Typewriter Brigade

Hi Duffy, I'm in.

In in the sense that I am going to give it a *try,* and certainly do a lot of *complaining* about it on my typewriter blog Strikethru, but I sense for various reasons, up to and including bloody fingers, that 2007 may be the first year I go up in flames!

I sure hope to see others of the typewriter persuasion turn out to attempt this monumental feat. In a sense Nano is perfect for the typewriter, since you know that, sans tedious applications of WiteOut, once you've committed typebar to paper, you have to move on.

What's everyone's likely typewriter of choice? I plan to use my Olympia SM9 as the main workhorse, with occasional applications of the Olympia Traveller DeLuxe, if I happen to be blogging in a random location. That is, if the ribbon I ordered for the latter machine ever arrives!

Interesting that you say "Get a ribbon for that Royal." We have two old Royal typewriters in the garage -- I don't know where or when we got them, but they haven't been used in ages. I would love to use one but just went and checked briefly and both... don't print anything. I know next to nothing about typewriters, so I'm guessing it needs a new ribbon? Is that where the "ink" is? If so, how would I go about replacing that? I don't even know any stores that would sell typewriter parts.

This is all for personal knowledge, as this year I'm going to be writing my Novel on my new Dell laptop. But any help is definitely appreciated. :-)

~Tess

Tess:

Depending on how old your Royal is, it will likely accept the "universal" ribbon still sold at Staples. I've picked up ribbons there for around $5 for both of my Royals (a Speed King and a Futura). It's a pretty easy procedure to replace the ribbon. What I'd recommend is just see how the old ribbon is fitted in and do it the same way (assuming there is actually a ribbon there now).

tiny-dog:

Good to see you over here! I've not yet decided which machine I'll be using. I'm planning to use the month of October to get my fingers back into typing shape as I try out each of my five machines (actually four, as the Remington Noiseless Model Seven needs a little attention before it's ready to be returned to service). The Olivetti Lettera 33 is the lightest and most portable, and is a good, quiet typer. The Olympia SM-4 has the best overall quality of type, and feels the most rugged, but it has such a sharp "smack" when the typeface hits the platen that I fear the platen is in need of recovering. The Futura looks cool (to my eyes) but its type (like the Speed King) is kinda muddled looking, and I don't care much for the 12 cpi font size.

I'll join you although I doubt that I'll be able to do a lot by typewriter. I'll likely use Q10 on my laptop during the week and try and use my Remington Quiet-riter during the weekends.

Good enough! We'll take all we can get!

I took a look at that Q10 and it looks pretty fascinating. If I was going the PC route, I'd definitely look into using that.

I really wish I had my grandmother's old typewriters. I loved to play with them when I was a kid. I'd definitely give NaNoWriMo a try with them if I could. :P

Be aware that OTHER people's grandmothers still have their typewriters, and a lot of them don't want them anymore, and they take them to places like the Salvation Army Thrift Stores, or Goodwill or they sell them on Craigslist or ebay (and on whatever local Ontario outfit they use for such purposes). And you can pick them up for next to nothing.

I picked up a perfectly servicable (pink!) Royal that was advertised on Craigslist for $1! That's one good American dollar. To you that's probably, like, one Canadian dollar! Roughly.

So, the point is, silamai, don't give up so easily! The Typewriter Brigade needs YOU!

I have a Olivetti Lettera 35! I might be using it during NaNoWriMo '07 though it will only see weekend action at best. I write mostly "on the go" on my laptop, squeezing in writing time during commutes and in between classes. I do love writing on my typewriter though, it isn't fancy looking but I find that I am incredibly productive on it. I think it is the lack of the "backspace" button :-)

Olivettis are light machines, overall. No excuse for not using it on the bus/train/ferry.

Okay, maybe not so much. But you can still be a Weekend Warrior in the Typewriter Brigade.

B/T/W, my Lettera 33 will likely be the main go-to machine this year because of it's lightness and overall portability. It'll be backed up at home by my favorite typer, the Olympia SM-4, which has the same pitch (important when it comes to tallying up the words at month's end!).

I have minimal heat in the downstairs of my house, so I may do part of my NaNo via an early Smith Corona electric typewriter. I don't know what the family did with the two old manuals. I know I learned to type on a Royal - a very old one when I was 10 or 11.
Got my Smith Corona in college circa 1975.

I normally send e-mails to a yahoo account because my Web TV doesn't have an easy way to use word processing. Then a friend puts it into a document and gets my word verification for me.
This odd part of me -- competitive part? -- wants to see my name on the "winners" list. Which is silly - I reach my word count early every year and my friend forgets to print the certificate for me anyway. I could make my own "winner" certificate.

BTW - One of my characters will "blog" each day when I've reached my daily word count. She will blog in 30 different languages. Uh.. probably nonsense - but I thought it would be fun for a paragraph or a few phrases. I am currently researching languages.
I figured out a symbolic system for typing in Ogham.
Will do English words in Ogham symbols. But I may need to handwrite in some languages. Yes, I think I should expand the number of languages or switch to handwriting for some portions.

