Lucas started repairing typewriters about ten years ago, at the age of 14. That’s when he found a 1930s Royal No. 10 and taught himself how to fix it. Eventually, he realized there was a need for his services outside of family and friends’ machines.
Dul is more than a fixer. He’s a romantic. A purist. A crusader of sorts — an island in a digital ocean.
“It’s also about ultimate control,” says Dul, who cherishes his time alone in his workshop. “You are not being told what to do by any operating system. You don’t have to worry about spellcheck or making errors. It’s a process that’s completely in your hands and organic.”
Maybe he’s summed up what is wrong with today’s world! Too much connectivity 24/7 (we require laws now in France and Australia to prohibit bosses sending e-mails after hours to workers) and too many notifications. Typewriters had stopped being used for general use a good 20 years before Lucas was even born.
It’s no wonder that Lucas has writers sending typewriters to him for repairs. What better way to concentrate, get on with the job, and not worry about recharging batteries, than to use a typewriter.
Artists, writers, collectors — all still want typewriters, he says.
Possibly, like vinyl records and CDs, we’re going to see more uptake of older technology.
See https://hackaday.com/2024/02/19/keebin-with-kristina-the-one-with-the-200-typewriter/