10,000 Matching Annotations
  1. Aug 2024
    1. Alternate systems for helping to thin out typewriter collections:

      Designer William Morris' weighing system:

      “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

      I once had a collector friend who loved standard typewriters, so his weighing system was as follows:<br /> - If it weighs over 25 pounds, keep it<br /> - If it weighs less than 25 pounds, sell it off

      And naturally, minimalist Marie Kondo's system:<br /> - Does it spark joy?

      Joe Van Cleave also had another video for creating a minimal collection based on categories of typewriter which may also be useful for some: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ej6kd1FsnE

    1. “Man is a Tool-using Animal (Handthierendes Thier). Weakin himself, and of small stature, he stands on a basis, at mostfor the flattest-soled, of some half square-foot, insecurelyenough; has to straddle out his legs, lest the very windsupplant him. Feeblest of bipeds! Three quintals are acrushing load for him; the Steer of the meadow tosses himaloft, like a waste rag. Nevertheless he can use Tools, candevise Tools: with these the granite mountain melts intolight dust before him; he kneads glowing iron, as if it weresoft paste; seas are his smooth highway, winds and fire hisunwearying steeds. Nowhere do you find him without Tools;without Tools he is nothing, with Tools he is all.”

      often shortened to:

      Man is a Tool-using Animal... Nowhere do you find him without Tools; without Tools he is nothing, with Tools he is all.”

      Link to:<br /> - Thoreau https://hypothes.is/a/vooPrPkwEe2r_4MIb6tlFw - Culkin https://hypothes.is/a/6Znx6MiMEeu3ljcVBsKNOw

    1. Howard L. Wilson, creator of the Memindex system starting 1903 and in wide use through the 1950s, would be proud that a modern variation of his system is still living in analog form. While it doesn't provide the bench depth of options of materials and sizes, the system is compact, modern, and just as simple as the original. The handcrafted archive boxes now bring the system up to par with its predecessor with grace and an elegant minimalistic esthetic.

      Perhaps in a few years we might see something akin to Yawman & Erbe or Shaw-Walker's 16 drawer filing cabinets for long term storage of multiple years?

    2. Ugmonk released a limited edition of 100 archive boxes for their Analog productivity cards today at 7AM (Pacific) for $229.00 (including 12 card packs and a metal divider). It sold out within two and a half hours.

      With the inclusion of this archive box it makes the system much more like the original Memindex system.

      https://ugmonk.com/products/analog-archive-box-walnut?variant=43942761562262

    1. In this experimentagain the pupils who could type werefound to have made more gains in lan-guage usage and spelling than the nontyp-ers.

      M. W. Tate's 1934 typewriter studies showed student gains in language usage and spelling. Now that computers have automatic spell-checkers and students less frequently use dictionaries or study spelling in particular, does spelling ability in modern classrooms keep pace with numbers from earlier in the century when more emphasis was put on that portion of writing pedagogy?

    2. One large study by Ben D. Woodand Frank N. Freeman in 1932 paved theway for acceptance in elementary schools.The study included 14,947 children ofelementary-school age in an experimenton the effect of the typewriter on class-room performance (3). The children whohad typing instruction actually spent onlyan hour or two a week at the typewriter,yet at the end of the first year they out-performed the nontyping pupils in read-ing.
    1. Glenn Horowitz, a rare-book dealer who handled the auction for Mr. McCarthy, told The New York Times earlier this week: “When I grasped that some of the most complex, almost otherworldly fiction of the postwar era was composed on such a simple, functional, frail-looking machine, it conferred a sort of talismanic quality to Cormac’s typewriter. It’s as if Mount Rushmore was carved with a Swiss Army knife.”
    1. the latest trend in investment to fight online rumors, which is far too focused on technological fixes for what is fundamentally a human problem.

      Often, because misinformation is spread using technological means, we focus on using technology to dampen the spread of rumors. The root of the problem is really a human one, however, so it may help significantly to focus efforts on that locus.

