Wednesday, October 17, 2012

A Little Obnoxiousness for the End of the World From A Grand Old Machine: Typecast From the Royal 10



17 comments:

  1. There's something a bit more apocalyptic about the live version of this song. I think I like it better, actually. It's the second video.

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  2. Oh man... I expanded that to full screen just to read it, and even had to squint! But when I flicked over to the bright white screen of my email, I felt my retinas burn!

    Nice song too....

    See you at the end of the world!

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    1. Haha I'm sorry! I read it after I uploaded it and had to zoom in, and felt my retinas burning from all the pink! Obnoxious indeed! It was really fun to type at the time though, I felt like I was getting away with something evil. Perhaps I really was!

      Thanks! It's one of my favorites.

      Indeed, we shall see you there! Make sure to bring plenty of Typo currency!

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  3. I have occasionally fed some horizontal paper into my SG1, just to try it out! No sense in having such a large platen if you don't use it every now and again.

    Good luck with Nano! I am participating for my first time as well this year. With all of the overtime coming up, I am really going to have to buckle down and get to writing!

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  4. Also, when fixing up or restoring a typewriter, I never redo or de-rust the paint job. Innards and moving parts, sure. I will scrub the chrome of any surface rust, however, but have never messed with a paint job. Half because I am worried I will mess it up something terrible, and half because it really gives these machines some character. And who doesn't like a real character!

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    1. My next one I'll be doing it with is my KMM. I have two wide-carriage Olivers I want to play with, too! Maybe I'll actually do something useful, like write pamphlets or something. They practically beg to be used, and who am I to deny them?

      Oh man, good luck to you, too! Can't wait to see what you'll come up with; if you publish it,let me know! I really enjoy your writing and would absolutely buy a copy! Good luck with the scheduling; I'm fortunate in that I work from home and can choose my own hours! I've done some outlines, but not for the whole enchilada...yet. I need to buckle down and do it!

      I'm so glad someone else feels that way! I too am worried about messing up the existing paint, but I really love how they all seem to have character and a personality of their own if they're not perfect. My favorite machines are rusty, scratched, have alignment issues...and loads of personality.

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    2. I have yet to come across a wide carriage Oliver, but they look fantastic! Did they happen to also come with the regular sized carriages as well? I have read that, if you were to purchase your Oliver with an additional wide carriage, both the wide and regular size carriage will have the same serial number. Pretty neat!

      I doubt it will be published, tell the truth. I have yet to venture into the world of self-publishing. However, I have two other novels in the editing process, and would gladly send one your way once it is polished enough for someone else's eyes.

      I have had this novel in my head for a long, long while now. I have opted to write a few others before it, but I feel now is the perfect time to start it. Of course, it could use a bit more outlining, but I have just about everything I want mapped out. Reaching 50,000 is going to be a feat, for sure. I even think I may have a new candidate for my Nano machine. Should be reviewing it here soon. It's...amazing.

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    3. Unfortunately, neither machine came with the standard carriage. I could always switch back and forth with other Ollies I have, but it seems...silly. It's really awesome that if you got both carriages, all the numbers would match. Now that would be a find, indeed. The 9 wide carriage I have came with some really funky key covers. I'll have to do a post about them.

      I'd love to read what you've written! Let me know if you'd like help editing too; I enjoy it because it feeds my OCD. ;-)

      Wow, your work for NaNo sounds exciting! I think pretty much everyone who reads my blog is aware of my premise, and I finally have enough to talk about that I think I can push to 50,000. It will really be a forsaking-all-others task for me, though. And I'm dreading Thanksgiving, as I'll need to lug a typer to the in-laws and it's always loud and rowdy there.

      Gah! This is just reinforcing that I need to be outlining! Do you know how the word-count will take place with typewritten pages? Will we need to PDF-ify them?

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  5. I feel the same way about letting them age naturally. The nearly new ones are usually script.

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    1. Wow, I'm really not alone in this sentiment! I actually do have a couple early 1900's machines that look like they could have been produced ten or twenty years ago, so they've either been restored or someone really cared for them. I have one script machine who is naughty and topless and the spools shimmy their ways up the spindles as a result. I need to find a cover for it.

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  6. Very nice looking Royal 10. I've had one (as well as many similar old machines) on my wish list for over a year just pondering where I would place even one. It must be nice to have the room to have one.

    I too like to leave the machines as close to as I found them. I like to ensure the inside mechanisms are all cleaned and working correctly. The body I like to clean and if there are scratches or rust or worn places I like to leave them. It adds character to the machine. I do like the shiny like as new as possible typewriters, but I do not change the ones I have that may not be nice and shiny and new looking. I only clean them, and shine the chrome if they have any.

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    1. Thanks Bill! They definitely take up their share of space. I have no cabinet room for the really large ones, so out they sit, meaning they'll have to be covered or cleaned more often. I really probably don't have room either, but I have a startling lack of furniture, which allows me a bit more space.

      Oh yes, they have to be clean! I live in an incredibly dusty region and dust bunnies spring up overnight if you're not careful. I'd rather not have to disassemble, deep-clean and re-oil a machine if not absolutely necessary. So they get tested and cleaned when they arrive, and then covered as I'm able.

      I do appreciate the ones that have survived well; makes me wonder what their owners were like! But the same can be said of the banged-up machines, too. What do you use to shine chrome? I have plenty that needs attention!

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  7. I love my Royal 10 too; it has the best action in all my collection of....uh, I dunno...26 now? ;-)

    I've lost count and that is scary.

    I, too, will be participating in NaNo for my second year in a row.

    Have you joined the Typewriter Brigade on the NaNo site? I'm looking for a link, but haven't found it yet! (So I'll email Michael Clemens now...)

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  8. Mike responded quickly with the link for the NaNo Typewriter Brigade:

    http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/nano-technology/threads/61458

    (THANKS, Mike!)

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    1. I can see why the 10's were so popular back in their heyday and why they continue to be so today. Plus those glass windows are just to die for! It doesn't have the characteristic royal badge on the left side of the paper guide, though; looks like it never did.

      It is kinda scary when you start losing track...and why is 26 the magic number for that, anyway!? That is exactly my current number of machines, too. And I'm beginning to forget names, which is REALLY bad, seeing as how I named them all!

      Awww thank you both for the link! I joined the brigade as soon as last year's forum had been wiped. I need to go read up on the latest shenanigans, though; I'm afraid i'm terribly beind!

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  9. Wait, I just did some digging through the typosphere and are you the one who got the International Typewriter Initiative going? If so how can I get involved?

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  10. Indeed I am! The second round pairings have already been set up, but I'll write you this time and can pair you up with someone for the next round. I'll send you a message shortly!

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