Old School

Is it just me or have we lost something grand when we chose to completely migrate from typewriters to computers?

I arrived into this world at the tale end of an era where typing classes were still allocated as a mandatory part of the curriculum vitae. It was also a time when the cane was an acceptable tool used to execute discipline if you did not adhere to the strict rules of typing posture. Students were expected to have their spine perfectly upright, eyes forward, hands poised at the ready to capture the teachers notes and their feet had to be be planted firmly flat on the ground at all times. Any deviation from this would result in a cane ‘THWACK’ across the offending area.

I’m amused as I tell you this, simultaineously realizing that depending on your age, my experiences to you are either a familiar nostalgia or an insight into what seems very antiquated now. There was a time when I listened to people talk about the radio which they referred to as the ‘wireless.’ I recall smiling to myself as their choice of reference provided a timeline for their age. Well, the final glory years of the typewriters waning importance are the mark of mine.

Close up of the hands of a woman typist at work circa 1940’s. (Photo by FPG/Getty Images)

Occasionally I like to spend a day traveling about the country side on a random trash and treasure junk hunt. Curiously I find myself almost always gravitating toward the table where the typewriters are displayed. These solid mechanical devices which once upon a time held pride of place in all aspiring writers homes are now abandoned. $10 – $25 AUD might get you a fancy ‘Remington Noiseless.’

If you have never used a typewriter I truly believe you are missing out. Yes, I am bias given learning to type was one of my favoured childhood experiences. The weight of the keys, the sounds of them rising and falling as you commit your thoughts to paper. There was a real satisfaction felt when I heard the bell ‘ting‘ at the end of a row. Resetting the machine to begin a new line held an aspect of tangible accomplishment. My mind was forced to be engaged as a mistake was a visual cost I could not accept. Hence careful execution, accuracy of spelling and eloquence of delivery had heightened value. Writing on a typewriter is tough, unforgiving and possibly the best discipline you could introduce to develop your grey matter into a fully activated literary machine.

Remington & Hermes Typewriters

The next time you come by an old typewriter, ask the seller if you can try it out. Its akin to the tangible benefits of reading a soft or hardback novel as opposed to reading an e-Book off a tablet or iPad. There is a reason why people are developing apps which provide the ‘typewriter’ experience. We may have progressed in technology advancements that aid in our ability to produce novels faster with a higher rate of accuracy but the intensity of discipline and tactile satisfaction of a typewriter is lost.

I can assure you. When it comes to writing, there is nothing quite like it.

Truth Devour