Wriging

Make sure it's something you can work on and repair, and you have access to parts if necessary down the road.

I understand the bit of nostalgia/aesthetics that might spur this. I often wish more of my household appliances were older models that I could actually fix if/when they break. If it wasn't for the gas mileage and pollution, I'd have a car from the 60's or 70's because I know I could rebuild it from near-scratch if I needed to. As it is, I can do a lot of work on mine, but if the computer or electronics go wonky, I have to take it in somewhere else.

Make sure it's something you can work on and repair, and you have access to parts if necessary down the road.

THAT's the big question here. Theoretically, everything I've been looking at I can work on. However. having never actually played around with one, this bit still remains theory. Parts are only as accessible as my nearest internet connection, and whether that's good or bad depends heavily on the extent of the repair necessary. (And, of course, my ability to perform it.) However, I know of no repair shops for old typewriters anywhere near.

Still, at the very least this'll serve as a great experiment. And maybe it'll kickstart some unholy, damned-by-the-wife typewriter collection. (She cringes every time I bring up that possibility, yet lights up whenever I describe my dream office, the one I may actually get to build when we buy a home in the hopefully-not-to-distant future. That dream office, of course, includes a typewriter.)

I still have one, a 1970s Olympia Splendid 33 that needs a new ribbon however. I used it for writing a diary and love letters up until a few years back, when the digital lifestyle well and truly swamped me. After all, typewriters aren't really easy or functional, but they are lovely.

I definitely would go for a really simple, relatively recent model. The older it is, the worse it works, the harder it will be to find ribbons or indeed parts.

Why haven't you just gone and got one? It isn't a vintage car is it? Maybe they're harder to get by where you are, but over here you could easily find one in any thrift shop or at any flea market. Besides, they cost next to nothing. You could by ten and try them all out to see which works best (but don't tell the wife that).

Also, don't forget, typewriting is hard work, so why not get an electrical one? If it breaks, the above applies: you just get a new one.

Finally, I'd advise you to get a portable model. The office machines of the 1940s aren't something you want to move around because they weigh a ton and the stroke is heavy as hell. Get a small one in a carrying case, preferably one with plastic keys (for weight, noise and, again, because of the force you need to apply with every stroke).

My Olympia is great but you could also look for an icon such as the landmark Olivettis of the 70s and 80s - although those could set you back a couple bucks more.

For completeness, here's mine:

Now get out there, get you some great paper and write your first page. You won't be able to stop looking at it in admiration.

Why haven't you just gone and got one? It isn't a vintage car is it? Maybe they're harder to get by where you are, but over here you could easily find one in any thrift shop or at any flea market. Besides, they cost next to nothing. You could by ten and try them all out to see which works best (but don't tell the wife that).

Unfortunately, it seems people unload all their heavy stuff before moving to FL. I've found a grand total of ZERO usable typewriters for sale in antique stores, garage sales or Craig's List. Haven't tried any estate sales yet or flea markets, though.

Most of the stuff I find is electrical, and frankly I'm not interested in those. I'm interested in something that'll work when there's no power just as well as when there is. (Otherwise, I'd stick to my computer.) And for some reason the only cheap ones I find are online, meaning shipping costs are present (usually in the $20 - 40 range, depending on what part of the country), so the cheapest I'll likely get is $30. Even then, that which I've found usually have keys that stick, no end-line bell, etc. $50 is a more likely base minimum for a usable one. I've found some shops that refurbish these, but those tend to cost between $70 and $200+ for working typewriters, not counting shipping. Buying ten and trying them all out isn't much of an option for me.

I'll likely be using it intermittently for special occasions, or just when I want to try to work in other ways. (I've written enough stuff -- full projects -- with pencil to know that the mentality used when writing on a PC is decidedly different than the mentality used when writing otherwise. And I rather enjoy those differences.) I may, temporarily, steal my parents' old electric typewriter, though, the one I used to write reports on in 9th grade.

FYI: I've narrowed down my options to one of the following:

* Royal Quiet De Luxe (1950's: gray with green keys seems to be the most commonly available)-- I love the so-ugly-it's-kitschy-beautiful retro look.

* Smith - Corona (Sterling or Silent) -- It's rather elegant.

By the way, funny you should mention Olivetti, I started by looking -- and almost buying -- an Underwood, which Olivetti bought out somewhere in the 1950's/60's, I think. I was looking at some of their late 1940's/early 1950's offerings. And I've heard a fair amount about the quality of the Underwood Hermes style, and wouldn't mind trying one of those.

I can see how electrical doesn't appeal to you indeed. It needs power (obviously), it's more prone to breaking, harder to repair (or, impossible) and it has nothing of the charm of a mechanical machine. Still, it's no computer, not even anywhere near it. The page, the font, the act of typing still is very different.

I'm sorry to hear that they're so hard to come by. And that shipping is such a hassle. Indeed, I could get you one over the weekend but shipping it would make a ten euro purchase ten times as expensive because of it.

That Underwood looks great - it's a classic brand of course - but so does the Royal. Good luck and keep us posted.

@Nils: By the way, nice pictures. When I read this before I guess Flickr was down (or at least slow, since I couldn't quite access it) so I couldn't see them. VERY well kept, congrats on that. And yea, if it wasn't for the shipping I'd take you up on that typewriter offer. If my note sounded a bit snippy before, know that it had nothing to do with you, only with the utter lack of availability for decent manual typewriters at an affordable price anywhere in the general vicinity of, say, 50 miles.

I'll probably end up ordering some from either bluemooncamera.com (Yes, they sell typewriters) or MrTypewriter.com, Pricey, yes, but if they work and last me a while, then by golly they're worth it.

No worries. I noticed a bit of that gruffness somehow, but it immediately seemed clear this was due to the frustration of availability and pricing.

But thanks for the compliment on the pics.

You know what, from what I read, I think you should just get the typewriter you want. Get a great model, refurbished and shipped, and pay whatever seems a reasonable enough price - even if it is too much for an old machine. It'll put you at ease, you'll be happy.

Edit: Btw, you seen this?

Actually, I did. I've also been eying this beauty. Thing is I have to make sure the typewriter is visually pleasing to The Wife, and I'm fairly certain the blue won't be something she welcomes. (I showed her that one and in an uncertain, fearful voice she replied, "If that's what you REALLY, REALLY want...") Strangely, she didn't mind the tan/green-keys combination, though like most, I'm sure, she prefers the black.