Ransom notes

I use mine to work on my novella at starbucks

I own an IBM Selectic II, dual pitch, with the extra wide platen. I bought it, spent a long time diagnosing it and cleaning it before it ran properly.

I use it for one specific thing: letter writing. I’m an Aspie and can’t always convey my emotions and thoughts properly, but I sure as hell can write. But not actually write with a pen, my handwriting is horrible.

When I want to say something heartfelt to someone else, I break out nice stationary, high quality paper, and one of my good typing elements, and I type it. I do have corrective tape, but my typing accuracy is pretty low, so I have to slow down. That extra effort is noticable: the type is sharper and blacker than any inkjet or laser printer, the paper is heavyweight and feels good in the hand… It almost commands respect from the reader, to pay attention to something like that.

I used it most recently to write my mother, to thank her for some things she helped me with, but didn’t turn out. I knew she felt her effort was wasted or misplaced, buty words of reassurance didn’t reach her. So I wrote a letter and sent it her way. Even though we’re still in the same town, I mailed it. That made a difference to her, and I know she held onto it… Better than any email, or throwaway text message, and imo better than any printed document composed neatly with a word processor.

I think it’s something special.

For those interested, I know a typewriter repairman who fixed up over a thousand typewriters. Super nice dude, and he does have an Etsy shop for those interested: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WorkingTypewriters

I got mine as a joke. Grandma gave it to me I repaired it and then made few asignments.

But I used it few times just as curiosity. Lab protocols cant be easily writen on it. With PC you have all these nice tools like ChemSketch, leaving space and drawing by hand is inconvinient.

How is writing something 9n a typewriter quicker than your phone?

I have an underwood typewriter that I fixed and used for the guest book at my wedding. It sits as a decoration now as there’s not much use to it.

I do love that font though.

I have a Rheinmetall one from around the 30s that only half-works. It spends most of its days in the attic and only gets brought out to show people once in a while. I used it as a prop for a short film once, so I guess that was my favorite use for it.

My mum owns an old Olivetti that seems to be a collectors item nowadays. Our mutual favourite (and only) use for it is to notify each other when we stumble across one for sale and how much it goes for. They seem to be in the area of €80-150 so not quite the family heirloom.

Edit; Oh wow. Haven’t checked prices for few years. Seems they are selling tenfold now.

we have an old manual that’s used occasionally as a prop or ‘instrument’ in local productions and concerts by schools, community groups, etc.

If I remember right I have a royal quiet deluxe, I use it for notes I don’t want a digital record of like medical or other personal notes. Also every once in a while I’ll make a wall decoration, people seem to love them.