      Link to Swift quote about lies and truth: https://hypothes.is/a/Ys0x_m65Ee6GOPtD0OROJw

    2. The South Florida influencers, for instance, heard a rumor circulating that the government had put microchips in the coronavirus vaccine so it could track people.

      Notice that many fake news stories begin from a place of fear. This fear hijacks our brains and triggers fight or flight options in our system I circuitry and actively prevent the use of the rational parts of system II which would quickly reveal problems in the information.

    3. The formula: Empathize with a concern instead of shaming people or telling them they are wrong. And acknowledge — rather than ignore — the kernels of truth that make false claims seem convincing.

      A formula for fighting misinformation: empathize, don't shame, acknowledge kernels of truth

      Presumably this came out of the Information Futures Lab, but it would be nice to have the source and related research.

    1. The majority of typewriter typefaces came in one of a few sizes either pica (10 characters per inch) or elite (11 or 12 CPI). Usually you can tell by the number of characters on rule at the back of the paper table. A scale that goes up to 85 is usually indicative of Pica machine (85*10 CPI = 8.5", which is the standard paper width in the US) and a scale that goes into the the 90s up to 102 indicates elite. There were definitely other sizes for custom typing, but they're rarer. You might see things like 6 CPI which was used for children or people with vision problems and machines that go up to 18 CPI. I've heard rumors of 20 CPI, but never seen one.

    1. Big Blue Gets Renewed by [[Joe Van Cleave]]

      I like the aftermarket upgrades you've made.

      The Cheers reference reminds me that I've been trying to pair drinks with machines as I write. I had a blue cocktail on a cruise to Alaska last year that used glacier ice (which is blue), but since that's not easy to source in ABQ, maybe try an "Electric Iced Tea" which is a variation on the Long Island iced tea but which swaps blue curaçao for the triple sec and a clear lemon-lime based soda for the cola.

    1. Smith-Corona Series 5 and 6 typewriters had a small piece of rubber around a portion of the escapement which can wear out or become damaged. This in turn causes the escapement to not work properly and cause the dogs to get jammed resulting in large movements of the carriage while typing or spacing.

      Joe Van Cleave calls it the "return silencer" and replaced his by tracing out the damaged piece on a sheet of 1/32" rubber and cutting it out as a replacement.

      Duane at Phoenix typewriter describes replacing it with rubber tubing (possibly something like heat shrink?) instead. See: https://hypothes.is/a/tG4BWk77Ee-jczsjoM8SzA

    1. he two groups making most use of librarieswere “students and housewives” (women users outnumbered men by twoto one), but neither group was well served; and among employed men,6 percent of whites borrowed books, but only 0.1 percent of Black min-ers.18 These were dreadful numbers.

      reading as a leading indicator of cultural shift to help provide power to women and non-whites.

      Was the Great Books idea being pressed towards "men" a means of pushing back against this in some sense?

    1. “I’m also branching out to develop a typewriting service,” continues Leo. “I am currently typing the best man speech for someone. He’s getting it framed to use as a gift for the groom. I’ve also begun hiring typewriters out for weddings, to be used for guests to type notes for the bride and groom on the day.” What a genius idea.

      another example of people using typewriters for wedding mementos

    1. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi<br /> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086190/quotes/

      Return of the Jedi is all about feelings. Having them, showing them, hiding them. Bad people use them against you. Good people have them for other good people.

      You should "search your feelings" (Luke Skywalker).

