February 4, 2009
Where have all the typewriters gone?
A few weeks ago, while compiling financial documents for my accountant, I sat down to prepare a 1099 tax form for my subcontractor. A simple task, right? Well, you can imagine my surprise when I learned that the form had to be typewritten on special paper from the IRS. Well, that’s all well and good, but who has a typewriter in this day and age? I sure don’t, so I had to have a tax professional prepare the form for me.
It all worked out fine, but it got me to thinking: Where have all the typewriters gone?
There was a time not too long ago when every office had at least one typewriter. B.C. (Before Computers), typewriters were used for writing memos, letters, and other important documents. An office just wasn’t an office without the melodic sounds of tapping keys and typewriter bells.
Then along came the personal computer and dot-matrix printer in the 1980s. And it was goodbye typewriters. But where did they all go?
Well, unfortunately, most went to the landfill. Can you imagine millions of perfectly good typewriters piled haphazardly in dumps all over the country? What a waste!
Luckily, some typewriters were salvaged and continue to be in existence. Some offices use them for typing labels and envelopes, and, of course, they are needed for completing certain forms. In fact, most U.S. birth and death certificates are filled out by typewriters.
I also know some writers who swear by their typewriters. They eschew computers and opt instead to compose their works using the more romantic, vintage typewriter. Can’t you just picture the struggling novelist bent over his typewriter, frustratingly ripping out page after page of copy and tossing the rolled-up paper balls into the wastepaper basket? (Wasteful, yet poetic.)
With their unique look, sound, feel, and smell, typewriters are iconic in the writing and business worlds. Although I won’t be replacing my PC with one anytime soon (how do you possibly write without the “backspace” key?), I sure hope typewriters will be around for many years to come.
Filed by rebecca at 9:11 pm under Copywriting
I miss my typewriter. I also used to rent an IBM Selectric to type large manuscripts for submission, when my tiny little Smith Corona just wouldn’t do.
I still have an old Royal typewriter from the 1950s, with the really slated keyboard that needs a lot of finger strength to strike a single key.
Devon,
That Royal sounds fabulous. I hope you never part with it!
Lance collects old typewriters - I’m looking at 12 of them at this very moment!
I worked in a lawyer’s office where we had to use the typewriter all the time! It was electric one, mind you; my fingers always fell through the keys on the old ones!
*An* electric one.
Tess: That’s so cool! Do they work? I’d love to see them.
Steph: Makes sense that lawyers would still use typewriters, with all the forms they have to fill out and all.
(You worked in a lawyer’s office? For such a young woman, you’ve had a lot of jobs! You should post one time on all the work positions you’ve held.)
i believe they work…though i’m not sure. anytime you want to come to The World of Soap you can see them : )
Everyone’s taking the typewriter keys and making jewelry
Hi, Ben -
What a great idea! I checked out your Web site; the jewelry is beautiful! Thanks for putting discarded typewriter keys to such great use!