The circa 1947 Royal Quiet De Luxe.
The circa 1928 Royal Portable
The circa 1958 Groma Kolibri
The 1982 Olivetti Lettera 32.
And, once I was finished talking, out came the sheets of paper and away they went. The circa 1938 Remington Remette got a good going over.
So did the Groma.
And, of course, the 1920s Royal was a favourite. Maybe it was the red paint-job.
I noticed how careful these kids were when using these machines. If anything, they sometimes didn't hit the keys hard enough to leave an impression on the page. But then, a quick tap on the backspace key and another tap on the letter keys and on they went.
All in all, it was a nice way to show them how much things have changed in terms of how we used to write in the past compared to how we write now. Sure, they could have found pictures of these typewriters on the internet, but maybe having sat down to use these for a brief moment, they may have come away with an appreciation, however large or small, for these machines that kept the 20th Century chugging along nicely.
I'd like to give special thanks to the kids in Class 3/4H and to Miss H for allowing me to bring these typewriters in to show them.
Keep writing, kids!
Thanks for reading!
P.S.- For privacy reasons, I have blurred these photos where necessary.
Well, well done!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! Kids really do seem to respond to them, it's fun to watch. Did the teacher participate too?
ReplyDeleteTheir teacher was taking photos of the occasion. She did tell me that she has an Adler which has some sticking keys issue. I asked her to bring it in one day and I'd take a look at at after school. It might be an easy enough fix for me to tackle. Failing that, I will give her my typewriter repairman's details.
DeleteWhat a heartwarming post! I bet those kids will always remember this "typewriter show-and-tell".
ReplyDeleteAwesome, glad it was a success! And I'm glad Olivetti was represented. (:
ReplyDeleteI really like your top shot of the the kids' hands and the Remette.
I had to bring the Olivetti, Ton. That's the typewriter that I got in 1982 and it churned out so many book reports and assignments for me. A modern work-horse, that machine.
DeleteGreat job Teeritz. Maybe you have just inspired a new generation of typists and typewriter collectors.
ReplyDeleteGreat, there'll be less machines out there for us to purchase. Oh God, what have I done?!
DeleteThis sounds wonderful! I'm glad you got the chance to do this. == Michael Höhne
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I think some of these kids are going to have a new Christmas wish!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the success!
ReplyDeleteYou girl must be sooper proud of her Dad :)
Your* girl.
ReplyDeleteThis was a wonderfuul post to read. I have seen kids young and old absolutly become mesmerized by the typewriter. There is something that makes even the most cynical technophile smile when the sit down totry a typewrier for the first time. I know that it amazez people to think that a mechanical device can do something that we take for granted. It was so nice of you to bring those typewriters to the class. Plus, you brougt some real good ones. That Groma puts my thrift-store finds to shame.
ReplyDeleteOkay. It might be vanity, but I stumbled across this comment about this great thing that happened a year ago and I am just appalled at my spelling and grammatical choices in this comment. It's "amazes." I know that. Clearly a type-o, but what about that second-to-last sentence? Was I trying to be folksy? It's downright embarrassing. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
DeleteI'm sure you were-
DeleteA) typing quickly
Or
B) tired
Happens to us all, sir. Especially when we alternate between computers and typewriters. Think nothing of it. Even the Typosphere has 'typo' in it.
Looks like it went off without a hitch. All you guys bringing these typewriters to classrooms are creating the next generation of collectors, and for that I have to thank you. I am doing a bit in this effort with my youngest brother, but nothing like this!
ReplyDeleteawesome. it's heartwarming to know these kids now seen and typed on real typewriters instead of just possibly hearing or seeing them on the internet. long live the typewriter! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat resource did you use to figure out the date on your L32? I have a late L32 but i really want to know which year it is!
ReplyDeleteThat's easy, Mark. The Lettera 32 was the typewriter that I bought back in 1982. I found my original receipt a few months ago. Cost me $87.50 from a department store that no longer exists. I have another model L32 that, according to some folks, may date back to the mid '60s, but can't seem to pinpoint it down further than that.
DeleteThank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteGood read! I wish I had a teacher like that 20 years ago. :-)
ReplyDelete