Will do some in Spanish and "Spanglish", since that is as close as I come to a second language.
Just thought I'd add a little interest to my writing, but this is extra once I've met daily quota of at least 2,500 a day. I am collecting words and phrases in various languages now.

TJ

Great topic. This year I decided to write my Novel on an old Erika typewriter. It's made in Germany in the 30'ies, big and heavy. After cleaning and lubricating and inserting a new typewriter ribbon, it writes perfectly.

I'd like to recommend a good webpage on the subject typewriters. It's maintained by a friend of mine, written in Swedish but translated into english. It has a lot of pictures and interresting history about your typewriter and a section with information how to change ribbon and clean your typewriter.
http://web.telia.com/~u13101111/typewriters.html

Thanks for the link, and welcome!

I'm familiar with the Erika -- they're harder to find in the U.S., but I'd sure like to own one.

Typewriters, yes yes yes. Even though I've always loved the "romance" of using a typewriter, and even have a typewriter tattoo, I never used them for my "real" writing until this year. I find that the writing flows much better when you're using a typewriter because you don't get held up in things like changing your fonts or going back to edit. It's very pure. I don't expect to get very far in Nano and I certainly won't win (depression + weather change = killing creativity dead) but any writing I do get done will be typewritten.

I'll be using my trusty Smith-Corona Sterling, a vintage manual that types like a dream. I also own a cursive typewriter (Everest K2) which I may break out if I feel like it. Although I guess that would be "changing my font," haha. Very much looking forward to talking with other typewriter people and finding out about your machines. People tend to think I'm crazy and/or pretentious when I say I use a typewriter but hey, it works for me.

Also, would any of you typewriter aficionados know where to find a replacement ribbon for this typewriter: http://www.ssb6.net/members/watch/enlarge.php?aid=&img=42271/p0006677.jp... It's a "toy" typewriter, designed for children but I bought it because my SCS is too heavy to take to a coffeeshop or park. This is about 2/3 the size of a standard typewriter and all plastic, very light. The ribbon is weird though, a Staples universal ribbon is too large, but calculator ribbons are too small (plus I can only find red/black ribbons not solid black). The ribbon itself is about half as thick as the universal ribbon. I figure I might have to respool the original ribbon but I don't know where to find skinny ribbons. Halp?

Dude, a typewriter TATTOO?! That is hardcore, man. The Typewriter Brigade needs you, and bad.

That's a tuffy on the little Sears typer. If the old ribbon is still in there, I guess what I'd do is measure it, then go look at Staples and such. I'd look at all the little cartridges for printers and the like, and see if I can't find one that's close. Then break it out of the plastic housing and wind it on the old ribbon's spools. Of course, it's possible that there is no match for it. Still a cool little typer, though.

Hi Duffy, glad you've signed up for the madness again this year.

Count me in. I *would* be using just my Olympia SM3 for Nano as usual. . .but I've just ordered a Neo AlphaSmart, so I'll be using that part of the time, too.

I would join the brigade, really I would, only I've switched over to the Dvorak keyboard layout, and my poor confused brain doesn't need to go through the trauma of switching layouts in addition to normal levels of NaNo stress... besides that, my typewriter is a) halfway across the state at home base, and b) a portable 1930s Royal and very, very loud. I'm not sure where I could write where I wouldn't be disturbing anybody. Unless maybe in the bathroom? xD

You guys know I'm with ya. I've got a Brother Valiant, and a Lettera 32, both of which I'm inordinately fond of. I think it'll take me a few days of switching back and forth during the first few days to decide which one'll be my partner in crime this November. Long live the manual!

Best, -Tait

I can't fault you for that. I've used my ancient AlphaSmart Pro for the past four years, and it's still going strong. Those machines were really built for NaNo.

My main machine at home will be the Olympia SM-4. I'll be travelling with the Olivetti Lettera 33, because the pitch/font is identical to the Olympia (important when it comes to estimating wordcounts) and it's a lot lighter than the Olympia. But, overall, the Olympia is a more solid, substantial and quality machine.

Honorary Brigade Membership is hereby extended. Welcome.

I've been doing the same and have settled on the two machines I'll be using: one for work at home and the other for when I'm away. I've been working on them nearly every night, getting my atrophied fingers back into typing shape!

I'm guessing you're the only one who has "Learn Ogham" on his/her pre-NaNo To-Do list. Good for you for aiming high!

In previous years, Cybele has offered the option of Invoking the Luddite Clause as an alternative way to get non-digital Novels verified. I hope the offer still stands, but I'm waiting on official word from the Head Office.

Sorry, I can't help you with the typewriter ribbon. Perhaps the best suggestion is, as already written, to look for different printer cartridges and se if you can use those ribbons. Or, perhaps you could re-ink the ribbon with inkpad colour?