      Cross reference this with Ryder Carroll's method of tracking your feelings (moods) using the "=".<br /> https://hypothes.is/a/l12OgFD7Ee-LjAevth_Piw

    1. How different is Bob Doto's A System for Writing from Antinet Zettelkasten?

      reply to u/IamOkei at https://new.reddit.com/r/Zettelkasten/comments/1eg8jhe/how_different_is_bob_dotos_a_system_for_writing/?%24deep_link=true&correlation_id=f06f9a20-472b-4d1d-9820-65a28e4efb04&post_fullname=t3_1eg8jhe&post_index=0&ref=email_digest&ref_campaign=email_digest&ref_source=email&utm_content=post_title&%243p=e_as&utm_medium=Email%20Amazon%20SES

      Doto's book is far more focused, well-written, and actually edited. Scheper's less well written and in need of heavy editing. Save yourself the extra 400 pages and spend that time practicing the craft instead.

      If you were starting from scratch without any knowledge of the area, I would highly recommend Doto's work, possibly mention Ahrens in passing, and not suffer anyone to mention Scheper's book. If you're an academic, I would recommend Umberto Eco or perhaps if a historian, one of the many books on historical method like Barzun, Gottschalk, or Goutor.

      As background, both Scheper and Doto sent me pre-publication drafts of their work-in-progress to read. I've also read the majority of other books, papers, articles, and works in the space over the past 150+ years including nearly 100% of the references footnoted the two texts referenced. See also: https://boffosocko.com/research/zettelkasten-commonplace-books-and-note-taking-collection/

  2. Jul 2024
    1. My fiance got a white Adler Tippa recently, but is unsure of the exact model or year. We looked up the serial number but nothing has come up even on the database. The Tippa plate just says Tippa, not Adler Tippa, so it can't be too old. Any ideas? Serial number: 10148440

      reply to u/DinoPup87 at https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1efzeor/adler_tippa_id/

      It's a common misconception that the database lists all serial numbers.

      You'll need to identify the make (and preferably the model) to search the database. Then you'll want to look at the serial numbers which your serial number appears between to be able to identify the year (or month if the data is granular enough) your machine was made. Reading the notes at the header of each page will give you details for how best to read and interpret the charts for each manufacturer. Notes and footnotes will provide you with additional details when available.

      You can then compare your machine against others which individuals have photographed and uploaded to the database. Feel free to add your typewriter as an example by making an account of your own. Doing this is sure to help researches and other enthusiasts in the future. Don't forget photos of your manual, tools which came with your machine, your case, and original dated purchase receipts if you have them.

    1. needs a new ink ribbon

      Chances are that you've got your original metal spools, and if so, definitely keep them. You can make a quick measurement, but I'm guessing you're going to want 1/2" or 13mm wide universal ribbon.

      You can buy this in many places and in various color combinations (if you have a bichrome machine—look for a black/white/red switch which can usually be found on the front of your machine) for just a few dollars for 16 yards or about 14 meters to fill up a 2 inch diameter spool. Often it will come on cheap universal plastic spools which you can use to wind onto your own original metal spools if necessary.

      Some machines often make use of proprietary mechanisms or geometry on their spools to effectuate the auto-reverse mechanism of the machine (though you'd have to check on your particular unit). Many machines after the 40s used small grommets on the ribbon itself to trigger the auto-reverse mechanism. If yours doesn't, you can trim these off with scissors as you spool the ribbon onto your machine if you're worried they'll get in the way.

      Some smaller ultra-portables can and often do use smaller diameter spools which only fit 12 yards of ribbon, but you can always cut your ribbon down from bigger spools if necessary.

      A few good sources of ribbon can be found at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-faq.html#q1.

      If you don't have the original spools and the cheap plastic universal ones don't work on yours, you can find replacements via https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/ or by calling around to repair shops which may have extras https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html


      Incidentally, having your typewriter make and model as well as serial number can be helpful. You can often identify the model via https://typewriterdatabase.com/ if it's not on your typewriter directly. I'm guessing from the 2Y5852 that you've got a Good Companion No. 2 circa 1942, but you can track that down by looking at the database and individual galleries with photos.

      If you don't have one already, you might find a manual for your machine (or one very similar to it) at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html

      reply to u/Fancy_Temporary_5902 at https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1eg176q/im_trying_to_id_a_typewriter_of_my_dads_as_it/

    1. Does anyone here use a purpose made typewriter desk? How do you like it? Alternatively, has anyone tried one and found it wasn't for them?

