The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[AnAmericanMother]

My first typewriter was a circa 1930 Royal portable. No cosmetic body on the frame - looks like the skeleton of a typewriter. Long hinged lever on the LH side for the carriage return, and the shift key lifts the entire set of striker arms up in the air. It was not only aerobic exercise, it built muscles! I've still got the thing upstairs in its little green hard-sided carrying case. It still works, AFAIK.

Then I had a baby Olivetti Lettera portable with a German keyboard. When I finally went electric, it was to a huge Smith-Corona "portable" (if you had a hand truck). I didn't get to use a Selectric until I started working.

[RosieCotton]

Good morning!

Sorry about the snags on your house building, lil'freeper. Man, that's a stupid rule! Who decided on May 1, and why? And why should that rule exist anyway? I don't get it.

Friday! We're trying to decide whether or not to go to a Medieval festival thing tomorrow. It's not very expensive, so might be a good way to pass the day...but it also sounds kinda weird - lots of people dressed up and play acting that it's 1484. My little sister wants to go...not sure if the rest of us do. I think it may be mainly for kids anyway. We'll see.

[Wneighbor]

Well, I went looking to see if I could find a photo like the typewriter we had. I can't find the exact one. But, I found something very similar.

Only thing is, ours had this huge carriage return handle sticking out like 4 inches at the right end of the carriage. And the brand name was in a completely different location.

[Wneighbor]

We're trying to decide whether or not to go to a Medieval festival thing tomorrow.

I went to one of those once. Both my kids have been once - different times - Jill went with me, Myranda went on a school field trip. It was okay. One of those things I'm glad I did once but it's not going to make the to-do list again.

I'd think it would be fun for you to go tomorrow. But, with the thought that it might not be something you want to do every year.

[RosieCotton]

Once again.... *shudder*

The sound of old typewriters is very satisfying (Mom hated computer keyboards that didn't "click"), but at least keyboards don't bite!

[AnAmericanMother]

This is mine, right down to the bulgy cover over the ribbon, the leather handle on the case and the little clip to hold papers, except mine is black not blue:

[RosieCotton]

I just get the impression that you're really supposed to dress up. I don't have anything to dress up in, even if I wanted to...and I don't!

But Teresa (my littlest sister) would probably love it...so I may do it just for that reason. Could always just go for a few hours, wander around, grab some food, watch a puppet show or juggler or two and then leave.

[Wneighbor]

I too remember that pain in the wrists and hands from pounding on those keys. My dad was an insurance agent. He had me typing letters for him from about age 10. My mom had taught me to type. The first letter I tried to type for him had the word insurance in it 9 times... all 9 had typos. LOL

[Wneighbor]

That is very cool looking. I actually wish I still had my mom and dad's old one for display in my classroom now. Either for enlightenment of the students or to throw at them on bad days, whichever works!

[AnAmericanMother]

I don't see how your typewriter could have a carriage return lever on the RIGHT side - unless you were typing in Hebrew. That was probably the paper bail adjustment or the line space lever.

I wonder -- do Hebrew typewriters have the carriage return on the opposite side? . . . . yes they do:

Amazing what Google can turn up!

[Wneighbor]

A lot of people dress up to go to the one we went to. But, more than half the people don't --- because it's not like all the poor folks like us have medieval clothing just lying around you know? Actually, I do have some pants now. The friend that took me had me make them for 10 people in her family and then gave me fabric to make some for myself. I've worn them 1 time and it wasn't to that thing. What it was is a pair of those diaper type pants that tie at the ankle. Put those with a peasant blouse and you're good to go. Too bad we didn't know, I'd have mailed you some pants. LOL

[AnAmericanMother]

You know, I bet you could go to a garage sale or flea market and pick up an old manual typewriter for next to nothing.

They make good boat anchors too.

[RosieCotton]

I too remember that pain in the wrists and hands from pounding on those keys. My dad was an insurance agent. He had me typing letters for him from about age 10. My mom had taught me to type. The first letter I tried to type for him had the word insurance in it 9 times... all 9 had typos. LOL

Ack! Correcting typos was a pain, too! I could NEVER get the paper lined up again correctly. Good thing I never had to use a typewriter for work!

As fumble fingered as I am, I don't know how I'd function without backspace and delete!

[Wneighbor]

You're right. Left side. And I've said right side about 3 times now. I had to stop and think. I'm stuck on the enter key on the right side of the keyboard. LOL

[Wneighbor]

I would only pay for it, even at a garage sale, if the school would reimburse me. Which they won't. So, I'm not that interested. It's just that college students now are not the slightest bit attuned to what a typewriter "was." I am surprised at how many of them who use word processing programs don't understand why they need a keyboarding class. "It's too hard!" "We don't need that" "It's not necesary"

[AnAmericanMother]

. . . and to change topics completely . . . :-D

You can still get FolkWear patterns. They stopped making them for awhile, but I believe somebody bought them out and started up production again, and they are often available second hand. They're printed on very sturdy paper and can be used over and over (unlike the one-time-use Butterick, McCall's, etc. printed on tissue). You do have to use pins or tailor tacks rather than cutting along the lines though.

I have several very useful ones - the river boatman's shirt, the Irish cloak, the frontier dress - that can be dressed up with modifications and different fabrics and trims. They are all loose-fitting so they can be run up in a hurry without detailed fittings, basting, etc. We have a big "costume box" with something in it for everyone - I never throw this stuff away - so when RenFest rolls around here it's an easy matter to get everybody kitted out. A lot of it is in the accessories anyhow (doesn't everybody have a two-handed Viking sword behind the laundry room door? :-D )

[Wneighbor]

I don't know how I'd function without backspace and delete!

Backspace and delete were given to woman by God!

[RosieCotton]

Spellcheck, too!

[RosieCotton]

I just used my $25 gift cert thingie (had to chip in for shipping, tho) to buy the new Lunasa and Old Blind Dogs CDs at Green Linnet. Should get here early next week, if I'm lucky. Woo-hoooo! Can't wait!

[Wneighbor]

OH my! You sound like me in that costuming thing. I didn't have a pattern for those pants though. I just used minimum 45" wide fabric. Used the selvage as the side opening, sewed the inseam down the middle, cut, hemmed, put in casings and drawstrings at waist and ankles and we were good to go. Know, that's a bit of a short description if you were gonna make them but you get the idea that it was quick and easy.