This site has changed and moved so please bookmark the new location. This URL on Erols will not be active much longer. The new location is: http://typewriter.rydia.net
Welcome to the antique typewriter world! We're active, passionate collectors of antique/unusual typewriters. We began collecting in 1996 and have been on the lookout ever since. This site will hopefully show you "why typewriters?" as we're so often asked by friends, relatives, dealers and others who have not seen our collection. They're truly mechanical marvels, and evidence that at one time not everything was disposable and what we take for granted today was once a monumental challenge. Maybe you have one for us to add? Use the link below to email us! Keep in mind that we also collect typewriter related goodies. Like what?? Well; ribbon tins, instruction manuals, trade catalogs, typewriter oil bottles, check punches, staplers, pencil sharpeners... almost anything related to antique office equipment, but with a real soft spot for the typewriters!
For us, just about any typewriter has a place in our collection, especially those from before 1925 or so when the development of the typewriter was in its heyday. Everyone was struggling to come up with the perfect writing machine, while not infringing on anyone else's patents. This led to all manner of different machines, each one better, for one reason or another, than the last one. You'll see some of these in the following pages.
Typewriters also played a pivotal role in the women's movement. It took her out of the kitchen and into the workplace, and gave her a rather important position with decent pay, though still less than that of her male counterparts. In a time when the only way for a woman to move up was through marriage, this gave her another outlet from which to find the suitor. Very often, you'll hear stories of the boss and the type-writer? It's not the Underwood they're talking about!
We're often asked to discuss restoration and use of these machines. We feel that they should be restored to their original beauty wherever possible- an old machine doesn't need to look brand-spanking new! If there's some paint missing here and some plating missing there, that all adds to the charm of them! These old veterans should be allowed to show their battle scars! In the art world, they call it 'patina'!! As far as using them, we don't conduct nor suggest speed-typing races (sorry Ron!), but we do take most of them out for a 'test-type' now and then to keep them limber, whenever mechanically possible. Besides, what's the fun of having them if you can't enjoy them? And believe us, we DO enjoy them! Unless otherwise noted, all machines shown on these pages are from the Dilts/Cincotta Collection.
We also host periodic get-togethers for typewriter collectors! These have been given the moniker of the Northeast Typewriter Collectors Jamboree (thanks Mike!) and are a time to get-together, swap restoration tips, trade machines and generally have a good time. We hosted one on May 15th, 1999 in Southboro Mass- see pix and more for Jamboree '99. Here's a link to Fall Jamboree '98. The Jamboree 2000 will be on May 13th to coincide with the Brimfield Antique Shows; internationally known as the largest outdoor antiques and collectibles shows!
We've added a virtual typewriter museum to show you machines in our collection; this may even help you identify a machine of your own! Click on the 'Our MUSEUM' link below to go there and use your browsers 'back' button after viewing a picture. The other pages linked below have descriptions for selected machines in the museum.
Take your time, browse around, and enjoy the site! We'll update it from time to time, so stop in again! Just be sure to bookmark this page only as the URLs for the other pages may change when updates are done!
Our MUSEUM
Keyboard Machines
Index Machines
Toys
Vintage photo gallery
Links to Other Typewriter Related Stuff
Typewriter trouble spots
Click here for info on a major typewriter convention!
Chuck Dilts
Rich Cincotta
PO Box 286
Southboro MA 01772
USA
1-508-229-2064
Hits since 9/1/98
This Unusual Museum site is owned by
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