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Typewriter treasures

Some people collect coins, others cameras, but when former resource manager in retail design Martin Howard set out to collect, well, something, typewriters struck him as the best idea.

For the last 20 years – from a humble Caligraph to a prized Columbia 2 – his collection has blossomed into a roof-filling collection of 80 landmark objects of human ingenuity.

To see Howard’s collection visit: www.antiquetypewriters.com

Why collect typewriters?

I had the desire to collect some sort of 19th century mechanical device. I didn’t know what it was going to be.

It’s not because I like typing. When I started 20 years ago, I discovered I wanted to collect something mechanical from the 19th century – something I could take into the house that was not too large. I didn’t want to compete with a whole legion of other collectors. I also needed an object with a great variety of design.

What was your first typewriter?

I discovered a typewriter from the early 1880s for $100. It was a Caligraph in terrible condition, but I walked out of the shop with it.

I was hooked after taking out a book from the library that showed the wild west of 19th century typewriters.

You wouldn’t believe the range of designs put out in the 1880s and 1890s. There were a number of great successes and glorious failures. There are a lot of very rare typewriters from that time.

There are some from the 19th Century that are considered common today, even though most people haven’t seen them.

Why is 1905 a cutoff date?

Underwood came out with its typewriter in 1896 and in a nutshell, it was the best design. In half a dozen years all other designs had disappeared and all typewriters would essentially look like the Underwood.

What would a typical typewriter cost in the late 19th century?

Typically they were $100. In the 1880-90s, a horse-drawn carriage could be bought for $30-$70. You’d have to be a government agency, military or a wealthy household to own one.

Index typewriters [those without a ‘keyboard’] could be had for between $5-$30. You just didn’t have the speed.

How many typewriters do you have?

Well, it’s like fitting breadboxes into a room – it’s not so bad. I have 80.

Are some extremely rare?

I have some great rarities, and definitely some that are impossible to find. I feel extremely fortunate to have them. Over 20 years there have been many interesting stories on how I’ve found typewriters. There may only be a dozen of a particular model left, but you’re going to bump into something else that’s rare if you put effort into collecting.

I’ve also bought very good ones from other collectors and come across some treasures in the wild.

That’s how I found a nickel-plated index typewriter called the Columbia 2. It’s from 1885, and has a dial like a clock face on it, as it was designed by a New York clockmaker. It was my first top-shelf machine.

It’s not super-rare – there are probably 50 of them. Ten or less is super-rare.

Do you have a one-off?

I’m close. The greatest prize is an 1887 machine simply called the Automatic. It has the quality of a fine scientific instrument. It’s made predominantly of brass, with exacting engineering. There are only eight known to exist. Another good one is the Morris. There were only three known 15 years ago and now it’s grown to twelve.

There’s a typical survival rate of 3-4 per cent. Of the eight known, mine has the highest serial number and it’s 230-something. The run must have been pretty darn small. There were probably less than 300 of those made.

Do you show your collection often?

I’m very keen to exhibit my collection. About five years ago, my collection reached a critical mass where I felt it was ready to display publicly. Two years ago I had twenty typewriters exhibited at the ROM.

It was wonderful. It took me three years to succeed in getting exhibited at the ROM.

There’s a tremendous connection between typewriters and creativity. In this age of the keyboard, where everybody types, these early typewriters resonate with a broad audience. Children love seeing these things.

I would love to exhibit again.

When people look at your typewriters are they surprised by them?

Yes. What they convey is that there’s generally many ways to approach a problem. It’s a liberating thought, that many ingenious minds came up with different solutions to the same problem. Some solutions were better than others, but once again, there are many ways of going around a challenge.

Certainly there’s a labour of love in these.

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