Michigan Typochondriacs Last Gathering for 2019

If you are in the area, please join us 14 December at 11:00 a.m. until noon or maybe later.

Don"t have a typewriter? No problem.  We'll have plenty.

Michigan Typochondriacs at Kazoo Books in November

1922 Corona 3 that spent its life in the NYPD

Brother Charger 11 from 1973 that recently became part of my collection

Adler J4 from 1966. This is one of the best typers in my collection.  Typing action is super nice and the carriage return quite light and very silky smooth. 

Recently restored Hermes 3000 from 1967.  Like all the square body Hermes 3000 neat looking, but nothing to brag about for typing.  It was also missing both platen knobs.

Olympia SM8 from 1966.  This one is quite nice to use. It is not as stiff as most of the Olympia typewriters I've used.

This SM9 was made in 1969.  It is nice to use, but not as fast as an H3k.  Typing action is much like the rest of the Olympia SM9 models.  This one has Professional Elite typeface.

Neat thing about typewriters is that each of them have their little quirks.  Each typist has their favorite, even among similar models of the same brand.

The little Corona 3 is fun to use, but not a typewriter I'd like to use if I had several pages to type.

The Brother line of typewriters always seems to be satisfactory for almost any typing. I like the small machines like this Charger 11 (along with Smith-Corona Skyriters, Hermes Rockets (Baby), and a few other small portables) for travel.  The snap-on cover or case makes these typewriters nicely suited for travel.  The typing action of the Charger 11 is not quite as nice as a Skyriter, but overall not a typewriter to be left behind for a trip or a bit of bicycle typing or typing in the park.  I prefer the integral case/cover to the luggage style zipper case of the Valiant or the Olivetti Letter 22 or Lettera 32 although I like that the Lettera models have tabulators.

The Adler J4 seems to be one of the models that does not get much mention on line.  I really like this one.  I should use it more often.  Touch is really nice, and carriage return is almost effortless.  The carriage is also very easy to remove and reinstall.

Hermes 3000 typewriters are what they are, mostly over rated.  Seems people either love them or dislike them.  I've never been impressed by the square body models even though I have 7 of them with various typefaces. 

The round body ones seem to be the nicest typers with a nicer action than the square body ones.  Both styles seem to be quieter than other typewriters.

There are references on line that the mechanics are the same between the round and square body ones.  Well, if that were true shouldn't all the parts (but the covers) should be interchangeable? They're not.  The basic design may be very similar, but not fully parts interchageable.

I do like the sleek style of the square ones and the close tolerances of everything from how the ribbon cover fits to the just enough clearance for the carriage return arm to travel above it to the quietness of its action, and it also has an integral lid/cover which makes it a nice full featured portable that is quite near an office machine.

The SM8 is one of my favorite Olympia typewriters.  This one has a very nice action.  It is noisier than either the J4 or H3k, and about the same as the SM9.

The SM9 is a nice typewriter also, but not as fast as an H3k or the many other typewriters.  I like the typeface on this one, but not the zipper case.  Zipper cases are one of my pet peves of poor excuses for a typewriter case.

Both, like most Olympia typewriters I've used, are nice to use, but easily out typed.  I prefer the SM3 and SM4.

We meet again in December.  If you are local stop by and try the machines. You may be surprised as which ones you prefer over others. They are all nice, and all have similarities and differences. Each gathering also has a gathering of different makes and models of typewriters.

October Typewriter Gathering at Kazoo Books

Typewriters and supplies Loaded and ready to go across town.

Everything is set and ready to go.

Sent from my 1967 Facit TP-2 Cubic Pica

Hayden's Olympia SM4

Hayden and I spent some time exploring his SM4 and working on a few minor issues with it.  I gave him a quick tour of its mechanics without removing the covers.  This is one of the nicest typing SM4s that I've used.

Hayden's Olympia SF

This SF had a wonderful touch to it. I may need to get one. I'm generally not a big Olympia fan, but this one typed as nice as my SM8. I could not out type it even though I did make several silly mistakes typing about how I miss being able to go to Herman Price's gathering.  One year I will make it.

Andy's Underwood 4 Bank

typical excellent Underwood typing action.  I very seldom find an Underwood I do not like.

