[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.

[SuziQ]

When I finally went electric, it was to a huge Smith-Corona "portable" (if you had a hand truck).

SSQ bought his Mom and Dad a computer, and set it up for them so they could do e-mail and stuff. She liked it a lot, but enjoyed typing cards, etc, as well. She had had arthritis in her hands for years, so typed most everything. She had an old Smith Corona Portable Electric ( a manageable size), but never could find ribbons for it! I managed to find a place here in town that could order them and we got a helf dozen for her. She loved that typewriter!