"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night
stays these couriers from the swift completion
of their appointed rounds."
The same may be said of Typospherians for whom a handmade sign on any street corner beckons with all the power of those mermaid Sirens who lured Odysseus and his men to their islands. Even if, like brave Odysseus, we claim we shall withstand the call . . . still . . . the machines . . . the machines . . . we wants them we do.
This is the latest typewriter to enter our abode. My Beloved Spousal Unit ~ who has quite the knack for finding older machines in exceptional condition ~ found it at an estate sale. And not just any estate sale; the kind flush with old snow blowers, stacks of worn Tupperware containers, and the like. This estate was of an honored gentleman, a physician and scholar. Books lined the walls, my Beloved told me. Amid the quiet memories of a full life sat a silvery case. Within a near mint condition Olympia SM3.
The case showed some light wear, but the machine itself is in glorious condition. Even the bushings are in good shape. All I needed to do was wind a new ribbon onto its spools.
The typeface is an elegant script.
I especially love the way some of the uppercase letters swoop low with a flourish.
I've named this one Dr. Laurence
~ a modified version of its original owner's name ~
and in his honor and memory.