      I've used the small typewriter tables with drop sides and wheels before. I appreciate their small size and ability to move around. I'm actively looking for a new one at the moment. (I sold the original 20 years ago when downsizing during a move between apartments and prior to restarting my collection.)

      I currently use a dual pedestal desk and and usually have my typewriters on the pull out writing drawers. This drops the typewriter an inch and makes one's typing position (27" off the floor) much more comfortable than having the typewriter higher up 29-31" for most modern desks and tables.

      I have tested a pedestal desk with a spring-loaded typewriter platform that moves up and out of the desk after opening a door. This was an excellent experience, and if I find another, I will surely purchase it. The tough part is that they take up a lot of space as the internal desk space is given entirely to hiding the typewriter when not in use. They're definitely great if you have a heavy 30+ pound standard typewriter that's not so mobile.

      The third type are wooden desks with two desk height levels. One for traditional desk work and a second lower one as the typewriter platform. The lower height is obviously much more ergonomic for typing for long periods. On most of these desks, the inset typewriter space is most often given completely over for the typewriter to be there permanently. If your plan is to only have a typewriter, then jump, but their use is more difficult if you're sharing that space with a computer and need to move the two back and forth regularly. Additionally, the wooden desks have either permanent cut outs or can be flipped over to hide the cutout and make the entire desk space flush when the typewriter isn't in use. You'll have to use your own gut to decide which of these two might be best for you. I recently saw a reasonable version of a convertible wooden desk at https://abqtypers.substack.com/p/convertible-typewriter-desk

      I find these pop up pretty regularly in the $200-500 range. Often owners don't want them because they don't use typewriters, and they don't move easily, so they're likely to come down in price pretty quickly/easily.

    1. Olivetti Lettera 31 (Another name for the Dora -- or is it the opposite?) olivetti Dora (the actual base model if I'm not mistaken, with a bunch of rebrands worldwide) ETON (naturally this belongs on this list, I've even seen 2 others for sale online since) Underwood 315 (rebrand) Montgomery Ward Escort 33 (rebrand) Olivetti Underwood 310 (pretty sure this is a rebrand too, or at least very closely related) Olivetti Index (this is the closest thing I've found to my ETON branded one. It s PRACTICALLY the same in every regard - seen two online for sale) Montgomery ward escort 44 (also a rebrand of the DORA?!) Mercedes Super T (rebrand as well, seen one for sale) Montomery Ward Escort 77 (pretty close to being the same model again again... But not quite?) Neckermann BRILLANT Special T (DEFINITELY a rebrand. The manual is a dead give-away among other things) JUPITER (A typewriter 100% identical to the IDEX or ETON, but rebranded again again) Underwood 314 (no idea on this one. I gave up at this point)

      https://typewriterdatabase.com/19xx-olivetti-eton.23086.typewriter

    1. Americans deserve a campaign that tests the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates; that highlights their differences and allows scrutiny of their plans; that motivates people to vote by giving them a clear account of how their choice in this election will affect their lives.

      Definitely this, but the majority of the right doesn't care about plans, choices, or strengths and weaknesses. They've bought into a cult of personality that washes out the ability to make informed decisions.

    1. Lucy Calkins Retreats on Phonics in Fight Over Reading Curriculum by Dana Goldstein

      Not much talk of potentially splitting out methods for neurodivergent learners here. Teaching reading strategies may net out dramatically differently between neurotypical children and those with issues like dyslexia. Perceptual and processing issues may make some methods dramatically harder for some learners over others, and we still don't seem to have any respect for that.

      This example is an interesting one of the sort of generational die out of old ideas and adoption of new ones as seen in Kuhn's scientific revolutions.