Andy's Olivetti Lettera 33

This was the first Lettera 33 I typed on. It has a bit stiffer touch than my Lettera 32, but good enough that I'm going to look for one.

Andy's Olympia Splendid

This Splendid (or is it a Socialite?) was really fun to use also. Typed like a breeze.

One of my trusty Smith_Corona Skyriters

What can be said about the lowly Skyriter?  They just work.  I've yet to find one without a nice touch and typing experience. I guess that is why I have about 6 or 7 of them.  I like the stripes best.

I also took my Olivetti Lettera 22

This one recently came out of my shop after a good cleaning and a few repairs and carriage alignment.  Types nicer than my Taupe one that is from the 50s I think (round keys).  That one is a bit stiff.  So is my Italian keyboard red one of the same age as the taupe one.

My Facit TP-2

A Facit will put a Hermes 3000 to shame any day with the ease at which it types.  If not for the funky margin sets on these I would rate them better than the Hermes all around.  Hard to beat Hermes and Royals Magic Margin set system.

I was lamenting not being able to go to Herman's this year.

Hayden test typing my H3k Techno Pica.

Autumn is finally settled in.  First tree I've seen that dropped its leaves already.

A little farther down the path all the wild flowers are gone, and the scrubs are turning Colorado Aspen gold.

The milkweed pods have finally popped open.

I I visited one of my favorite places near my house, Wolf Tree Nature Preserve, and did a bit of digital imaging before going to the type in. All images were taken with my Olympus Stylus 1.  I was only there an hour or two enjoying the crisp fresh morning air relaxing. I seldom go out without the OMD or Stylus 1. Seems no matter where I go I find things to image.

As Autumn falls upon us we see signs of death all around. Plant death. In a way beautiful death.  Plants seem to have that unusualness of being beautiful as they spring from the earth in Spring and later show even more beauty as they mature and blossom. Finally at the end of their life they repopulate as their flowers and pods release the seeds for the next generation to bloom in 2020.

I have quite a few images over the past year from places around Kzoo. I thought to put more on this post, especially the nest or leaves hanging by a thread.  Maybe a digital image post or a blog for my photographic and digital imaging.
I've go to keep them separate as I still do a lot of film, especially when doing wildlife and birds. Digital is just way toooooo blasted slooooooooooooow.

Michigan Typochondriacs in August

This way to fun with Typewriters.

A big giant Thank You to Kazoo Books for letting us have a meeting place.

Demonstrating the workings of a Skyriter.

Hayden getting ready to use Andy's superb SM3

Everyone's invited. We gather again in September.

Michigan Typochondriacs Grand Rapids Type-In -- Part 2

What's under the hood of this Underwood QuietTab

A bit closer look

The addition of some extra sound deadening.

some of the patrons looking over and test typing the machines.

Michigan Typochondriacs Grand Rapids Type-In -- Part 1

Typewriters all ready to go.

Not quite as full as I could pack the car.

I found another keyboard chart in the garage so I got a frame and took it along with the Underwood typing tripod desk/case.

Our very fine host.  Good food, and plenty of choices on tap.

Some of the group, and our typewriters.  Many thanks to Elise, lady on the right speaking with Andrea (lady on the left)) for arranging our Type-In

A booth dedicated to a few European typewriters.  An SM7 that was smooth as silk, a round body H3k with Techo, and a square H3k.

This beautiful red QDL got a lot of attention.

P.S.  I did not take the Underwood No. 5 due to the weather prediction of rain.  There was ample parking about one to two minutes away so moving typewriters was not a big problem, but a full size typewriter in the rain could have been.

I did take the Underwood case/desk or desk/case with one of my Universals, but it saw little use due to my lack to take the folding chair that fits it.  Most of the seating was a bit tall, and I set it off to the side so it would not get knocked over.

There was something odd happened this time. I took 7 typewriters.  One belonged to Andy, and 6 belonged to me.  I only came home with 4.  As Paul Harvey used to say, "stay tuned for the rest of the story."

Out of many, many, many digital images I recorded on the Stylus 1, I chose about
30 from the event to post.  I'll be doing 3 parts as to not have a post that is too long and boring.