20 Comments »

1. It always takes my RSS forever to detect when you have a new post. Weird.

   I like this idea. Here’s my question. There are two subcultures of typethusiasts that I can see (feel free to debate this point): collectors and users. There is crossover for sure (you are probably the best example of that) but I would say for example that the yahoo portable typewriter forum is generally about typewriters as machines, and the collecting and repair thereof. The ‘users’ by contrast are people who are into preserving and using typewriters and retrotechnology as tools of expression, almost in a political way, as a statement about manufactured obsolescence, tactile media, craftsmanship, aesthetics, etc. This latter crowd would not necessarily focus on machine manufacturing techniques, taxonomy or history, but rather a sort of romanticism for what the machines represent, and what is being lost by the rapid pace of technological development.

   The more I write about this, the more I see that there is crossover to varying degrees between the categories, but still I can imagine that there would be some typewriter collector types, the sort of old-world folks into railway history and steam engines and whatnot, who would have nothing to say to a flaky typecaster who likes fountain pens, rubber stamps, 1960’s portables, and media theory.

   Would the society serve both groups?

   I can see I have totally overthought this.

   Comment by Strikethru — August 25, 2009 @ 4:22 pm

2. The way I see it, as long as you know the secret handshake and all the words to the “Death to the Keychopper Infidels” club song, you’re in.

   Comment by olivander — August 25, 2009 @ 9:00 pm

3. Please understand that the following is the most mature and patient that I can be when presented with the above idea.

   I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE I WANNA SEEKRIT CARD AND CLUB AND HANDSHAKE AND I DON’T WANNA WAIT SOMEONE MAKE ONE HURRY!

   QUICK!

   P.S. Sadly, I think that I fall into the “flaky typecaster who likes fountain pens” category. But then, we already have our prerequisite historians (coughOlivandercough), so that makes me feel a little better about getting distracted by every shiny thing that comes along.

   Comment by Mike.Speegle — August 25, 2009 @ 10:25 pm

4. When I wrote to P.F. Kluge (author of – among other things – “Biggest Elvis”, and current Writer-in-Residence at Kenyon Colelge) about his use of typewriters for first drafts, he wrote back:

   “If there is a freemasonry of typewriter-lovers, consider me a member.”

   I pretty much suck at naming things, but I just thought I’d chime in with a hayl-yeah.

   (plus what Speegle said)
   ((“Speegle” really is fun to say. Wish I had a fun-to-say name))
   (((Would the secret handshake be complicated? Because I’m kind of Aspergerish, which means I would kind of dig the complexity of it, and the uniqueness, but might have difficulty performing it because of the signature awkwardness and ligamentous laxity that comes with the Aspergerishness.)))

   Comment by duffymoon — August 26, 2009 @ 5:10 am

5. Well, even though I seem to be the new kid around these here parts, I’m gonna give a hell yeah!

   I tend to agree with Strikethru’s observation. There are certainly two distinct categories, but my thought is, and somewhat echos Olivander, both groups are relatively small, so might as well invite them all. And by invite, I mean, accept.

   As for a name, nothing jumps out, but I initially thought if something that was really unique to typewriters in the name, I’d love that. I had never heard of a platen, type bars and type slugs until about a month ago. Things like shift freedom, basket shift, magic margin…any of a number of old marketing terms could work, too.

   But I’m with Speegle, let’s hurry! This is too cool to wait on:)

   Comment by deek — August 26, 2009 @ 6:59 pm

6. I wish to put extreme emphasis on the “just for fun” part of this. I have to desire to begin parsing and categorizing typewriter users for the purpose of this little club.

   Duffy: don’t worry about messing up the handshake. The best part about a secret handshake is that it’s secret. No one knows what it’s supposed to look like! BTW, know all about the Aspergerishness.

   Thought of this for a name while on the road today: The League of Crafty Typists. Whadda y’all think?

   Comment by olivander — August 26, 2009 @ 9:25 pm

7. oh and there are the newborns/neophytes. I just purchased a typewriter last month and have only typecasted TWICE in my whole life. Is there a requirement on how much you’ve used your typewriter and how many typewriters you have? I hope not.

   or else I’d typecast everyday for one whole month just so I could share a secret handshake with you awesome people.

   Comment by dreamchaser — August 26, 2009 @ 9:32 pm

8. You have a typewriter and you’ve used it. You’re in.

   Comment by olivander — August 26, 2009 @ 9:43 pm

9. I’m all about the card. I’d put it in my purse wallet and “accidentally” pull it out as ID.

   That’s how cool I want to be.

   Comment by monda — August 26, 2009 @ 10:25 pm

10. Ollie is in charge of card and logo design, and Monda is in charge of organization. She has experience.

    Comment by Mike.Speegle — August 26, 2009 @ 11:26 pm

11. Oooo, the League of Crafty Typists. Yes! And we can get together and type in interlocking asymmetrical meters.

    Comment by CStanford — August 27, 2009 @ 11:48 am

12. I see we have another Robert Fripp fan in the room.

    Comment by olivander — August 27, 2009 @ 12:09 pm

13. I think any group of retro-nauts (and -nuts) should have a suitable arcane and confabulating name (to correspond to the equally elaborate handshake and passwords, of course.) Something along the lines of “The Noble Society of Retrotechnological Application and Indulgence” or some such poofery. And the letterhead needs to be all engraved-scroll and sh*t. Then we can all print “Local Chapter #494″ cards for ourselves, fill them out on a typewriter (duh) and make our spouses and loved ones roll their eyes even more.

    I like it.

    Comment by mpclemens — August 27, 2009 @ 12:26 pm

14. Don’t forget the authentic wax seals!!!

    I actually have a bunch of wax and seals from a few years back. I used them to seal letters to my best man and groomsmen asking to be part of my wedding…

    Comment by deek — August 27, 2009 @ 12:45 pm

15. I like the idea of “Local Chapter #___”. Though I was going to have these laminated, so I don’t know how well that would work for typing on afterward. Hmm. I’ll have to think about that.

    Yes, I’m all about the poofery.

    Comment by olivander — August 27, 2009 @ 12:46 pm

16. Society for Creative Compositional Mechanics?

    Sons of Remington?

    Loyal Egalitarian order of Clack Clack Ding?

    Comment by Mike.Speegle — August 27, 2009 @ 12:58 pm

17. Count me in!! A secret society like a freemason LOL

    Oli, I worked for a year as a bicycle mechanic. Your 100% right. We had a weekly group ride and a uniform and everything. Afterwards we would all go out to eat at the same restaurant each week. We never were lucky enough to come up with I.D cards though.

    Comment by James Watterson — August 27, 2009 @ 1:54 pm

18. Olivander, I envision the “cards” as a PDF that could be printed locally, typed upon, and then “laminated” using the cheapskate two-pieces-of-packing-tape method. Anyone can join, just download & print your own membership card, etc..

    Also:

    The Retromechanicalmania Appreciation Society

    The Brotherhood of Mechanical Fetishism

    Typecasters Anonymous

    Paperhuggers

    Ribbonistas

    Comment by mpclemens — August 27, 2009 @ 3:10 pm

19. As long as we can have the lyrics of “Death to the Keychopper Infidels” printed on the back, I’m cool. Is it sung to the tune of Oh, Suzanna! or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?

    Oh, yeah. I’ll keep the minutes.

    Comment by monda — August 27, 2009 @ 7:10 pm

20. I found old slang, desk piano, referring to a typewriter. That could be used to obfuscate the name.

    I’m usually pretty good at coming up with crazy names that have some cleverness, but I keep drawing a blank for this one…

    Comment by deek — August 28, 2009 @ 8:37 am

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