    1. George MacDonald (10 December 1824 – 18 September 1905) was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister. He became a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow-writer Lewis Carroll. In addition to his fairy tales, MacDonald wrote several works of Christian theology, including several collections of sermons.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_MacDonald

    1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_effect

      The Matthew effect of accumulated advantage, sometimes called the Matthew principle, is the tendency of individuals to accrue social or economic success in proportion to their initial level of popularity, friends, and wealth. It is sometimes summarized by the adage or platitude "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". The term was coined by sociologists Robert K. Merton and Harriet Zuckerman in 1968 and takes its name from the Parable of the Talents in the biblical Gospel of Matthew.

      related somehow to the [[Lindy effect]]?

    1. I've felt guilty in the past that often we don't directly discuss the book and what it says, but since we've each individually had our own "conversations with the author", our sessions then become a method of taking those extant (hidden discussions) and bringing them to a group to have not only discussions with each other, but extend those discussions with other books we've read and connecting them with reading, watching, listening we've done with other sources. In some sense, we're creating connections (conversations) with all the other things rather than necessarily discussing the exact thing at hand. This is a different form of work than the work of the initial discussion we individually have with the author (in this case Adrian Johns) and this is something many book groups don't go past.

      I don't feel so guilty about it anymore...

    1. Royal KMM FPE HH KH 10 T1 B64 Typewriter Ribbon Install Rewind Respool Replace by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]

      The spools for the standard Royal typewriters (KMM, FPE, HH, KH, etc) have a custom metal mechanism for their auto-reverse. The spools are known as the T1 (which is the same as General Ribbon part # T1-77B , T1-77BR, and Nu-Kote B64.) If winding on universal ribbon onto them, remove the eyelette which isn't needed and may interfere with the auto reverse.

      The function of the mechanism is fairly similar to that of the Remington, but the mechanism is on the spool itself rather than on the spindle.

      If necessary, Ribbons Unlimited carries these metal spools: https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/6N064-Royal-Standard-Electric-Ribbon-64-p/6n064.htm

    1. Royal HH & FP typewriter shipping help by [[Typewriter Justice]]

      Advice for how to package a heavy standard typewriter for shipping. Two heavy rubberbands to hold the margin release buttons to protect the escapement. Then plastic wrap to keep the carriage from moving during shipment. Then protection for the knobs and carriage return levers put into a first box. Then packing peanuts in a second box, fill to completely full and tape closed.

    1. Royal HHE Typewriter Demo of Features and Functions by [[Cincinnati Typewriter]]

      Orange and black typewriter painted when they thought Bengals were going to Super Bowl.

      Sadly didn't get the purpose of the numbered guides... presupposed they were in millimeters, but knew it wasn't that.

      Very shaky video... nauseating.

      Didn't differentiate between permanent and temporary variable line levels. Didn't get the way these work at all.

      Missed subtleties of Magic Margin, but did well enough.

      "strikers" instead of slugs or hammers

      Painted the colors on the bichrome wrong.

      Only partially understands touch control. Definitely doesn't know how to adjust them.

      Definitely don't use this as an example.

      Seems like an amateur painting and (maybe) cleaning up typewriters from home. I don't think I'd trust him based on this video.

    1. 1954 Royal HH, repainted | Typewriter Tutorial by [[Jot & Tittle Vintage Typewriters]]

      Pseudo-professional explaining the functionality of a Royal HH (sales video)

      took her two tries to get the proper ribbon reversal... <br /> didn't get/understand the touch control function<br /> Not original spools<br /> Doesn't understand card fingers<br /> At least knew "stencil", but didn't explain it beyond "it won't type"<br /> Didn't have a specific size for the large carriage<br /> Had issue with ribbon tension<br /> Couldn't get the hood button several times

      "I wouldn't write a long book on here." What the hell is she talking about? This was the entire purpose of this machine.

    1. The trees with deep roots are the ones that grow tall. — Frédéric Mistral

      original source?


