Happy Typewriter Day

I spread the typewriter love all over the Bodensee today, starting with the train stop, typing on the ship (both ways), typing at the hamfest (plus a guest typist joining the fun) and  finishing up accosted by a group, one of whom guessed "Hermes Baby" so  I got to show them the swissa.  I'll post it all in the next few days.

Unexpected sightings

I have been typing publicly (at the shore here in Altnau) and my plan tomorrow morning is to take the typewriter across the lake, typing if possible on the train and the boat, and at the hamfest also.  I will post all these when I get good images of them.
Meanwhile, here are some relevant sightings from the Hamfest today.  Cheer for your favorites.
First up - a display of teletype machines:

Next, improving on this theme, in the vendor area was an awesome booth of Enigma machines.

I did not know they could encode/decode pencils.  That's amazing!  Now LFP will want one. Or Richard, for privacy.  Capcha that, google!

 

then I came upon a couple of typewriters unexpectedly.

back home I would have jumped on this, but 3 strikes - carriage wouldn't move, no case and no price.

and qzerty?  is that Italian? 

No thanks.  Not even at that price.

then I spotted something for Adwoa:

and a few things I just thought were neat - I'll spare you the other hundred or so.

and finally this is what I bought for myself.  I was looking for a small straight key.  the ones in the main hall - new - were 90 euros and up!  I got this for 10, and he even helped me pick a good one out of the box.

Type-hunt 2: Left on the shelf

Here are the ones I didn't buy, and a few other items of interest.

We found a Hermes Baby right out of the gate.  the price was high, but I thought I could always return for it if nothing else turned up.  As I said later, I do occasionally see them in the US, unlike the Swissa.
It had a normal typeface in pica pitch.  When we entered, however, the girl told us to hurry as she was closing in 7 minutes.  That haste is why I neglected to get a photo with the lid off. 

So we left and with lucky timing hopped on the tram to the next stop, where we struck the mother lode.  This place seemed to be set up with numerous independent vendors, some of whom were closed.  On the  way in, we saw this standard, which at home I would have picked up:

Then we wended our way around, not finding much until we got to the last area in our counterclockwise sweep. 

We immediately seized upon the Swissa because its ribbon was barfed all over the top.  While maschinengeschrieben was fixing it, a wild vendor appeared!  He was told we were collectors and that I was here all the way from Washington State, and he said 30Fr.  I attempted a look of wistfulness blended with sticker shock, and he asked what I wanted to pay, so I said funfzehn, and he gave the look I tried on him and came back with 20. I said I'd think it over while we checked out all the others.  There were a lot of them.

This one was beautiful.  I confess I didn't try it out for fear I'd have to take it - tough one to leave behind, but too big to carry.  I wonder if he'd have cut an even better deal on the pair?  hmmm...oh well, let it go man, it's gone.

second late-model Adler

the case was stuck on this one,  not bad, but not for travel

I completely forgot to shoot a pic of the SM9.  Instead I took this pic:

So after that it was played out.  The Salvation Army was a nice store, where I almost bought a big suitcase for carrying home my booty, but I decided to wait until I had the car for that  They had phones.

then as you've read, we went up in the container tower.  Here's a brief photo series:

finally we went to a more upscale place where we checked our bags and so I didn't have my camera for the sewing machines I saw there. Sorry about that Adwoa.


When we went to the main train station to type, I saw more bicycles than I've ever seen before in one place.  I suspect they are commuters.

Typewriter Day run-up

I could say I've been celebrating Typewriter Day all week but I confess I would have missed it if not for the reminder on Welcome to the Typosphere.  Fortunately I only have to catch up on posts, not activity.
I have done a great deal of public typing this week, starting with SeaTac airport and ending up getting looks in downtown Zürich.  So just to get them out there, I'll just post the whole crop now.

public typing, NYC

Well I had quite a full few hours in New York City.  Didn't lose my phone until the TSA checkpoint.  I typed publicly three times and will post the typecast when I am able.

excitement builds

Something completely different

That's his father, I think.  

Finally, I conclude the post with a digitized recording of one of the discs, with permission of the pianist.