Type Pals Monthly Meeting April 12, 2026

Join Type Pals for free here: https://www.typepals.com Members appearing in this video: Andre: New member for 2 months, works in analog photography industry at CineStill, has 8 functioning typewriters and 5 needing repair, favorite is Webster XL747 JP1 clone in Carolina Blue, takes typewriters to public spaces for typing Darren: First-time attendee from Cardiff, UK, has 19 typewriters mostly pre-1940, uses them for live history displays at police station settings, favorite is blue Bluebird from 1936, collecting typewriters from 1930-1940 with only 1933 missing Bob: From Wisconsin, collecting 5 years, started with Olympia SM9 from his sister, has about 25 typewriters, combines typewriter hobby with writing group membership Joe: Acquired several typewriters since last meeting including U.S. Navy Underwood Universal, SM4 in script typeface, and green Kmart 300 Deluxe JP7 brother, has approximately 480 typewriter videos on YouTube Katie: From St. Paul, Minnesota, collecting 7 years, moved over 300 typewriters to new house purchased in October 2024, sold 22 typewriters during November-December holidays, keeping about 30 and selling 260, favorite is Facet T2 with congressional typeface Daniel: Working with Library and Archives Canada to provide typewriters for public use and museum display, organized 7 type-ins last year in Ottawa, collection now more stable and focused on using rather than acquiring Ann: From Portland area, collecting 7 years with about 30 portables, son is the Traveling Typist with close to 200 typewriters, uses typewriters for art and mail correspondence, favorite is Olympia SM9 with congressional typeface and international keyboard Mat: Joined Type Pals one month ago, first typewriter is 1914 Corona 3 with unique three-margin system, focuses on finding and repairing broken typewriters, expanded from Coronas to Smith Coronas and Olympias, recently started working on Hermes 3000s Summary of Type Pals Meeting Notes Type Pals Community Overview The Type Pals group continues expanding, now including members from 34 countries. The community connects through monthly meetings, postcard exchanges, and active correspondence. Collectors range from beginners to highly experienced repairers, with collection sizes spanning from a handful of machines to over 300 typewriters. Member Highlights Participants shared their collecting focuses—portables, pre‑war machines, specific brands (Olympia, Smith‑Corona), and foreign‑language keyboards. Several members organize type-ins and public typing events, while others contribute through creative writing, art projects, or educational outreach. Repair & Maintenance Knowledge Members exchanged practical repair techniques: Cleaning with compressed air, mineral spirits, or LED-lit workbenches Ribbon cartridge restoration, ball‑bearing immobilization tricks, and platen adjustments Challenges with specific models (Hermes 3000, Olympia SM series) Shared resources: Joe Van Cleave videos, Phoenix Typewriter tutorials, Ted Munk manuals Repair difficulty varies widely by model, and many members focus on restoring broken machines rather than buying pristine ones. Correspondence & Archiving Methods Approaches range from: Digital archiving (PDF scans, organized folders) Physical filing (photocopies, labeled envelopes, binder systems) Custom tools (envelope makers, adhesive rollers, QR code stickers, letterpress return addresses) Some members meticulously document everything; others prefer a more spontaneous, historical approach. Creative Projects Members produce: Typewriter‑themed fiction and non‑fiction Art and mail‑art projects Posters, ribbon tin collections, and visual displays Experiments with carbon paper, darkroom prints, and unique paper types Public Typing & Community Engagement Type-ins, library partnerships, and public demonstrations help introduce typewriters to new audiences. These events often spark conversations, nostalgia, and community connections. Keyboard Layouts & Typing Techniques Discussions covered: Dvorak for ergonomic speed gains QWERTZ for German-language needs Tactile home-key modifications using grooves or glue bumps Special Features & Accessories Members showcased: Rare margin systems Paragraph indent mechanisms Copy holders and binder systems QR code printers for hybrid analog–digital correspondence Market Trends Across North America, typewriter prices have risen sharply. Holiday seasons and spring are peak buying/selling periods. Many collectors now focus on repairable machines due to inflated prices and scarcity. Technical Deep Dives Members discussed: Daisy wheel customization Platen compatibility issues Suspension bushing failures Electric typebar advantages for fast drafting One Typed Page Blog The daily blog continues with ~200 subscribers, though contributions have slowed since the pandemic. It remains a valued ritual for many members.