FeedCity: Chris Aldrich

Chris Aldrich
10 Apr 23:41 • Chris Aldrich

An orange and black box with the name RIGID on it fills an orange wire shopping cart.

Picked up for some work related to the Eaton Fire recovery, but it also means I’ve upped my game on tools for typewriter repair.

Chris Aldrich
03 Apr 21:06 • Chris Aldrich

Game: Name that naked typewriter

A typewriter with the hood and body panels removed making it appear "naked".

To be clear, I know what this is. (It’s a typewriter I’m most of the way through cleaning and restoring.) Just for fun for the regulars and the collectors, let’s see who can come closest to a make, model and year for this lovely machine I recently acquired for restoration. Please, no more than two … Continue reading Game: Name that naked typewriter

Chris Aldrich
02 Apr 20:20 • Chris Aldrich

A typed baseball scorecard for the Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game from 2025-03-31 which the Dodgers won 6-1

My first baseball scorecard in ages, but also my first typed scorecard with format courtesy of Lou Spirito of Thirty81 Press. Besides a few examples by Lou himself and one I saw from Tom Hanks on March 29th, I may be the third person doing this?! It pulls together two spectacular pastimes and creates a … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
29 Mar 21:26 • Chris Aldrich

First Time Typewriter Purchases with Specific Recommendations for Writers

Green Olympia SM3 on a desk in front of a Steelcase card index, a Macey Co. Card index, a barrister bookcase, and a small side table with a brown Royal HHE typewriter

I regularly see writers (or their friends or significant others considering buying them presents) interested in purchasing their first typewriter as a (distraction-free) writing tool. Naturally, unless they grew up with them or have other direct experience, the primary questions are: how much are they?, which ones are the better professional tools?, and where can … Continue reading First Time Typewriter Purchases with Specific Recommendations for Writers

Chris Aldrich
28 Mar 03:12 • Chris Aldrich

Frontal view down onto a 1951 Remington Super-Riter typewriter in brown crinkle paint. It is absolutely covered in dirt and dust from what seems like decades sitting in a barn.

Dirty as all get out, but seems to function nearly flawlessly. A full clean, oil, and adjust is mandatory as will be new ribbon, but in surprisingly solid condition for all the accumulated filth. Not all bad for a thrift purchase of $11.00.

Chris Aldrich
27 Mar 23:15 • Chris Aldrich

A 1950s Smith Corona portable in a case sitting on a wooden floor in front of a large green box fan/Hydroxyl Generator

Industrial typewriter cleaning Following the Eaton Fire catastrophe, our house is finally being cleaned. While the duct cleaners were here, I thought I’d break out a dirty Olympia SG3 and use the 175psi air compressor and industrial 300 pound air filtration to “dust” my machine. I now want one of these for the typewriter workshop! … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
27 Mar 05:00 • Chris Aldrich

An Olympia SG3 typewriter packed in a box full of packing peanuts.

One of the reasons one doesn’t ship typewriters in packing peanuts without completely first wrapping the typewriter with something first is that the typewriter will be full of packing peanuts by the time it arrives at its destination. Thirty minutes to clean peanuts out of every part of the machine is annoying.

Chris Aldrich
27 Mar 00:01 • Chris Aldrich

In generally solid shape out of the box. Some paint worn off body along the corners and a bit dusty with some white out to clean up. It’ll need some tweaks to the a few minor spots, but it should clean up to almost new pretty quickly. The one glaring issue is a needed tweak … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
25 Mar 18:30 • Chris Aldrich

You’re invited to a Southern California Type-In!

View of the front street entrance of Vroman's Bookstore. An elegant purple lettered sign hangs over the door. In the foreground is an artistic and quirky plastic red "chair" in front of a Little Free Library box. On the adjacent wall is the window for Tepito Coffee with a yellow lettered sign. Beside this is a painted wall mural featuring a typewriter painted in red with a page coming out of it that reads: I will forever be in love with you. And that's not fiction.

Date Saturday, May 10, 2025 Time 1:00 PM onwards Location Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101 2 blocks West of Lake Avenue, which has both East and Westbound exits off of the 210 Freeway. We’ll be meeting upstairs on the second floor. Parking available behind the bookstore as well as on surrounding … Continue reading You’re invited to a Southern California Type-In!

