Who still owns a typewriter?

[ISCS Yoda]

This was a fun thread about the ancient days of computering.

Thread 'The people stuck using ancient Windows computers'

May 18, 2025

BBC article here.
Some comments re using "ancient" Win7 on LVSteve's post about looking for a small, cheap computer made me think this might be interesting. We're surrounded by some seriously legacy software in all sorts of places.

Here's a look inside the strange, stubborn world of obsolete Windows machines.

Earlier this year I was on my way to a checkup at a doctor's office in New York City. As I rode up to the 14th floor, my eyes were drawn to a screen built into the side of the lift. Staring back was a glimpse into the history of computing. There, in a gleaming hospital full...

• oldbrownhat
• Replies: 49
• Forum: The Lounge

QUERY - who still owns a typewriter, whether you use it or not??!!??!!

I have an IBM Selectric (I think that's what it's called) high up on a closet shelf. Hasn't been used in years and years.

 

[Jerry in SC]

We have an old one, Still use it occasionally. I had an IBM Selectric Type 1, a red one like Hunter Thompson used, that I used at work in the 80's. Loved that typewriter. I tried to buy years later when the company was closing its US operations, the guy over the surplus couldn't find it. Somebody knew what it was and took it.

 

[duke2002]

I used a type writer to do print cards with at work. In about 2005 we couldent get ribbons anymore. Had to retire it.

 

[Tom S.]

When I got my Atari 800 the typewriter, like Elvis, left the building!

 

[DARE]

I have one. Belonged to my mother. Available if you want it. Pretty heavy, but think I could live with $100 and I pay the shipping. Did I mention it is electric?

 

[CalifEd]

At work we have 3-4, use it to write multipart checks, fill out Bill of Lading and international shipping documents.
Much better than trying to fill out the fillable PDF documents.

Yea, could write a program and buy (or create) forms but the "bought and paid for, still works" is a powerful argument.

 

[Phenix]

This was a fun thread about the ancient days of computering.

Thread 'The people stuck using ancient Windows computers'

May 18, 2025

BBC article here.
Some comments re using "ancient" Win7 on LVSteve's post about looking for a small, cheap computer made me think this might be interesting. We're surrounded by some seriously legacy software in all sorts of places.

Here's a look inside the strange, stubborn world of obsolete Windows machines.

Earlier this year I was on my way to a checkup at a doctor's office in New York City. As I rode up to the 14th floor, my eyes were drawn to a screen built into the side of the lift. Staring back was a glimpse into the history of computing. There, in a gleaming hospital full...

• oldbrownhat
• Replies: 49
• Forum: The Lounge

QUERY - who still owns a typewriter, whether you use it or not??!!??!!

I have an IBM Selectric (I think that's what it's called) high up on a closet shelf. Hasn't been used in years and years.

Don't have one, but thinking about getting a non-electric one.
I am 69 years old and played with and seriously used a couple when I was a teenager.
I hear they are becoming somewhat popular once again, primarily with the younger Yuppies as interesting older technology.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Yup. Smith Corona wide carriage manual in a suitcase type case on top of my gun safe.

 

[Jimbo41]

In the closet at my inlaws empty house, I think it's a selectric and there are at least a dozen different balls (fonts?) and many boxes of ribbons and carbon paper. MIL had been a secretary at the pentagon decades ago and I think this was all provided because she did some remote transcription work…then one day it was worthless.

 

[Mister Coffee]

IBM Selectric III here.

 

[Rodan]

As late as ~2010 we had an IBM Selectric sitting around in the corner of our substation. It was usually good for a laugh when a new, young Deputy would ask, "what's that thing?"

 

[cp1969]

Ours must've been sold in a garage sale. Probably brought a penny.

At one time, we had an old manual (not electric) which had all black keys, i.e., no symbols on them. It taught me where the keys were on a QWERTY keyboard.

 

[Rule3]

Had one in College, typed many papers late at night

Recent thread on them.

Thread 'The people who still use typewriters'

Mar 22, 2025

Computers and smartphones might be where most writing is done these days, but typewriters still have work to do in the US.

BBC article here.

Mike Marr has been repairing typewriters for more than 20 years and still sees dozens being brought into his shop in Rhode Island every week (Credit: Ernesto Roman)

Pretty much every day, another customer clutching an old typewriter will walk into Mike Marr's shop in Pawtucket, Rhode Island...

... law firm Tomasso & Tomasso...has three typewriters, John [Tomasso] says and...​

• oldbrownhat
• Replies: 62
• Forum: The Lounge

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[357-RevolverGuy]

If the Internet grid ever goes down these typewriters are going to be worth a fortune.

 

[Tom S.]

If the Internet grid ever goes down these typewriters are going to be worth a fortune.

Why? I was using my computer as a word processor long before the internet existed.

 

[TeamPB]

I don't have a typewriter, but I do have an Underwood:

 

[Golddollar]

I have a Smith Corona electric typewriter that I've had forever. It's sort of nice to have something the hackers can't get at.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

Why? I was using my computer as a word processor long before the internet existed.

I did too. I still own my desktop from the early 90s. But let's say the grid also includes electricity going down. As I recall there were a lot of manual typewriters out there that did not require a plug to operate. And they were portable, making them the original laptop, lol.