Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Thursday 15 June 2017
Vintage typewriters gain fans amid ‘digital burnout’

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS, ple wanting a connection
Associated Press to the past. That interest
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) seems to transcend age,
— Typewriter enthusiasts he said.
gather at an Albuquerque “Kids who grew up knowing
restaurant to experiment only mobile phones and
with vintage Smith Coro- the computer are excited
nas. Fans in Boston kneel in to see a letter typed with
a city square and type sto- your own hand,” said Nich-
ries about their lives during ol, who owns 85 typewriters.
a pro-immigration demon- “It’s a one-on-one interac-
stration. A documentary on tion that doesn’t get inter-
typewriters featuring Tom rupted by Twitter alerts.”
Hanks and musician John In his film, set for release in
Mayer is set for release this August, Nichol interviews
summer. Hanks, who said he uses
In the age of smartphones, a typewriter almost every
social media and hacking day to send memos and
fears, vintage typewriters letters.
that once gathered dust in “I hate getting email thank-
attics and basements are yous from folks,” Hanks says
attracting a new genera- in the film. “Now, if they
tion of fans across the U.S. take 70 seconds to type me
From public “type-ins” at out something on a piece
bars to street poets selling of paper and send to me,
personalized, typewritten In this April 23, 2017 photo, vintage typewriters are on display at a “type-in” in Albuquerque, N.M. well, I’ll keep that forever.
poems on the spot, type- “Type-ins” are social gatherings in public places where typewriter fans test different vintage ma- I’ll just delete that email.”
writers have emerged as chines. Hanks owns about 270
popular items with aficio- Associated Press typewriters but often gives
been organized around and estate sales say type- them away to people who
the typewriter. writers are some of the show an interest.
“It’s beyond the phase quickest items to go. One way the typewriter
where this is just a fad,” Polt “That’s part of the fun: craze is growing is through
said. the hunt,” said Joe Van organized “type-ins” —
It’s almost impossible to Cleave, an Albuquerque meet-ups in public places
gauge recent typewriter resident who owns more where typewriter fans try
sales. Almost all of the origi- than a dozen typewriters different vintage machines.
nal manufacturers are out and runs a popular You- Such events have been
of business or have been Tube channel on restoring held in Phoenix, Philadel-
bought out and become the machines. “Sometimes, phia, Seattle, Los Angeles
different companies. The like a little luck, you might and Cincinnati.
Moonachie, New Jersey- find something from the During a recent type-in
based Swintec appears to 1920s in great condition.” at Albuquerque soul food
be one of the world’s last restaurant Nexus Brewery,
typewriter makers, selling Doug Nichol, director of around three dozen fans
translucent electronic ma- the upcoming documen- took turns clicking the keys
chines largely to jails and tary “California Typewriter,” of an Italian-made 1964
In this April 23, 2017 photo, Andrea Kittle, of Albuquerque, N.M., said the interest stems from
tries out a vintage Smith Corona electric typewriter at a “type- prisons. “digital burnout” and peo- Olivetti Lettera 32 and a
in” in Albuquerque But operators of thrift stores 1947 Royal KMM, among
Associated Press others.
Lewis, a typewriter repair- Rich Boucher spent most
nados hunting for them in man who has operated out of his time on a 1960s-era
thrift stores, online auction of his Albuquerque shop for Hermes 3000 crafting po-
sites and antique shops. four decades. “There’s def- etry.
Some buy antique Under- initely a new interest, and “I haven’t used a type-
woods to add to a growing it’s keeping me very busy.” writer in forever,” he said.
collection. Others search Renewed interest began “This is a real refreshing way
for a midcentury Royal Qui- around 10 years ago when to spend a summer after-
et De Luxe — like a model small pockets of typewriter noon.”
author Ernest Hemingway enthusiasts came together After finishing his work,
used — to work on that sim- online, said Richard Polt, Boucher grabbed his
mering novel. a Xavier University philoso- phone and sent a Face-
The rescued machines of- phy professor and author book status update about
ten need servicing, and of “The Typewriter Revolu- the experience. He then
fans are forced to seek out tion: A Typist’s Companion started looking online for a
the few remaining typewrit- for the 21st Century.” Since In this Jan. 9, 2017, photo, John Lewis, a typewriter repairman, Hermes 3000.
er repair shops. then, the base of fans has works at his shop in Albuquerque, N.M., in front of his collection “That’s the typewriter I
“I haven’t seen business dramatically grown, and of vintage typewriters. want,” he said. “I’m going
like this in years,” said John various public events have Associated Press to find one.”q