27 AM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets


36 posted on 12/20/2011 7:06:07 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas gerit)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

That’s one of the reasons that TTY Corp. went with chadless tape perforators for decades. The Model 35 had fully perforated tape because it had a chad chute which the 28 did not. Once the chad chute clogged however, it would create one holy mess!


37 posted on 12/20/2011 7:11:58 AM PST by Roccus (Obama & Holder LLC - purveyor of fine arms to the most discerning drug lords. (202) 456-1414)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

http://www.scantracker.com/smith_corona_typewriter_ribbons.htm


38 posted on 12/20/2011 7:12:53 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas gerit)
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To: JoeProBono

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX-Loj0ldBg

The music of my childhood (Big Boston Pops Fan)


39 posted on 12/20/2011 7:15:01 AM PST by left that other site
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To: miss marmelstein
IBM Selectric. Greatest typewriter EVER. Still wish I had one.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311&_nkw=ibm+selectric&_sacat=See-All-Categories
40 posted on 12/20/2011 7:18:18 AM PST by Cheburashka (If life hands you lemons, government regulations will prevent you from making lemonade.)
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