The photographs in this post are from a project called Vox Poplar. It is an installation at the Bown branch of the Boise Idaho Library System. Art, typewriter, poetry… stunning in its simplicity.
Vox Poplar
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Tag Archives: addicted to typewriters
Huzzah! Independence!
The Skinny, June ’18
On the road. With typewriter.
Annotated Archy
Just received and currently reading – The Annotated Archy and Mehitabel. Currently perched atop my 1966 Hermes 3000.
Archy and Don Marquis
On the tail of yesterday’s entry, I continued to dig deeper into the lives of Archy, Mehitabel, and Don Marquis. I downloaded a book of poetry written by D.M. – for free! The poetry is quite good, especially when you keep in mind the era from which it was written.
Here for your enjoyment is Sam Waterston reading a delightful poem by Don Marquis, regarding an assignment that Archy (the typing cockroach) was covering. ~TH~
Archy, Mehitabel, and Me
Our beautiful Blasco Library in Erie PA (featured in this months The Atlantic magazine) will be hosting an event tomorrow night, a one-man show by Gale McNeeley presenting poems, songs and essays of Don Marquis, the creator of the characters Archy & Mehitabel.
Don Marquis wrote for the The Evening Sun newspaper and created the character of Archy in 1916. Archy is a cockroach who types by jumping from one key to the next.
This era fascinates me because so many new technologies were being introduced to more and more homes and businesses. Automobiles, telephones, phonographs, electricity, and of course – the typewriter. These ideas seem quaint to us now, but one hundred years ago these were awe inspiring technologies.
If you live in (or near) Erie PA, I hope you’ll plan to attend this free event. I know I’ll be there! ~TH~
Eighty? I’m just getting started!
Spent some time typing on my 1936 Underwood 6, and decided I didn’t want to put up with sluggish action anymore.
It appears that autumn will include cooking and cleaning up some typewriters. Sounds glorious to me. ~TH~
ROYAL Citadel, part 2
Back in December 2015 I promised an update on this little guy. Don’t wanna rush these things.
Here we have the ROYAL Citadel from the 1960’s. Haven’t been able to pin down a specific manufacture year – serial number CT5602339. I did find information that puts it as produced before 1967. [Now confirmed from a knowledgeable typospherian as a 1963 critter]
As you can see, I have loaded it with a pink ribbon. The ribbon reverse is a little wonky, but it’s in fine condition and I do enjoy typing on it for short missives. The platen is slick so I find it necessary to load it with an extra page for grip.
I really like the two tone action on the paint job. This model from Holland was also released under the name Dart, Lark, and Scholastic (under the Singer moniker). A fun, light portable. ~TH~
Orbs Have Taken To The Skies
A truncated, self replicating poem that I created, based on a cocktail napkin that inspired a little bit of art. You yourself should try a little bit of art.
… orbs have taken to the skies and time has predicted itself to fly and …
Smith-Corona Extras
Today my wife, our son and I (and some very good friends) all chipped in to clean out my mother-in-law’s attic. It was a dusty, sneezy affair. Most of the crumbling cardboard and contents were thrown out, but due diligence unearthed a few gems. Herein I give you the SMITH-CORONA TEN DAY TOUCH TYPING COURSE.
I really like the wistful, faraway smile that either says, “Gosh, I hope to land a dead-end job soon, typing for some misogynistic boss”, or the more likely, “Gosh, I hope Brad gets here soon in his father’s Corvette so we can make out at the Drive-In and drink a six pack.”
In December of 2015 I posted information on a typewriter found at my M-I-L’s house, the Smith-Corona Super 12 Electric. Along with the dated receipt (of 1981) was a card promising the swell deal of a 5 record typing course for just $7.95 + sales tax. I was seriously considering mailing the card out, but I’m so happy I didn’t! Apparently, the good folks at Dahlkemper’s Department Store just threw in the box set – for free!
Here I have discovered the later cover for the very same 5 record set. In the sixties they sprung for color printing, but by the time we get to the mid seventies, A simple walnut veneer on the record player, a typewriter update and a fashion change would suffice.
Obviously she’s typing changes for a theater production just about to go up.
In the seventies it’s down to business.
In the sixties, Janet is still thinking about Brad.
The 5 Columbia records in my possession are in mint condition. It appears that many before us decided that since we have two index fingers, why subject all of our digits to such torture? ~TH~
