Throughout the world, mechanical and electric typewriters were once the workhorse of every office and business from the 1880s to the 1980s until the introduction of more efficient electronic word processors and personal computers. Like all inventions that have had made our lives easier and more productive, as machines have evolved over centuries, there are gains in speed and performance but there is often a loss of permanence as we crave the next iteration.

Today, there is a growing desire by many, even youth, to digitally detox and experience an analog world of tactile experiences like reading a physical book, holding a vinyl record, or typing words directly onto paper has created a renewed interest in typewriters.  

Leading the resurgence of the typewriter phenomenon is Philly Typewriter, a resource of “elegant machines that offer a genuine link between the mind and the page. We work as engineers, historians, and educators to revive this medium for one generation and introduce it to another.” Their wide-ranging services have bolstered the typewriter movement as people visit from around the world to have their beloved machines resurrected or to buy machines that have been restored to factory standards. Philly Typewriter teaches apprentice mechanics restoration techniques, offers public workshops about basic maintenance, and organizes public “type-ins” throughout the city. Through their ongoing efforts, Philly Typewriter strives to “strengthen the typewriter movement and ensure that it is here to stay.”

Visit phillytypewriter.com.