In Mechanica Antiqua

Typo is a very ironic name for a typewriter.  This machine is actually the Imperial Model B, branded Typo and produced in France.  This particular model features the early top plate embezzled with the word "typo", as well as a French keyboard.  If you have been keeping up with the typewriter world, you may be interested to note that this typewriter came from the famous Russo collection which has been sold off by Breker Auction house in Germany.  I purchased this machine just before the shipping services closed down due to COVID in April.  Mid July is when I received it in Chicago.  Aside from a dry ribbon and flat feed rollers, this machine is basically mint.   From my conversation with Mark Albrecht, there are only 30 or so Typos known to exist, and some additional ones which he expects to be undocumented.  The Typo was produced alongside the Imperial Model B starting in 1915, and features dual shift and figure keys on either side of the key...

This is the Remington Noiseless 7, one of many styles of machines that sought after suppressed sound.  I will say it is easy on the ears, but not the quietest machine out there, nor the quietest machine I've used.  It features a triple pivot type bar mechanism which shunts the slug out almost horizontally to the platen, a bit of a thrust action machine, but thrust actions are generally quieter. I got this machine from an author downtown who was seeking to get a full restoration.  I generally don't take jobs like that since I lack the patience to get down to the nitty gritty details, but it was in good shape so I figured I might as well take it on and do my best.  This machine started off in very good condition with some worn rubber and a few broken functions like the tab.  It was well cared for by his grandfather, who was the original owner.   At the time, I had several other projects underway, including four Oliver typewriters for Tim over at the Vint...

an unedited photo from the Minolta SR1 on Portra 400 Vinyl music is beautiful.  It's rich and tonal, and one of the few true recordings of sound, but sooner or later the needle will shake the groove with too high highs and other such things.  In reality, the shortcomings of vinyl that can't be chocked up to crappy equipment is rather unnoticeable to most people.  But they were there, so a different side of analogue music was born.  Magnetic tape.  Tape had a much greater tonal range than Vinyl, even though some records boasted massive capabilities (these types were only playable on specific frequency decoders) magnetic tape still took hold as the true High Fidelity sound of the later twentieth century.  It hasn't received nearly the same resurgence as vinyl for some reason though.  No new albums come out, no new equipment, yet here they sit in all their glory rotting away. Now I should mention I am talking specifically about quarter inch tape....