Southern California Type-In

Type-ins are community-based, family friendly events at which typewriter enthusiasts share their love for the analog art of putting ink onto paper with mechanical marvels of the late 19th through 20th centuries. To do this, they bring one or more manual typewriters and their knowledge and love of the machines to share with the community. New friends share stories, history, repair tips, working methods, and other typewriterly ephemera. Typists of all ages and levels of ability are welcome.

Typewriters are optional. Those without their own machines are encouraged to attend. With some luck and the kindness of new friends, you should be able to try out a variety of machines which are present in an effort to decide what styles and feel you might consider for purchasing one of your own one day. Kindly ask the owners’ permission before trying a machine out. If you’ve got multiple typewriters, feel free to bring an extra for a friend.

Activities during the afternoon will include:

• Basic typewriter demonstrations covering: use, maintenance, repair, how to find/buy typewriters, how to date the year of manufacture of your machine, etc.
• Type up a message about how much your mother means to you (May 11th is Mother’s Day)
• Speed typing contest
• Writing
  • Poetry competition
  • Letter and postcard writing; bring some stationery/envelopes/stamps to write letters to friends and loved ones
  • Typing prompts for those who need inspiration for writing
• Typewriter Art – composing visual pictures using ink on paper
• Cadavre Exquis – a dedicated typewriter with paper is set up for participants to compose and write a group story, each taking turns throughout the event at writing one sentence at a time
• Impromptu lightning talks of 3-5 minutes on topics like “how to buy a typewriter”, “how to get into home typewriter repair”, “how to work a typewriter into your daily writing routine”, “how to join the Typosphere” etc.
• Participants are encouraged to type up their experiences of the event for posting to their personal websites (aka the Typosphere)
• Meet new pen pals to start exchanging letters via typewriter and post
• Selfies with the typewriter mural on the front of the bookstore
• Typewriter repair advice: Have a broken machine and not sure what’s wrong? Get some advice from the community
• Bring and share your own ideas…What do you use your typewriter for?

For questions or to RSVP (with your expected number of typewriters), contact ChrisAldrich@jhu.edu.