Typewriters for Newbies

[@aldolagana7126]

People always seem to shoot first, aim later. What I mean is that you cannot tell them: "before buying anything, it is better to learn and understand." You are doing a great service to the community with your calm, correct and thorough explanations. There are many videos out there from others that are not helpful. I would highly recommend watching a few of your videos before buying anything. Keep up the great work! [I love my SG1 the best and my Super Speed 2nd, tiny things are a compromise in many ways.]

[@mumalogue]

Love the fountain pen crossover- you already sent me down that rabbit hole with your confessions series! Takes me back every time I write with Parker blue-black. Thank you for all you do, Joe.

[@matthewbrown6163]

At 16 when I first started work - our office secretary taught me how to load up a typewriter & use it. This was in 1986 & I forget the thousands of times I changed contracts & reports over the years but NO I am not a secretary either LOL. Years later when Laser Printers were still very expensive, I had to buy a portable typewriter from a newspaper agency to redo corrections on a country business trip. Good Skill to have learned 30+ years ago,

[@BooksForever]

I have a small dark grey Olympia Splendid in exactly that condition. It’s a solid typer that somehow holds its own in the face of heavier competitors like my Smith-Corona Sterling or Galaxie Twelve or even my standard two Underwoods (6 & SS) or Royal 440.

[@JB-uv4hm]

Holds it’s own, how so? First off the 6 is an antique. The SS is a gussied up 6. The 440 is the Litton cheapened version of the classic. There is a reason KMM/KMGs are ubiquitous. They were and are still fantastic typewriters. Sublime action combined with near perfect controls, then add fine touch control and carriage tension adjustment. David McCullough. banged out Pulitzer winners until his death on a KMM. You could take the Royal lineup out to the HH and FP. The HHs have nearly zero value because they are not pretty. But if you want to throw ink on paper all day, they are superior tools.

[@martinhawrylkiewicz2025]

Really nice vid! When I started college years ago, I didn't have enough money for a computer and a printer to write my essays and research papers for my classes...so one day I went to Salvation Army and found this cute typewriter for $25. It was a Royal Quiet Deluxe in all black with a carrying case. I took it home, took it all apart (most of it), cleaned it, dusted off, oiled it, installed a new ribbon, had the platen roller professionally redone (I think it was $25 for it, shipped) and typed all my essays on it. Still have it.

[@davidcornillie]

Great advice Joe. I got a Hermes Rocket and and SM-3 at about he same time and while I was excited to get the Rocket, the more robust SM-3 is much easier to work with. For public writing, I took some of you advice from a few years back and most often use an Alphasmart.

[@paullacotta5645]

Funny that I stumbled upon your channel because of my interest in typewriters. Then I see we have mutual love of film photography and fountain pens. Not a big surprise. Thanks for thoughtful videos.

[@paolocruz8392]

I got attracted myself by the beautiful blue color of a Penncrest Caravelle. Having owned portables and midsize machines I'm more inclined to get midsizes for their ease of repair, reliability, and far better type action. The Penncrest was a no brainer. I bought it in a heartbeat. Sold the rest and kept the blue Penny. Now it's my go to machine when I need to pour my emotions on paper. It's a 5 series SCM after all and it can certainly take more than a beating of typing. 😊

[@paolocruz8392]

I also enjoy my TWSBI's when I feel like writing short journal entries. I especially love the stub for the variable line widths of strokes in ky writing. I enjoy slowing down and taking my time when writing.

[@JosephDickson]

I love the Twsbi Go’s filling system, pair it with a fine nib, write for at least a week, perfection.

[@deancummings586]

Fantastic video, thank you, Joe! As for me, I find my Olympia SM-7 to be the perfect balance between porability and solid function. Some call them mid-size, but in my experience, after using typewriters for regular writing, machines like the SM-7 are optimal. You give very relevant and helpful information, along with thoughtful perspective, Joe. Thank you for all the help and encouragement that you give us typing enthusiasts.

[@mikequinlan9585]

Thank you Joe your videos are the most inspiring!

[@JosephDickson]

I have a Freewrite Traveler and still prefer a good notebook and pen for travel and drafting.

[@remyvegamedia]

Just found your channel yesterday. A few days ago I entertained the idea of getting a typewriter and I watched a few videos to learn the mechanics and details of how manual typewriters actually work. Ended up with a Royal Quiet De Luxe from the 50s today for $80 haha. Everything is in working order, just has some rusty parts underneath, but everything works. Might need to replace some parts. I'm also a fountain pen enthusiast, so that was a cool thing to see in the beginning. Thanks for your time and information!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Enjoy!

[@bletheringfool]

I was talking to some folks online, younger people getting into it and the problem many face is availability. The beast machines are usually in auctions or markets and not easy to get home. Lots of folks are getting public transport or hopping on bikes. People also living in student accommodation are limited for space as well. I love the black and white and appreciate another insightful video 👌

[@otterchen]

Well, great narration and again a very good video, your style to talk and teach is phantastic. As a conclusion i would say, it is a pladoyer for having a least 2 typewriters, a semisized, like a Smith-Corona 5series or something like that, and an ultraportable as a mobile device. Greetings from Germany. (My answeringletter is in progress)

[@WaskiSquirrel]

While I do own a very cute orange Adler typewriter and a Groma Kolibri, I much prefer typing on my mid-size or full size typewriters. An Underwood SX is a permanent fixture in my living room, where I do most of my typing. And I am too shy to type in public. I'm even shy about typing in my own yard!

