Is it a note-taking station? Is it a decoration only? Is it your regular journal? Is it a shopping list maker? Is it on display or tucked away?
I use mine to quickly write down ideas, so that I don’t get distracted by other things on a computer or have to wait for a computer to boot up. Other than that it’s a conversation piece and a decoration.
Edit, I forgot to include, I have a Royal like the one below. It was the cheapest one at the antique store, and it has worked perfectly for the 10+ years I’ve owned it.
Ransom notes
I’m more a fan of cutting up magazines myself. It’s not often you get an excuse for some crafts when you’re busy kidnapping heirs and taunting detectives.
I use mine to work on my novella at starbucks
I have my mom’s old Smith Corona electric typewriter, possibly from the 1960s, but I haven’t researched it deeply yet. It comes with a hard suitcase with a 3-digit combination lock, and a novelty dust cover that says “Typewriter!” in a bold font. My mom died in 1987, and I just took it. Last used in 1998 when my mother in law borrowed it, and it caused a fight because she died unexpectedly and her estate executor wanted to sell it, not believing it to be mine. He was under the impression it was an antique he could get good money for, but I stole it back. Last appraisal was mid 2000s, and in new working condition, I could MAYBE sell it for $30. But it’s one of the few scant possessions I have of my moms, so I keep it.
It’s gotta be worth a lot more than that since it has the power to kill people.
I’m still alive, though. I used it a lot as a teen to write some of my first works of fiction, school reports, and so on. But yeah, that did occur to me. My mother died from suicide and my mother in law from medical malpractice, so they aren’t related. Still… superstitions are the worst stitions.
No, they’re super!
If you give the typewriter to someone else, either they’ll die or you will …
Wait, how much did you use that typewriter before your mother passed?
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.
I had a great old typewriter I’d found at a yard sale decades ago and which was purely decorative, but my absolute favorite use for it was when I gave it to an old friend who had just helped me move apartments. That person was really happy to have it, and being able to gift it with gratitude fulfilled me far more than owning the thing ever had.
Unknown to OP, it has now changed 11 hands over the years. Also unknown to OP, it is coming back to them as this year’s Christmas present. OP is going to be very happy about it.