Chris Aldrich
21 Mar 20:34 • Chris Aldrich

Standard Typewriters versus Portable Typewriters and Ultraportable Typewriters

A hulking gray 1950 Royal KMG standard typewriter next to it's much smaller relative, the 1949 Royal Quiet De Luxe as they sit on an oak library card catalog.

Within the typewriter space there are three broad categories of typewriters primarily based on size: Standard (or office or desktop) typewriters were designed and meant for use in a stationary location, most often an office where they would be used for 8 hours a day (or more), every day of the work week. These typewriters, … Continue reading Standard Typewriters versus Portable Typewriters and Ultraportable Typewriters

Chris Aldrich
20 Mar 17:46 • Chris Aldrich

Save the Date: A Southern California Type-In on May 10, 2025

Two rows of four typewriters each lined up on opposite sides of a table.

I’ve been in conversation with a local bookstore in Pasadena to help host a type-in in Southern California. We’re making plans for Saturday afternoon on May 10th from 1:00 PM onward. So mark your calendars, limber your fingers, and start tuning up your favorite typewriter(s)! More details and specifics to come shortly. If you’re nearby … Continue reading Save the Date: A Southern California Type-In on May 10, 2025

Chris Aldrich
11 Mar 19:17 • Chris Aldrich

Great! Another evacuation warning. This time instead of for catastrophic fire, it’s for rain and potential mudslides from the burn scar. Fortunately (?) I’m still evacuated from January 7th about 6 miles south.

Chris Aldrich
11 Mar 06:28 • Chris Aldrich

Table level view of the front of a 1929 Corona 4 Portable Typewriter

Received on Saturday 03-08, but didn’t open it up until this morning. The case is fairly worn and has the fabric peeled off in several spots, but the leather handle is in tact and in reasonably good shape. The machine has seen better days certainly and needs a thorough cleaning. The paint has some significant … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
11 Mar 06:07 • Chris Aldrich

1920 Corona 3 folding typewriter viewed from table level

Received on Saturday 03-10 and unpacked this morning. This is now the oldest machine in my collection and the first true antique as it’s now 105 years old. The first thing I’m struck by is the tiny size and scant weight of the entire machine and the case. I’m curious to compare the weight to … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
09 Mar 06:37 • Chris Aldrich

Typed white index card sticking out of the carriage of a typewriter with the quote: "Gladys also tell you I drink my lunch? She forgets I eat the olives. That's where the nourishment is. Gladys talks too much. I ought to get rid of her, but she has it on me ever since I got juiced up at that Christmas party and made a couple passes at her IBM machine." --Henry Rufus portrayed by Henry Jones in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (20th Century Fox, 1957)

Chris Aldrich
06 Mar 07:00 • Chris Aldrich

A pearl gray 1957 Royal FP standard typewriter stands atop an oak library card catalog

Received in generally workable shape, though without ribbon; definitely dirty; internal foam disintegrating; brights are going to need a load of polish; temporary photos to provide some idea of condition until I get the chance to clean it up. My wide carriage 1958 FPE was so nice I thought I’d try out the larger face … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
06 Mar 00:33 • Chris Aldrich

I’ve finally broken a small barrier and am now ranked as typewriter hunter #115 on the Typewriter Database. I have a few machines that should arrive soon which in combination with doing some repairs and uploading some data should help me finally break into the top 100.

Chris Aldrich
03 Mar 19:19 • Chris Aldrich

Frontal view of a 1964 Olympia SM9 typewriter sitting on an oak library card catalog.

