Thursday, August 11, 2011

Imagine

20110811 typecast pt1
20110811 typecast pt2
"Lennon", Hermes 3000, c 1972

8 comments:

Cameron said...

Very cool-looking machine. Interesting backstory. Question: I saw a Hermes 3000 in a thrift store in Fremont (CA) recently and they wanted $99. Looked like it was in fairly decent condition. Should I have snapped it up? Will I regret it to my dying day?

mpclemens said...

Cameron, $100 seems to be the going "baseline" price for these around the Bay Area, but I don't know if that's reasonable or not. I took a gamble buying this one online since I usually like to get my hands on for a test first. I think prices for this model went up dramatically when Larry McMurtry thanked his Hermes in an awards speech, and have yet to come down.

You'd do just as well going for a 1950's era Smith-Corona or Olympia portable: they're smaller, and a good deal more common around here.

mpclemens said...

I should also mention that Lennon takes up a lot of real estate on the desk. Due to the wide carriage, the "case" is actually luggage, with a form-fit interior well. It falls more in the Luggable Portable typewriter category.

Ted said...

Cameron, I'd recommend you try out the H3k at that thrift store and see if you like the feel. I personally *love* the way they type, and my own '64 curvy H3k is one that I've never regretted buying. $99 seems like a bit much until you realize that the $25 H3k's are getting very rare, and the prices only seem to be going higher.

notagain said...

I call the Hermes feel "buttery." Glad you got one!

rino breebaart said...

If that's Lennon... can Paul be far behind? ('All he ever did was yesterday...')

Maybe Lennon used a similar (though alignment/challenged) model for this letter:

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/04/god-help-you-out-paul.html

Duffy Moon said...

Very curious keys (and lack of) on that machine. I like the traditional hermes-green key at upper left. And the oddly labeled keys for the tabs and whatnot up top. Very nice find. You may have some positive karma still in reserve, though. Shake the can, see if it ain't so.

Philosophothinker, ThD said...

My Hermes 3000 has the same backspace rubbing issue, though it's the original style. It was due to the mechanics slightly out of balance compared to the casing. I'd say more but I have to go suddenly. (Urgh!)