The Halifax Examiner recently claimed “It’s OK to get rid of books.” Apart from being bothered by the use of OK instead of okay, which would be acceptable in a print headline but is hardly necessary for an online headline, I was troubled by some points in the article. The article begins with the problems… Continue reading Books and Clutter
Category: Writing
Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech 8
The Alphasmart Neo is a handy writing tool that looks back to the earliest laptops, and has inspired later high-end tools.
Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech 6
Olympia Traveller de Luxe While researching the history of my mid-size Olympia Regina de Luxe typewriter, I learned of the Traveller model, the last of the compact portables from Olympia. It looked vaguely familiar. I may have seen one when I purchased my no-frills Eaton’s typewriter in early 1980s. I remember eyeing a very cool… Continue reading Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech 6
Typewriters, Stencils, and Carbon Copies
More than you ever wanted to know about mid-1900s copying, plus the oldest typewritten letter. Full-size typewriters, and some compact versions, have a three position ribbon selector: Black, Stencil, and Red. In the stencil setting, the ribbon is not used. Older people (like me), or people who had early jobs using mid-1900s low volume printing… Continue reading Typewriters, Stencils, and Carbon Copies
Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech 5
Olympia Regina Deluxe Manual Typewriter It’s not often I try something and think “I never knew it could be like this.” It’s even less often I can share that discovery, but this typewriter gave me that feeling and I’m here to share it. Olympia, a German company, was late to the typewriter game. The German… Continue reading Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech 5
Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech 4
SCM Secretarial 250 Office Electric Of the various typewriters I own, my Smith-Corona has the brand history that most typically illustrates the rise and fall of American manufacturing. Once upon a time in the 1880s, four Smith brothers left the gun manufacturing business and established the Smith-Premier Typewriting Company. In those days, typewriters were often… Continue reading Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech 4
A Subdued Milestone
Several years ago, I joined the Romance Writers of America. I felt membership would help me learn the craft and the business of writing, and that being a member would give me credibility as a writer, and especially as a romance writer. Genre romance is often described as “by women, for women,” but men are… Continue reading A Subdued Milestone
Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech – 3
Speedwriter Manual Portable Typewriter Ignoring any possible historical significance or practical considerations, I obtained this typewriter because it looks like the model my first dad owned – the typewriter of my childhood, not that I ever used it then. But there is some historical significance to this machine. Speedwriter was one of many brand names… Continue reading Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech – 3
Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech – 2
Underwood Manual Office Typewriter Moves and unstable employment, some years ago, left me with few toys, but I started to make up for that once I had a nice apartment and steady work. When I saw an old typewriter being given away, I seized the opportunity to acquire a photo prop for promoting my new… Continue reading Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Tech – 2
Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Technology – Part 1 – Introduction
In which Tim Remembers his Typewriters from the 1980s A couple of years after graduating from high school, I took a night school class to learn how to use a typewriter. I had vague ambitions of wanting to write and/or going to university, and reasoned that learning to type would help. More practically, it was… Continue reading Tim’s Museum of Obsolete Technology – Part 1 – Introduction
Tim Covell 
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