Poll: Do you have a typewriter?

[DURHAM D]

A friend just called and asked me what I was doing. I told her I was filling out a form using my typewriter.

She laughed at me.

Sometimes it is the best way to get something done.

Do you have a typewriter?

[SheltieLover]

1. Not anymore, but there are plenty of days I wish I did have one!

[Ocelot II]

2. I have one. It's in the attic.

Actually, I have two of them. One is an electronic model from the '80s that has some automatic correction features (I used it before I got my first Mac Plus), and the other is my dad's old very manual typewriter from about 1945.

[Marie Marie]

3. I did but it is long gone. But I agree, sometimes it is the best and simplest way to fill out a form.

[Jack Valentino]

4. Not anymore---- I guess I haven't still owned one in about 30 years....

although I had one or two prior to then, and used them quite a bit...
even took a semester of typing class in high school,
which was unusual for a male---- but I still type with both hands,
and using the proper finger home positioning which I was taught...

DAMN, can't even say when I last SAW one, except in old movies! LOL

But since you ask, I kinda wish that I DID have still have one, somewhere--
which could be used in limited situations which called for it




Still think that was one of the TWO most useful classes I took in high school---
the other being 'driver education' which they mostly don't offer anymore!

AND, I'm still typing on the computer----
BUT I haven't been driving the past year, since my car is broke down! LOL

[generalbetrayus]

5. I have an electric typewriter on a shelf in my basement. Like others have noted, I keep it to fill out those paper forms

that I want to look neat and professional. I bought it at Goodwill after I retired after not having one for many years before that.

[NewHendoLib]

6. Long gone.

[Jack Valentino]

7. Contribute one dollar to pay for a DU 'Star Membership',

and you can create an ACTUAL DU poll where members can vote!


(well, maybe even less than that, there seems to be no minimum limit---
although I'd suggest one dollar as a minimum! It's good for a YEAR....)

[DURHAM D]

8. I have a Star Membership.

Have for more than 20 years.

I didn't really want an actual poll - I want comments.

[Polybius]

41. Why not both?

[LudwigPastorius]

9. I got tired of lugging it with me every time I moved.

It was an early 80s Smith Corona, but I jettisoned it about 25 years ago because I wasn't using it.

[Tree Lady]

10. Not since the 90's when I got my first

Computer and printer.

[Intractable]

11. About 42 years ago, I acquired my first printer.

I learned to use it with precision mostly for college term papers.

I'm on my 12th and 13th printers, inkjet and laser respectively.

I can fill out any form, print between the lines of index cards, and also lay down images.

[Kali]

12. there is one in the house. I think it was my Mother's, possibly my Grandmother's

I brought one here when we moved to the ranch in 1986, it may be rusting away out in the shed/garage.

[LogDog75]

13. I gave up my typewriter about 25 years ago

I had a Brother electric typewriter I used and got rid of it about 30 years ago. I hadn't use it for awhile because computers at work replaced typewriters and my home computer could do just about everything a typewriter could do. The typewriter was good for filling out forms but now most forms can be downloaded and filled out. What forms aren't loaded I can scan them in to my computer and use a PDF filler program to fill it out.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. Somewhere, probably. Right now I have no idea where. nt

[BlueSpot]

15. I have one

Received it as a gift in (I think) 1973. Last used, best guess, was about 1983-ish. Possibly later, writing a resume or two before home computers were a thing. It's in a closet. I have not idea if it works. It has to be crusty. For certain the ribbon must have dried up and I have no idea if I could even get a new one. It wasn't cool enough to support a ribbon that was both black and red. Oh well. At least I don't need to buy a bottle of Wite-Out. LOL

[area51]

16. I have 2,

a Remington manual, and a Brother electric. Both are in the attic, I believe.

[H2O Man]

17. Yes.

I haven't used one in years, but I have a couple of them.

Recommended.

[thebigidea]

18. Used to love using them for rough drafts back when DU first started

It's a nice way of focusing and not being distracted. But after piles of scripts and incoherent novels, I got a little tired of retyping every word of every damn thing.

Sure improves your typing speed and accuracy, though!

[Ms. Toad]

19. Yes - but only because it was my father's

which he gave me to take to college.

I'm not sure I've used it since then (1978). Perhaps not even that recently - since I started using word processors in college.

[krawhitham]

20. nope, not for 15 years now

[Ilsa]

21. Yes. I rarely use it. nt

[CTyankee]

23. My last one was called a Selectric (I think). Does anybody remember that model?

It had a rotating ball function that was state of the art right before our desktop computers were developed and marketed.

[Raine]

31. Yes l remember those. nt

[DURHAM D]

37. Yes - made by IBM.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

24. Yes, but it needs a ribbon.

I last used it in the late 70's when I typed up minutes for the Home Owners Association.

[Permanut]

26. Long gone, but I learned on an old manual one..

Somewhere around a hundred years ago.

[Raine]

27. Yes l have couple of typewriters. One is special it's electric and

it types things out in script. It was a gift from my aunt, I've never seen another one like it. 🤔

[samplegirl]

28. How cool

I wish I still had my typewriter.

[markodochartaigh]

29. My cousin gave me her husband's old typewriter

when I was in college. Mom told me to take a typewriting class because it would be useful, that was twenty years before I had a computer. I lost the typewriter when my house burned down in 2005.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. What's a typewriter??

[EarthFirst]

32. We no longer have a typewriter...

As a result of this inquiry however; I had to check to see how accessible new ribbon for a typewriter still is.

I was surprised to find that it’s fairly easy to acquire; and generally affordable (2 pair for $6.99 seems to be the average…)

I also found that blank analog cassette tapes are wildly expensive; a single Maxell XL-II 90 minute is roughly $11-$13 each.

We have hundreds of them; (perhaps even over a thousand) -Dead shows from years of trading live recordings.

[SocialDemocrat61]

33. I'm not Ron Swanson

[Shrek]

34. I still use an electric typewriter for some things

They're great for checks and certain government forms.

[Emile]

35. The last typewriter I had was a word processor. When the modern computer

came out, I got rid of the word processor.

[highplainsdem]

36. I replaced my last typewriter with a computer in the 1980s.

[Happy Hoosier]

38. NO.

Last time I used one was in 1986 in college. I switched to a computer after that.

I also used to have a slide ruler. Maybe it's still around here somewhere. I was the last Freshman engineering class that had to learn to use one. Haven't touched it since ENGR 101 either.

[Orrex]

39. I own 8 or 9 manual typewriters.

They're fun to fool with every now and then, but I don't use them for any formal work.

[Polybius]

40. Lol, no

Not since the 80's as a kid. There's no need with a computer and a printer.

[QueerDuck]

42. I do! An Underwood typewriter that belonged to my mother. She learned to type on it.

This one I found online is identical to the one I have.

[DURHAM D]

43. Do you know how they came up with the keyboard design

that is still being used today on computers?