In what I may call the Academy 97 typewriter because I received it on the day of the 97th Annual Academy Awards on March 2nd, I’ve acquired my first SM9. It’s a solid looking machine aside from some small damage to the rivets at the back of the case, some paint wear on the hood … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
28 Feb 18:34 • Chris Aldrich

For those interested in writing methods, Peter Elbow’s work can be seen as an interesting shift in pedagogy from the 1970s. Interestingly it relies on pieces of practices pre-dating him which inform commonplace book and related zettelkasten methods. For my own files, from the obituary, it looks like he was using an IBM Selectric I … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
25 Feb 06:16 • Chris Aldrich

Hero image of a 1945 black Remington 17 Standard typewriter on a wooden dining room table

When I was interested in getting my first standard typewriter last year, Ruben Flores immediately recommended I get a Remington 17. While I’ve picked up a handful of other standards in the meanwhile, I’ve kept my eyes peeled. I just couldn’t let this $21 beauty slip by. If my 1956 Remington Standard is any indication, … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
18 Feb 04:16 • Chris Aldrich

Typewriter Market: It may be better if you didn’t get an Olympia SM3 typewriter today

I’m not out to shame people for their purchases, just to caution uninitiated typewriter purchasers and budding collectors who aren’t carefully watching the market. Olympia SM3s are well-touted and excellent typewriters. They’ve recently been selling on ShopGoodwill in unknown condition for $120-150 based only on photos. Earlier today, an Olympia SM3 sold for $334! So … Continue reading Typewriter Market: It may be better if you didn’t get an Olympia SM3 typewriter today

Chris Aldrich
15 Feb 04:53 • Chris Aldrich

A bottle of Four Roses Select bourbon next to a 1958 Royal FP typewriter in pearl gray.

My partner got me some roses for Valentines Day. 😍

Chris Aldrich
11 Feb 20:06 • Chris Aldrich

A standard-sized Royal FP typewriter in light pearl/gray paint with a red Royal badge on the front. The platen is a honking 16 inches wide. The machine sits on a wooden dining room table almost as if is ready to taxi the runway and fly off.

I’ve been wanting to score an FP for a long time. Well shipped and in generally functional shape. My first typewriter of 2025 and the first since the Eaton Fire.

Chris Aldrich
04 Feb 01:23 • Chris Aldrich

Entrance sign at Eaton Canyon. Behind it is a partially burned tree next to a fence with a variety of red signs indicating the area is closed.

I’m not sure if it was a general sale or a geofenced one, but I was able to replace many of my Darn Tough socks today. I should have my warm, winter hiking socks well before Eaton Canyon reopens. #AltadenaTough

Chris Aldrich
01 Feb 08:01 • Chris Aldrich

Map of the burn area of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, CA in January 2025

As a 50 year old with a 13 year old daughter living in Octavia Butler’s neighborhood of Altadena, CA, it was eerie when I re-read The Parable of the Sower last summer. Today following the devastating Eaton Fire, the opening of chapter four just doubles down on the dystopia in which we’re living.

Chris Aldrich
27 Jan 04:59 • Chris Aldrich

Tonight, for the first time since January 7th, I made the depressing choice to drive from a friend’s on Lincoln across town on Altadena Drive. The utter devastation of the Eaton Fire is truly ghastly. So much of my town just doesn’t exist anymore. As I got to Altadena Drive and Washington, it began to … Continue reading

Chris Aldrich
27 Jan 02:41 • Chris Aldrich

A positively dry and brittle Christmas Tree in late January deddfiad by simple lights.

This is officially the latest I’ve ever taken down a Christmas tree in my life.

Chris Aldrich
21 Jan 04:00 • Chris Aldrich

When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king; the palace becomes a circus. —Turkish proverb

Chris Aldrich
21 Jan 01:13 • Chris Aldrich

Typed index card that reads: 2025-01-07 Crazy winds kicked up this morning around 5:30AM and woke up both Sonia and I early. I went out briefly around 6:00 A to batten down the hatches and move the car out from under the tree. Evie was already up and working on her math homework. I'm really proud of her for this as well as going to bed at a reasonable time last night. The trip to school wasn't too bad this morning, though I did have to navigate around a Christmas thee that had blown into the middle of the street. Winds are supposed to be bad all day long. I'm sort of worried about going to class tonight at UCLA, but I suspect that winds there probably aren't as bad based on what Sonia has said about her drive into the office earlier

We were allowed back into our neighborhood over the weekend and were excited to find our poor wind battered and smoke damaged house still standing. Naturally I brought back a daily typewriter, but it was eerie to see what I’d last typed on it two weeks ago just before we had to evacuate.

Chris Aldrich
18 Jan 01:56 • Chris Aldrich

A small ranch home on the waning light of the day.

Against all odds the house is still standing!!!