If you look for a lightweight and good typer I would suggest that you try to get a Hermes Baby. I have one of those my self, it's very lightweight and a really good typer for its size. It fits easily in a laptop bag. I use mine when I'm travelling or wish to write outdoors.

Follow the link for information about the Baby.
http://www.geocities.com/wbd641/HermesUnderwood.html

/Christopher

This is going to sound a bit bizarre but I really think writing is an auditory, visual, and a tactile pursuit, besides the obvious reasons for writing. I don't really like writing on a computer because it takes the auditory and tactile elements away from writing, therefore, I handwrite everything till the end. I am interested in maybe typing this one on a manual typewriter for all the above listed reasons, does anyone have a suggestion on a decent, yet cheap typewriter and a good place to find one other than Ebay?

*click*clack*click*clack*bing*

You can find them at lots of places. Your local craigslist (craigslist.com) is a good starting place. I bought one through craigslist just last month and paid one dollar for it! I've also found them at thrift stores, as well as on ebay. Buying one through ebay isn't all that bad if you purchase one from a local seller and arrage to have it picked up instead of mailed. The shipping is what makes it so expensive and is likely to damage the machine. You can find one for pretty cheap there, I bet.

As for what kind of typewriter to buy: I stick with portables myself, because they don't take up all my (limited) space, and they're more likely to be in good condition because they've usually spent the last few decades comfortably in their hard cases. I can't seem to get the link posted right, but Richard Polt (http://staff.xu.edu/~polt/typewriters/index.html) has a page that's a terrific resource for choosing a typewriter. He can even tell you what typewriter your favorite author used/uses (assuming your favorite author is on his long list of typewriter-using authors!).

Good luck, and we'll count you as a member of the Typewriter Brigade just on general principle!

I picked one up at Value Village (the Remington). I think I am going to take a look at the local thrift store as they have a smith corona that may be interesting. I've had no luck at all with the local Freecycle. Somewhere, I've got an old Underwood stashed but it needs work. Basically, I need to find something that I can comfortably write with. And I love the bell. Sure have missed that with computers ;)

There's a discussion going on at THE HIGHEST LEVELS about the possibilities of getting type-written or hand-written novels verified "officially" (as in, winner! certificate, purple bar, the whole shebang). As I mentioned, in the past Cybele had offered an option for this process ("the Luddite Clause") but it's apparent that it's way too much work for one person -- especially one person who's already pretty much doing 24/7 work around these boards AND working on her own NaNoNovel.

But so anyway, you can check the "Luddite Clause" thread in the Rules-n-Regs board for updates on this. Regardless of the ability to verify my "winner" status, I'm still going with the typewriter this year. I hope more will join the cause before 11/1.

Last year, I did much of my novel on a typewriter I inherited from my dad, who recieved it as a gift when he graduated grade school. I absolutely adore it, and would be doing the same this year if not for the number of people it would annoy as I'm living in a much fuller house now.

(My family still can't figure out why computer geek girl insists on a typewriter and fountain pens.)

Susan

Yay for honorary membership! And because I had some free time, I made up some membership graphics— I'll post them if we ever get our signatures back.

You can always just count the number of words on five pages, average it out, and multiply that number by number of pages produced. Then just make a Word document and cut and paste a lot of nonsense until it equals the number of words you typed. That is, if you REALLY need that certificate... :)

Oh, yay! I'm so glad I stumbled across this thread!

About a month ago, I walking to class, and I saw someone had abandoned a typewriter on the side of the road. So, of course, I pick it up and bring it home with me (as someone who grew up with computers, no one told me how heavy typewriters can be! ^_^), fully expecting it to have no ink, sticky keys, maybe a couple resident spiders. Too my complete and utter delight, the thing is in perfect working condition (every now and then the t and h keys stick if i try to type "th" too fast, but that just adds to my delight) and it has a full ribbon of ink in it! I fell in love with it. And, of course, the first thing I think once I realize that it worked was "I should TOTALLY do my NaNo on this thing."

However, i had decided against it mainly because A)I didn't want to annoy my roomies and B)it would be deficult to keep up with word count. Yet, today, i decided to completely scratch what I was planning, and now I am doing something completely different. I started planning it out, and typed out a small list of stuff on my typewriter, and I realized that i HAVE to do this on the typewriter. I tend to type way to fast on teh computer, so I rush through stuff and worry more about where I am going rather than where I am at. With the typewriter, i am forced to slow down and really absorb where i am AT in my writing. Plus, the noises are beautiful ("clicky clicky clicky clack DING! Shzzzzzt. clicky clicky... gotta love it!) and, like DuffyMoon mentioned in the first post in the thread, it really is like invoking the spirits of writers who have come to pass. It makes me think of Tom Robbins and Jack Kerouac and the like.

So, I surrendered to it, and now I'm officially stating that this year, i am gonna type 50k on my adopted Olympia.