Posting my activities

I *have* been busy, but if I'm honest, not so busy that I couldn't have knocked out a typecast.  For that matter, I ought to dig through my portables to see if I have any started and not scanned.

As usual, the activities jump back and forth between clubs, exercise, and entertainment.  They meet and merge in this still life:

this was submitted to Tacoma Art Museum's #StillLifeYourLife contest.  I need to do another with NaNoWriMo and my game dice included.

Another activity that has occurred, but not really interfered with blogging, is the annual Monkeyshines art hunt (see the glass ball in the typebasket above).  As usual, I carved a stamp for the current Chinese New Year.

I've posted past stamps before, like in this post from last year.

I've been to a couple of Handel Operas and numerous meetings, I take a walk every day and I do keep up on my facebook friends (I've picked up dozens of new ones internationally as the Hams find each other).  But I did drop out of the facebook Antique Typewriter Collectors' group, when they got too HOA on another member. If there's interest, I'll do a post on it.

Tomorrow we will probably do our taxes, and go for a bike ride.  Maybe I'll run off a typecast on the road.

Right now I need to get ready to host Game Night.

ITAM confessions: Typewriters that are not Appreciated

As promised, here is a post of typewriters in the collection that I don't appreciate. All have been with me over a year and most for several years.  They take up space I'd rather use for good typers.  I know many collectors have more fun repairing and cleaning but for me it's all about writing on them.

Anyway, looking at these again may spark some conversation and I might even get a repair tip or two that revives one.

This one I would love if not for messed-up linkages in a couple of keys that end up pulling on others.  I sometimes think it would be a good one on which to learn repair. Love the streamlined look though.  I dug it out of the bins.

This Clipper is stuck stuck stuck. Keys do not press or move, though the carriage does.  I think it's possibly wd-40 syndrome?  I've been using it for parts.  The logo went to Richard but did not quite fit his application, and the c keytop went on a Silent-Super that was given away last year.

This is ...okay.  not at all pleasant to type on, and some troublesome keys - get stuck at the strike point.  otherwise just needs an overhaul. 

I was so excited to find this one, but I have trouble with it.  with the cover on, it just doesn't work right.  It gets stuck or rubs, etc.  With it off, it's a passable but not pleasant typer.  I think it's bent (squashed) and doesn't have enough clearance.

This is from Strikethru's Petaluma haul, and has always had a busted carriage since coming into the typosphere.  I kept it for the cool look of the noiseless action but now that I have working examples I don't need this collecting dust.

This best fits the post theme - it was a classroom typewriter that was used hard and put out to pasture. It works but it balky and uninspiring.  Now that I have an SG1 I don't need the 3.  You may recall that I brought it home on my wife's bike.  She had to remount her milk crate afterward.

Do you ever feel betrayed by inanimate objects?  I loved using this one, then one time the carriage went off track and I can't seem to fix it. Grr.

Another abused workhorse.  You can see the cracked space bar.  The line feed setting slips and you never know how many lines it will advance.

My first manual typewriter.  It pauses in the center of the carriage and I have to smack it.  I haven't figured out why.  If I could fix that I would enjoy using this one.

This one has water damage from before I got it which has led to many problems.  I'm not sure it can be fixed, but there are probably some decent parts.  

I'm this close ===> <=== to dropping most of these off at Goodwill but someone may want them for parts or repair.  I should add here that I'm not interested in accumulating the boxes and packing material they would need, or in spending a lot of time analyzing their packing needs.  If you want one sent to you, send me the box and cushioning and when I send it I'll collect the postage from you.

ITAM bikecast

common merganser, female

common merganser, male

more typewriter gifting

I've also finished my first run-through edit of my most recent novel, "Code Name: QUANGO" which really just means removing most of the scan errors.  The next part is rewriting to come up with a better plot - if I ever get around to that.

January bikecast

Darn it, the Olympic Mountains in the background are washed out.

15.25 miles

Tea Time

Picquot Ware T6.  It has a nice patina inside and pours beautifully.  I wonder about that top piece of wood though. Someone put some effort into that.

My work setup.  I open the bags and pour through my strainer.  It makes a difference. BA replaced that china pattern in the mid-90's and we were told at the time to throw it into the dumpster (wink wink) as they didn't want to pay to ship it back.

long overdue