Bay Area Type-In: Photos and Type Samples

In roughly chronological order:





Sadie's information card which I typed up in advance. I don't know exactly what the etiquette is for identifying one's own machines. I thought I should be prepared, though, in case anyone asked what age my machine was (they didn't.) You can see Sadie in the foreground, the typecast page about to be used with my ramblings. Richard's Twolympia in the middle, and Carolee aka "Good Mail Day" pecking away on a Smith-Corona that she adopted from yours truly.

I brought a box of these little paper squares for samples and for sharing. I'm glad I did, since it let me compile something of a group of "trading cards" for all the machines I tried out. It also gave me a chance to forget to change the margin on more than one machine, as you'll see.

* * *







I am not afraid of the paint can when used to trick out a typewriter. I figure they shouldn't have to go through their retirement with the same office-drab paint they came into. But I don't have the chops (yet?) to completely remove all the panels and have the whole thing done. This machine... audacious. And perfect, for the size of the typeface. I love it.

* * *

This next one was clearly in the look-but-don't-touch category:



I wish the lighting and my own camera skills could have been more compatible. These simply do not do the machine or the rings justice.




Never used, these rings. Still in the original box.



How do you top a museum piece like that? MORE TYPING.

* * *



Hubris = typos. Remember that. It's actually not a German keyboard. Richard and the shop folks were taking and making guesses. Attention Bob Messenger: you are needed on the West Coast!





* * *

Lots of flitting around at this event: the Cole-Steel was on the same table as the Continental, near the camera here:



The Olympia was more toward the back. I know that I tend to comment on noise of these machines. There was a heady din through most of the day. A wonderful, metal-on-paper din.





Some of the Royal 10, which had been rebuilt at some point in its past. The glass panels had been removed and replaced with plastic (?) with the textured finish. I love the service label in the shift key. Here it is, getting a workout from Tony M.



And some attempts at unusual angles:





* * *

I tended to move at random from machine to machine. My attempt at typing "The quick brown fox" (positionally) on a Cyrillic (?) Good Companion was not filled with promise.





* * *

An Adler travel machine was set up in the back, and was one of my first brushes with the documentary crew. Props to them for managing two guys with cameras and a boom mic in a space made smaller by all the tables and typists.



The Hermes was by the front door, next to the sign-in Underwood standard. Adwoa would surely have passed it by without a second glance, but it stood out here, battered and dusty though it was.

* * *

I got a chance to take Richard's Twolympia for a spin. A risky move (for him) given my proclivities for these machines. He had some handy excuse about the carriage not stopping all the time, but I think this was just a self-preservation move on his part. NEXT TIME, POLT. NEXT TIME.



* * *



Olivetti vs. Olivetti vs. Facit! The winner? I may have to go with the script Olivetti, to be totally honest, though the Facit was something else.



* * *

Around the middle of the event, we heard some kind words from the owners of the shop, who were pleasantly pleased that they had to dig out their old tools once again, and were amused at the variety of machines that are now walking in the door. I think there were at least two customers not part of the type-in that came in to the shop. Not bad for a Friday afternoon with a sketchy-looking crowd hanging around the place.


Our hosts and some shots around the shop...


Around the room for introductions.








No table space? Play it where they lie.


Right in the front window, like a beacon of awesome. So. Shiny.


Oh Ames, how we miss you.


Old and new, working together.

* * *

And at Richard's comment ("Hey, did you see their workbench?") I naturally stuck my nose behind the magic screen...









* * *

Finally -- and sadly! -- it was time to get a little last typing in and head home. A final comparison type sample, and a few parting thoughts.





Get turned on to typing at California Typewriter!