My typewriters: a catalog

The other day I noticed Clickthing had added a visual catalog of his typewriters. I can't believe I haven't done this before. I can't believe we ALL haven't done this before. And lastly, I can't believe how often I have the repetitive thought when reading all of your blogs: "I wonder what so and so's typewriter collection includes in its entirety?"

And so, here's all the typewriters I currently own (there's now a permanent link to this at left, as well). I plan to add a sample of the typefaces shortly (to the copy linked at left, that is).

Consider this an official challenge for you to follow in Clickthing's lead.

The Collection

I'm in a constant battle to reduce the number of typewriters I own, because let's face it, you can only store so many typewriters (unless you have a system, like one Olivander). That said, here is the latest roster, which totals 8. Soon I plan to add typeface samples to the image gallery as well.


Here is the story of how I came to acquire this Hermes Rocket at Acme Business Machines in Arkansas. This day I spent with my dad is one of my favorite memories. Thanks Monda. Rest in peace, Ed Cordon.


Found this Lettera 22 at Deluxe Junk in Seattle, a great antique shop that usually has a good selection of typewriters.  It came with the manual and brushes and the whole bit, even a decomposing plastic typewriter cover.  I had another identical Lettera prior to this one, which I gave to Olympiaman.


This cursive Olympia SF is from Cambridge Typewriter, by way of Speculator in Maine. (See the comments of the post to hear the story behind that).  This typewriter has been my holy grail machine for some time, owing to my disappointment with my other cursive machine.


Here is a random post blathering about my Olympia SM-9. Everyone seems to have one. Here's a scan of the SM9 manual. This is by far my most mechanically superior typewriter, with a resurfaced platen, or perhaps a new one, I forget. I bought it from a refurb place online. The typing action is literally like a new typewriter.


Bought this Hermes Rocket at Blue Moon Camera and Machine in Portland, OR. It used to look like this. Then I spray-painted it pink. People ask about how I painted it, but I really didn't use any particular technique. Here is a post about it.


This is a really gorgeous typewriter, in person. All the details and writing on the back and whatnot is perfectly intact. It is a 1941 Royal Quiet De Luxe that I got at Deluxe Junk in Seattle, and I had it cleaned and tuned up at Ace Typewriter in Portland, OR.


This Underwood Champion 11 from 1937 is the only typewriter I've kept out of seven I got from a shuttered museum in Petaluma, CA. Here is a post about this dubious haul, and here is another. I still have done nothing with this typewriter; it remains in my garage.


Here is the cursed cursive Hermes 3000. Here is a post about it when it was new and I was not yet truly versed in its cursed ways. Thing is, it has a lovely typeface. Otherwise I would rehome it to the bottom of Lake Washington.