Help Wanted

Hello everyone! Just a quick post today. I recently stumbled across this image on Wikipedia, and I have never seen anything like it before. Here is a link. I would love to know what it's purpose was. It appears to be some sort of attachment on an Underwood machine, perhaps to cover up the typebars. I just thought that it was an interesting image and that I should share it. If anyone knows what the attachment is, please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks, and have a nice week!

-Mac

Another Class at the Heartland Museum, and an Idea for a Lego Set

Hello everyone, here I am again. I have been busy recently, but I have some news that I though I should share. First, I was invited back to the Heartland Museum to talk about typewriters in front of three groups of fifth graders, each of about twenty students. I brought along multiple machines: Corona Folding Portable, Bing 2, Oliver 9, Underwood 5, Olympia SM5, Royal Quiet DeLuxe, a 1921 Remington Portable, as well as 4 Corona Standards (one each from the 1930's, 40's, 50's, and 60's) to show the history/evolution of typewriters. When the kids first sat down, they looked bored and uninterested, but eventually they were asking questions, and a few actually asked to take one home! I think it turned out pretty well. Afterwards, I set out 6 typewriters for the kids to try out. Some just typed randomly, but some actually typed letters. I am sorry I don't have any pictures, but it was really fun.

The second thing I wanted to mention is an idea I spotted on Lego Ideas. Someone has posted what they call "Steampunk Typewriter" here. (the link is set to open in a new window). You should check it out, it could definitely use some support.

Thanks, and I hope everyone has a great week!

Well, here I am again...

     Hello everyone! I am back after a long hiatus. I am sorry for such a big break. I must admit that I forgot about this blog for a while. I have had some things come up in school that require extra work on my part, so that came first in my schedule.
     I don't think I have much news in the typewriter department, other than the fact that I received my first Woodstock typewriter as a gift from my grandfather. It is a very well built machine. Without any work into it, I think it types better than many of my other desktop machines. It sure is a beauty, too. He also gave me an old Stenograph from 1912, I think. It doesn't really work, and is not in very good shape, but it is very neat!
     In other news, I am doing well with my pen making. I am sorry I don't have any pictures to show you, maybe next time? I just finished getting two ready for a customer, and broke one for the same customer that I was just about ready to turn. Great job on my part...
     One more thing before I go. The military teletype machine, which is in fact a radio teletype, has introduced me to HAM Radios. I am very interested in getting started, but I have no idea where to start. Do any of you know anything about amateur radios? If so, please let me know. Are there any books on the subject that stand out as better than the rest? I have heard that some of the ARRL books are considered to be the HAM Radio Bible, but which ones should I get?

Thanks for reading, even after all this time. Have a great week!

     -Mac

Military Teletype

Hello everyone! It feels like it has been a very long time since I have posted, and it has! I thought I would take time today to type up a quick post. Sorry for the lack of typecast. I will do one when I get the time.
I just got back from a week-long missions trip in Wood, South Dakota. My youth group goes there every year to spend time with the kids. It was really fun. Before that, I spent a few days in Omaha, Nebraska with my family. That was also fun. In typewriter news, I just received my first teletype machine in the mail! However, there are no power or data cables with it. It is a AN-UGC-74A(V)3 Teletypewriter, used by the U.S. Military. I believe it was made in the 1980s, but I am not sure. If anyone can help me out with information about it, I would really appreciate it. I will post pictures as soon as I can. Also, a few weeks ago, I taught a class at the Heartland Museum in Clarion, Iowa, about typewriters and bookbinding. I think it went well. I brought along 14 of my typewriters, and they had a Blickensderfer there that we got out to show the kids. Only two kids showed up with their parents, but they seemed to enjoy it. That's it for now. I hope everyone has a great week! -Mac

Happy Typewriter Day!

     I just wanted to take a moment and say "Happy Typewriter Day!" I hope everyone has a great day! For the occasion, I made a short video, showcasing 21 of my typewriters. Here it is. Enjoy!

     Also, I decided to take the advice that some of you left me in the comments of my last post. I will keep the blog online, but I doubt I will post regularly. Go ahead and ignore that last post!

Have a great week!

-Mac

I'm back with a new typecast! ... almost...

Hi everyone! Guess what? I finally got a typecast made up! But guess what else? My scanner isn't working right. How frustrating! Anyways, I will upload it as soon as I can. Hopefully I can get it working for tomorrow. We'll see.

Have a good day!

-Mac

4/19/2014

     Hi everyone. Wow, it has been a while. I have been in Chicago since Wednesday on a school music department trip. That was fun! Anyways, I have not had time to finish my typecast, but I hope to have it done by Monday. It seems like it has been forever since I last uploaded one.

     I am still working on that Smith Premier 10. I have not disassembled anything on it yet, as I still have yet to find the best way to go about doing it. I don't want to get in way over my head, and not be able to get it back together. It looks like if I try to remove the top cover, all of the typebars will come loose, and I don't want to have to deal with that!

     I am sorry that I didn't get around to replying to the comments on the last post, so I am just about to do that as soon as I get this published.

     For lack of a better name, I just decided to use the date. How creative...

I hope everyone has had a great week, and thanks for reading!

-Mac