I found Kate at an estate sale last weekend. According to her serial number, she was born in 1925.
She's a little dusty and needs some cosmetic work, but for an 86 year old she's in pretty good shape.
I originally bought her with thoughts of reselling her, but as soon as I brought her home and put a piece of paper in her, she was mine.
How long has it been since I've heard the bell ring on a typewriter? I had totally forgotten about the sound, but it really is pretty sweet.
You've accomplished something when you hear that sound. Another line typed. Time to throw the carriage return lever. Advance the paper. Go on to the next line.
You just don't get the same sense of achievement from the automatic word wrapping (or whatever you call that feature) on a computer keyboard where you just type and type and type and occasionally hit the mute enter key.
I don't even know what all her levers and such do anymore. It used to be so much a part of us, now it is so foreign. How quickly we forget.
I'll be attempting to restore Kate to her younger glory days. Nothing major, just cleaning, oiling and removing some rust. I imagine I may have to roll some new ribbon on the old spools.
Kate is one classy Royal.
I am linking to:
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Flaunt It Friday at Chic On A Shoestring Decorating
Today's Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality
I kick myself all the time for not keeping my Dad's Underwood typewriter! It so overwhelming at the time deciding what to keep. I think it is a gorgeous find!
ReplyDeleteShe is absolutely wonderful. I use to type on one almost exactly like that. Such a treasure. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteI'd keep Kate too. I got rid of my old Smith Corona torqoise typewrite a few years back. Why did I do that. It was from the 60's, not as old as Kate. Can you still buy those ribbons.
ReplyDeleteI love old type writers. They are really pretty awesome. I wish that more people cherished these.
ReplyDeleteVery fun! I forgot about the bell:@)
ReplyDeleteKate sure is purty!
ReplyDeleteVERY cool Pam!! Typewriters are certainly a thing of the past -- like manual dial phones -- our kids will have no idea how to work them :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Gail
Keep her for sure. I could never type manually. It was the only subject I ever made a C in. Those keys are delightful♥
ReplyDeleteShe's a beaut. There's nothing wrong with loving an inanimate object. I do it ALL the time.
ReplyDeleteI love those old typewriters. I have been looking for one for quite a while. I learned to type on an old Royal..and drove my teacher mad because I banged the keys so hard!;>) The one you got is a beauty! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteShe is a real beauty, Pam. She found a wonderful home with you.
ReplyDeleteShe is a beauty! Love me some Kate.
ReplyDeleteI once saw a photo of a pink typewriter and I sure feel in love with that, so I understand your love for Kate :)
ReplyDeleteNope, not wrong at all. She's a beauty. Love her and I'd have to keep her for a while too.Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteTime never takes the great memories.
ReplyDeleteKate has a great deal of character. She will be beautiful restored. I can see why you love her.
ReplyDeleteShe's definitely a keeper! Can't wait to read your first novel!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI have an old Royal that is on display in my family room. Not nearly as elegant as yours, but Iove love love it!
ReplyDeleteA little work and your typewriter will look good as new, Pam. They really do make a fun accessory! I love the clickety clack sound of the keys. :-)
ReplyDeleteKate is a beaut!!!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun.
Melinda
You found a great one Pam! She is very pretty and I love the sounds of typewriters as well. :) I can't wait to see her all dolled up. :)
ReplyDeletexo
what a pretty old thing...my then 10 year old daughter bought a vintage typewriter at a yard sale last year and loves the clackity clack sound the keys make when she types...i don't know what we'll do when the ribbon runs out! thanks for linking up to fridays unfolded!
ReplyDeletealison
We trashed one that was in an old office building my husband bought. Darn it.
ReplyDeleteI am visiting via Romantic Homes.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful treasure!
Have a happy weekend!
How lovely and I have to tell you Kate's brother is living on my coffee table and he says to say Hi!....LOL I love Vintage Typewriters too! Kit
ReplyDeleteI love old tyepwriters too. I still have 2 from my family that have survived all of these years. Yours looks great!
ReplyDeleteFaye
Too bad my dad is no longer living or he would have it back into shape in a jiffy. He used to have his own typewriter repair business in our house when I was growing up and we had ones like yours sitting all over the basement floor. You're right...we were used to those kinds of things for much of our lives and now look how far technology has come! Nice find!~Hugs, Patti
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love it! Makes me think of all the people that actually typed on those keys.
ReplyDeleteI have a much smaller vintage typwriter sitting on top of the table I featured in this linky party.
xoxo Bunny Jean
Kate sure is a beauty! They made things so lovely years ago!
ReplyDeleteYou found a real treasure!
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to sit at the kitchen table at night typing quizzes and tests for her business classes on a manual typewriter. I loved to hear the keys, the carriage return, and the dings.
Kate is looking might fine for her ripe old age. I'd be making a few noises and need some oil here and there too. I have one typewriter that I've kept for myself. I think she needs a name.
ReplyDeleteHi, friend! I'm admiring all your creative posts here. Can you please share them at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop? Hope to see you there at the party :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling blog! And I love this typewriter. I don't own one {or hardly anything old}, but I think they're so cool!
ReplyDeleteWarmly, Michelle
This has been on my "list of wants" for a long time -- I just love these old beauties! We had one in our basement at home growing up . . . wish we had kept it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great find! You are justified in being excited about it :).
ReplyDeleteYour blog is GORGEOUS!!! You are doing a great job! I am signing on. I love your typewriter. I bought one for ten bucks last year dated 1917 and I love her, too. She was all nasty in a cardboard box with webs and grossness. Aren't the funny lettered keys just darling??? andrea @ townandprairie
ReplyDeleteSuch a great little gal! She's in wonderful shape for sure. And I DO love that bell. Thanks so much for linking up with VIF, xo Debra
ReplyDeleteThis classic typewriter is just beautiful. Love that you named her Kate.
ReplyDeleteCheers! Reese
http://rambleswithreese.etsy.com
http://rambleswithreese.blogspot.com
I know that you have so many blog parties to choose from so thank you for choosing Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop. This post is added to the party blast! Enjoy the rest of the week :)
ReplyDelete