      This quote works well for individuals, but looking at tree stands in Alaska only thousands of years from glaciation, one sees incredibly tall trees that have shallow root systems, but they utilize each others' root systems to keep groups of trees strong and tall. This apparently even extends to groups of trees looking out for each other to keep the group strong.

      via https://www.saschafast.de/

    1. The Minimal Complete Typewriter Collection by [[Joe Van Cleave]]

      Joe Van Cleave's personal six categories in a (his) typewriter collection: - Standard manual - medium-sized portable (largest segment in the collector's space) - lightweight portable or ultra-portable - typebar electric - IBM Selectric - Electronic typewriter (thermal typewriter), portable, quiet, battery operation.

      Joe's minimal collection based on what he's got in his collection currently and the condition that they're in: - Royal KMM (his only standard) - Hermes 3000 (boxy middle era) - Olympia Splendid 33 (he's also got a Royal Mercury & Groma Kalibri) - Olympia Reporter - Selectric I (the only one he's got) cloth, ribbon cartridge system, no lift-off correction - Canon Typestar 220

      Some of Joe's most important criteria in a typewriter: he prefers an elite face, 1 1/2 spacing, and bichrome setting.

      At the time of this recording Joe had 30 typewriters.

    1. I just realised the Antares was designed to sit inside the upside down lid, like a built in lap desk. As it sort of pivots on the two pegs in the back, you lift up the front of the machine like opening a lid and the top functions like a paper tray or drawer! :o

      via u/IrmaBecx at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1e73576/comment/ldy6tjq/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

      With Antares portable typewriters on can often use the top cover of the case upside down and the typewriter will sit snugly inside and can be used as a lap desk.

    1. Given my current r/typewriter flair ("typewriters + card index = magic"), I couldn't help but appreciate that Lucas Dul features a 3x5" card index (aka database) of typewriter typefaces in a recent video on the 1896 Williams 3 typewriter: https://youtu.be/T1zzXwB3Xh8?si=K4FeiS-V_aev9_SZ&t=506. Those who have been following along on the typeface front will recognize some of the samples from this small index having been featured in a video on typewriter typefaces at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scrguKgDNIY.

      I'm reminded of a similar card index (or Zettelkasten if you speak German) database of type I saw last year via the Letterform Archive article at Schriftenkartei [Typeface Index], 1958–1971 and a related Flickr version of it at https://www.flickr.com/photos/letterformarchive/albums/72177720310834741/

      Lest you think these sorts of analog office pairings are completely obsolete, I feel compelled to mention that I've recently noticed that Pam Beasley's character had both an IBM typewriter and a metal 1970s/80s era two drawer metal card file behind her desk in the TV series The Office (NBC, 2005-2013).

      If typewriters and card indexes are your sort of thing, I've got a small personal collection as well as some research and writing about them which can be found at https://boffosocko.com/research/zettelkasten-commonplace-books-and-note-taking-collection/#Boxes

      If you follow my collections and work, you know I'm not beyond pairing up a nice typewriter with a card index (or two).

      img

      Image of a 1948 Royal and a matching Steelcase card index.

      Syndication link: https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1e5u5z3/era_appropriate_database_for_typewriter_typefaces/

    1. Please sign these letters to legislators, telling them that misguided AI laws will hurt startups and small companies and discourage AI innovation and investment in California.AI offers tremendous benefits, but many fear AI and worry about potential harm and misuse. These are valid concerns for everyone, including legislators, but laws that promote safe and equitable AI should be fact-based, straightforward, and universally applied. Legislators in Sacramento are considering two proposals, AB 2930 and SB 1047, that would impose costly and unpredictable burdens on AI developers, including anticipating and preventing future harmful uses of AI. Though well-intended, these bills will dampen and inhibit innovation, permanently embed today’s AI leaders as innovation gatekeepers, and drive investment and talent to other states and countries.

      https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeR5VrXxDJA3sJtkWDAKLH1TT0havDxmCf9PYAupxECu1BQYw/viewform