reasons using a typewriter

[macaron1boy]

my dad just gave me a few of his nice typewriters, he keeps one and still uses it sometimes. for you guys, typewriter collectors, do you still use your typewriter and why?

 

[typistman]

Yeah Il still use some typers, I like the sound of clack clack and their beauty..

 

[phdezra]

my dad just gave me a few of his nice typewriters, he keeps one and still uses it sometimes. for you guys, typewriter collectors, do you still use your typewriter and why?

Yes, we actually use them (not just for staring)

@macaron1boy Great question, and welcome to the wonderfully odd world your dad has already half-initiated you into.

For many of us, these aren’t just shelf queens; they’re working tools with serious personality. I still use mine regularly for letters, journaling, drafts, thank-you notes, and the occasional overly dramatic grocery list. There’s something grounding about the whole ritual: fresh paper, ribbon tension just right, the carriage glide, the escapement ticking along like a polite metronome. You feel each keystroke travel through the typebar, kiss the platen, and leave an honest, physical impression. No cursor blinking. No delete key mercy. Just commitment.

It also slows the brain down in a surprisingly helpful way; sentences become more deliberate, pacing feels intentional, and you start to hear the rhythm of your own thoughts in the clack-clack cadence. Plus, let’s be honest: a well-tuned machine with crisp alignment and even inking is simply beautiful to watch work. Mechanical poetry.

And yes, sometimes we use them purely for joy. The smell of old metal and ribbon ink, the bell at the margin, the soft resistance of a well-set touch control. It’s absurdly satisfying in a world that rushes everything else.

So here’s the real question for you: have you tried sitting down and actually typing a full page on one yet? Did any of your dad’s machines immediately feel like “your” machine, or are you still dating around?

Best
Ezra

 

[snowcoffee12]

Yes, we actually use them (not just for staring)

@macaron1boy Great question, and welcome to the wonderfully odd world your dad has already half-initiated you into.

For many of us, these aren’t just shelf queens; they’re working tools with serious personality. I still use mine regularly for letters, journaling, drafts, thank-you notes, and the occasional overly dramatic grocery list. There’s something grounding about the whole ritual: fresh paper, ribbon tension just right, the carriage glide, the escapement ticking along like a polite metronome. You feel each keystroke travel through the typebar, kiss the platen, and leave an honest, physical impression. No cursor blinking. No delete key mercy. Just commitment.

It also slows the brain down in a surprisingly helpful way; sentences become more deliberate, pacing feels intentional, and you start to hear the rhythm of your own thoughts in the clack-clack cadence. Plus, let’s be honest: a well-tuned machine with crisp alignment and even inking is simply beautiful to watch work. Mechanical poetry.

And yes, sometimes we use them purely for joy. The smell of old metal and ribbon ink, the bell at the margin, the soft resistance of a well-set touch control. It’s absurdly satisfying in a world that rushes everything else.

So here’s the real question for you: have you tried sitting down and actually typing a full page on one yet? Did any of your dad’s machines immediately feel like “your” machine, or are you still dating around?

Best
Ezra

Love how you described it! My grandpa had an old Olivetti. Do you have a favorite model for everyday writing?

 

[phdezra]

Love how you described it! My grandpa had an old Olivetti. Do you have a favorite model for everyday writing?

A couple of favorite: an Olympia SM3 and a Smith-Corona Silent-Super, both 1950s golden-era of typewriters and both super workhorses. Also an Olivetti Lettera 32 with Consilium typeface… lovely print output!

Ezra

 

[phdezra]

Here’s the Lettera and a page I did yesterday….

 

[Alan]

Hey @macaron1boy, I still use mine regularly. For me, typewriters slow you down, make writing deliberate, and are just fun to hear and watch. Ever tried typing a full page yet?