Choosing the Right Typewriter

A common question.

I’m often asked by newcomers, “What’s the best typewriter to get?”

There are as many answers to that as there are opinions. I’ve found, however, that there are some common traits to typewriters considered well-suited for serious writing. Let’s look at them.

DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY

Beginners are often attracted to smaller machines, especially those with bright colors. These small portables were designed to be a secondary, portable writing instrument, suited for in-the-field or on-the-road usage. They were often marketed to students and beginners, but not optimized for lengthy, day-to-day use. These machines often lack the features of a bigger machine and, due to their compact design, the feel of their keys—the haptics—can be less than ideal.

Reliability can be a factor, too. Since they are intended to be highly portable, the sturdiness of the parts is minimized, meaning the body panels can be flimsy with the delicate internal parts just marginally durable. Often, they were not designed to be easily serviced, but rather replaced with an upgraded machine once problems developed.

A good yardstick to measure a quality writing machine is to consider the kinds of machines that office professionals once used. These are usually on the larger end of the size and weight spectrum. While that may sound daunting, consider that with such size and weight comes intrinsic advantages.

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FEATURES

A larger portable or full-sized, standard desktop machine will have features useful to the writer that are lacking in smaller machines. These can include: keyset tabulator (enabling a tab stop to be set anywhere on the typing line); carriage release levers on both sides of the carriage (making document navigation easier); bichrome settings (enabling use of two-color ribbons); larger feedrollers and platen roller (for more reliable paper feed); a touch regulator (for customizing the machine’s haptics) and line space variable (for accurately repositioning your work).

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TYPING TOUCH

The single biggest obstacle for typewriter newcomers is the difficulty in pressing the keys to make a solid, reliable imprint. Manual machines are finger-operated printing presses and require every key be struck swiftly and solidly, then quickly released in time for the next letter. Not only does this require the kind of finger strength not needed with computer usage, but the depth of keystroke is much deeper, too. Choosing a lightweight portable machine can often exacerbate these beginner difficulties.

For these reasons, if a manual machine is desired, I will point the newcomer to a larger portable or, better yet, the big upright desktop machine, whose design is intrinsically better suited for long-form writing.

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RELIABILITY

If you found an old car in a barn, regardless of its make, you’d expect it would need extensive servicing before you could rely on it as your daily driver. The same is true with typewriters found in thrift stores and online sales. If you’ve been a tinkering collector for a while, you may have already gained the skills needed to restore such a machine to good working order. But for the newcomer lacking such skills—or the person lacking the time and interest to grow them—a better solution might be to acquire a machine already restored, from a professional repair shop or a seasoned amateur.

There may be such a shop in your area, or you may have to visit to a shop further afield. The advantage of a repair shop is they often have a variety of machines set up for you to try, so you can make a more-informed decision in finding that one good writing machine. Yes, it will cost you more money up front, but it will get you writing quicker than amassing a room full of used machines that are all compromises to your dream of an ideal writing instrument. The decision can come down to being either a writer or a hoarder. 

Another good strategy is to connect with enthusiast typewriter collectors in your area, many of whom have built up their typewriter servicing skills and may be able to supply you with a machine well suited for your purposes—at a better price than a professional shop.

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PRACTICE

Regardless of the condition and design of your machine, you will no doubt need to practice before it becomes comfortable enough to disappear into the background of your writing workflow. Give yourself time enough to develop those typing muscles, because they don’t come naturally. You may have an easier time of it in the beginning if you two-finger type using your stronger index fingers, instead of jumping into touch-typing like you do on your computer.

Remember that typewriter-typing (typewritering?) is different from keyboarding on a computer, even if the key layouts are similar between the two. These differences require you to become accustomed to the mechanical-writing machine before you can be comfortable using it. 

Remind yourself that if you don’t use it, you’ll never become adjusted to it—and it may end up being just a paper weight. So do yourself a favor and spend the time needed with your new writing partner, so you and that beautiful mechanical marvel can become an efficient writing team!

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ELECTRIC OR MANUAL

A discussion of choosing a typewriter for long-form writing would be incomplete without mention of electric and electronic typewriters. Both of these offer a writing experience similar to the feels of a mechanical computer keyboard, in terms of finger force and depth of keystroke needed being independent of imprint quality, but they still retain the manual paper-handling of a typewriter.

Electric typewriters can be considered as motorized manual machines. They still have the moving type bars with metal letter slugs on their ends, but don’t demand much in the way of finger strength or keystroke depth. They also use the same cloth ribbons like manual machines and have similar moving carriages.

Electronic typewriters use a micro-controller to operate stepper motors instead of mechanical linkages and feature plastic, interchangeable print wheels and one-time-use film ribbon cartridges with lift-off correction. They offer a different writing experience from the traditional mechanical typewriter but produce laser-printer quality output. Perhaps their biggest advantage is they can still be purchased new.

The IBM Selectric is in a category all its own. Technically an electro-mechanical machine, they feature interchangeable “golf-ball” type elements but are mechanically complex and demand specially trained technicians to be properly serviced. These machines were the workhorse office-writing machine in the pre-computer era and are still seen in the offices of today.

Electric or electronic machines can be a good choice for the writer who doesn’t need a mobile writing solution, doesn’t mind the extra noise some of these machines can make, and appreciates the ease and swiftness of operation they offer.

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CONCLUSION

Whichever machine you choose, if you spend time finding the one best suited for your individual needs and practice with it, you will find it a joy to use—a tool to enhance your creative writing process. Choose wisely and happy writing!

-Joe and the ABQwerty Type Writer Society