Trove of classic typewriter info

The Classic Typewriter Page is a trove of typewriter pr0n, with well-written short histories of a number of significant steps from the history of writing machines, lots of photos of the old beasts, and general info on selling, valuing, fixing and buying typewriters. Link (Thanks, Dan!)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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Sarah

May I also recommend this guy’s site:

http://www.antiquetypewriters.com

I see him a couple of times a year at the Old Paper Show – beautiful machines.
Welcome to Wallyworld

That’s a pretty site but there’s at least another goodie out there – Mr Typewriter – he’s been in the biz for over fifty years. Here he is looking for a portable he knows is somewhere in the warehouse – http://mrtypewriter.tripod.com/typewriterhunting.htm And before you ask – I’ve nothing to do with this guy – he just seems to be passionate about typewriters.
Anonymous

I love how old typewriters look, I wish you could buy modern gadgets that had the same style. laptops and PC’s are so incredibly boring.
Anonymous

So is it just me, or does that typewriter look like it’s smiling at us?
Anonymous

Wow, glad to see this site is still around. I am a manual typewriter collector and had used this site for my very first Remington clean-up and repair. And it’s been updated, as well. I had been wondering where the old Cambridge, Mass store had drifted off to, I used to buy all my ribbons there. Now it’s in Arlington. If you are a typewriter fan, I suggest getting on the MBTA and take a short trip to the store, the last I was of it was a crazy dark hole in Harvard Square with more typewriters than I had ever seen in such a small space. Way too expensive for repairs and to buy refurbished models. I buy my writers at yard sales and use a bottle of Soft Scrub to make the chrome shine. It also helps to get one that works, at least in the beginning because they can be a real mystery at first. And yes, Virginia, they last forever.
norbizness

The featured pic looks very Naked Lunch-ish.
UncleLaszlo

There’s a small exhibit featuring real live typewriters at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto until January ’08. There’s some other interesting exhibits happening there too. Check it out: http://www.rom.on.ca/exhibitions/special/typewriters.php
Cpt. Tim

I just found an old underwood at an estate sale for 25 bucks. It was in absolutely perfect condition, and required no fixing up. no sticky keys, even the ribbon was decently inked.

i love estate sales.
Anonymous

It looks very much like Wallace, and a bit like Gromit.
Huffington Glue

Are their any sites like this for electric typewriters?
Anonymous

Quick, zombies are chasing me – save the game!
klg19

Anonymous #8, you beat me to it. It looks EXACTLY like Wallace.
Anonymous

FYI, Mr Polt’s URL has changed to
http://site.xavier.edu/POLT/TYPEWRITERS/
the Other michael

#5, you’re looking for a #9

Tip: look for an Oliver in the film “Naked Lunch,” disguised as a “Mojahedin.” Watch as it transforms into an obscene hallucination ….
Anonymous

The typewriter is lovely, however I think it is odd how in our society people feel free to mention that they or their families were associated with 20th century communism. My ex-wife’s father was in the SS during WWII and it was a deep, dark family secret. The communists murdered vastly more people than the Nazis, yet generally being a communist is considered sort of quaint and somehow morally upright. Nobody would ever toss off a remark about their father being in the KKK…

Strange.
Anonymous

Sometimes I feel like we’re regressed so much in terms of design. I love my iMac… but seriously. *drool*