[@kdietz65]

I think I'd like to have a Smith Corona Coronet Super 12 in the baby blue color just because it's what I had in high school and my parents made it disappear and I wish I still had it. They're readily available and pretty cheap, I just need to find a good place to store and display it.

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

We ❤ typewriters. 🎉.

[@shwetaswaminathan6401]

I just wanted to add, that a big reason I wanted an ultra portable for my first is that I'm incredibly fidgety. I'm constantly moving around within my house with my work- work table, dining table, bed, floor. With my ultra portable I can do all that, even sit on the floor and work for 45 mins-ish. I dont want to take it in public, but I would like to take it on trips and work within the privacy of my room. I also personally find more features overwhelming as a starter. My plan is to see if I can work in one place longer and then get a standard.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

That is a great idea, thank you!

[@elmatador7995]

Hello! I am here to ask you a question about a canon type star 2. I recently found one in my attic and started it. All the components work fine but when I type any key the letter isn’t written one time but it’s like when you hold a key in a computer, it’s written a lot of times.I suspect that it’s only a problem with the software. I searched all over the internet on how to do a factory reset on this machine but I did not find any information. Do you perhaps know the reset sequence?? Thanks in advance.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Does that machine have a “repeat” key? If so, it may be stuck, making any other key you type do so repetitively.

[@elmatador7995]

No it doesn’t have a repeat key I suspect it is some bug with the software and not the hardware because my grand parents didn’t use it at all and it is in perfect state. Thanks you for the replie and if by any chance you know the reset sequence of the machine I would appreciate that information. Thanks!👍👍

[@Joe_VanCleave]

@@elmatador7995 Power cycling it should reset the machine (leave the power disconnected for a minute). The problem may be oxidized switch contacts in the keyboard, where one key press triggers multiple pulses. I’ve had to take apart and clean the contacts on these Typestar keyboards.

[@elmatador7995]

Ok thank you very much man!!👌👍👍

[@mikeywestside8509]

Where can I have my typewriter serviced? It needs some cleaning and repairs.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Check out this list of repair shops, from the Classic Typewriter Page: site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html

[@mikeywestside8509]

@@Joe_VanCleave awesome thank you

[@watchhillian]

Stay with black and white.

[@sgs1262]

What is a good larger desktop typewriter recommendation

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Royal KMM, KMG or similar; Olympia SG1 or 3; Hermes Ambassador are all excellent machines.

[@BoulderJR]

What are your thoughts about pica vs elite type face?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I tend to do my private writings on elite machines, I suppose because more words are written before the interruption of the carriage return; but pica usually prints neater (the loops in letters are larger, less chance of getting clogged with ink) and hence is preferred for correspondence and addressing envelopes.

[@BoulderJR]

@@Joe_VanCleave Thanks. Great instructional videos.

[@SELPH_ONE]

being a local to ABQ, can you point me to any place in town that has one of the larger specimens you recommend for a beginner? i want to pick one up that's in good condition but i dont know where to look. i presume you probably know of a few around town that you just can't justify crowding your collection with, but would work great for somoene's first foray into the world of typewriters. id prefer one with a case so that it doesnt collect dust when stored. any insight would be appreciated. -Isaac

[@Joe_VanCleave]

The repair shop of John Lewis is highly recommended. johnlewismechanicalantiques.com

[@SELPH_ONE]

@@Joe_VanCleave thanks for the response, i'll look into his shop this week.

[@saulysw]

I'm behooved (7:05)! The Hermes baby is also lacking bichrome setting, which I miss. Horses for courses, they have their place, but you do get a lot more by going just a bit bigger, eg the Hermes 3000 vs the Baby/Rocket. You don't need to go all the way up the Hermes Ambassador, methinks. I'm not a public writer, I feel far too self conscious to do that. It kind of feels pretentious too, JMHO. A type-in is a different story though.

[@marctestarossa]

If you want to write in a coffeeshop, be it in a notebook or even with a typewriter: leave your phone at home. You won't need it, it doesn't serve you anything, it just offers distraction and keeps you from thinking and being creative.

[@marctestarossa]

I haven't seriously used a typewriter at all. I do lots of writing by hand, but I would love to try typing on one of those machines. But I already have issues with carpal tunnel and tendonitis from using proper modern keyboards after extended typing sessions. Will a typewriter be suitable for me to use at all?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

@@marctestarossa While not the best choice for a public space, an electric typewriter offers keys that are much easier to press than a manual machine.

[@marctestarossa]

@@Joe_VanCleave I don’t really plan on typing outside, so maybe an electric typewriter could be a good idea. I remember having used one in 5th grade for learning touch typing blindly in a special course i took. And it badically was the same as typing on a computer keyboard. So you think that mechanical machines reslly are more straining on the hands?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

@@marctestarossa There is a wide variety of “strain” offered by various models of manual typewriter, depending on the design, but none of them will be as easy as on an electric. The Hermes 3000 and some Olivettis are known to have a lighter “touch” but it depends on your individual needs, it’s best to visit a typewriter shop and try various machines for yourself.

[@marctestarossa]

@@Joe_VanCleave thank you very much

[@kerc]

The answer is always Royal KMM. 😁