Well, it looks like you have a real Torpedo addiction on your hands, not to mention an intriguing machine! What person would purchase an American layout machine in Germany? A fleeing German emigrant? A US soldier stationed overseas? A tourist or traveling businessman with a taste for german craftsmanship? Very interesting...
The obsession has been with me for a long time… helped by a stunning array of colors, designs, and typefaces over the years.
Buying that Torpedo was certainly one of their best decisions in life, I'd say. For the era, the glass keys were archaic, but looking back it's so much more attractive than a 1951 Smith-Corona Silent! Not to mention how it's superior to the US-made machines of that time.
Nice looking machine. Indeed the paint works on this one - the other one I liked in this paint was your long gone Corona Comet. Did you take the machine to the shooting range to confirm the statement about the case?
No, although in 2011 I did take a useless broken Quiet-Riter out on the range… ;) http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HCFFlt0jQeo/TdAAxCrOmkI/AAAAAAAAAJc/A0ES5HEjSUs/s1600/Phlsphthght-35-4-11-05-15.jpg
Though most of the damage is actually from throwing it repeatedly into the driveway. Typewriters are just too tough.
Nick, I enjoyed the photos of Mr.Montgomery and his well-organized workshop as much as those of your stunning new Torpedo.One can only hope that an apprentice is in training to pick up when he passes on.
No apprentices are training—in fact, I don't think there are any young people training full time under a typewriter repair person. (I know of at least one person who's in their 40s though) Scott and I were discussing this, and all signs are leading towards in the next 20 years serious collector-users becoming collector-user-mechanics, as self-sufficient as possible in repairing, with the collective mental resources of the typosphere. It is sad to loose the repair shops we have…but unless I'm wrong, there aren't many people ready to take the mantle.
This is true here too, Bill at MTE has a son, but with no interest in being the 4th of the Wahl generations to run the shop. Luckily Bill's young and very fit. He should last a long while.
Nice looking typewriter and a great collection. Truly love Mr. Montgomery's shop. He is one of the few repair shops leftr. I would love to have a shop like that.
So many tools! It was crazy seeing the tools Remington made for working on the Noiseless standard… the designers made it about as difficult as possible to reach certain adjustment points and had to make tools with handles that bend around 270º to get to them!
so many books on his shelf. I wonder if he has factory serial number lists for the brands he dealt? I always look at the pictures of shelves in out-of-state typewriter shops and wonder what gems are hidden in there...
His father was primarily an Underwood dealer, I'm not sure if they sold any other brands in large quantities. He has travelled around a lot though, so I wonder what might be there.
Great chance Nick! I imagine you will return to Mr. Montgomery more often now? His shop looks very neat and tidy for a work environment. Or is it just this picture?
Haha, you guessed. It's quite a messy place actually. An old friend friend would have called it an organized mess, Mr Montgomery can find anything he wants easily, but to a visitor it looks hopelessly confusing. I suppose you might say that my own typewriter workspace looks like that, except I don't have many tools. XD
Sir! what an amazing collection! bless you for keeping them so well preserved. I bought a Torpedo 6, and today i get it from restoration and i'm amazed, they are just beautiful.
I've been pouring over thousands of images of typewriters as part of my research to learn more about these machines since developing an interest in them after the pandemic started. There have been but a few, that based on their looks alone, have truly caught my eye and embedded themselves in my long-term memory based solely on that first impression. One of those typewriters is the Torpedo 18 in the blue over silver variation as seen in the top center of your Torpedo 18 group shots. Learning that its beauty is actually more than skin deep makes this typewriter incredibly desirable.
Well, it looks like you have a real Torpedo addiction on your hands, not to mention an intriguing machine! What person would purchase an American layout machine in Germany? A fleeing German emigrant? A US soldier stationed overseas? A tourist or traveling businessman with a taste for german craftsmanship? Very interesting...
ReplyDeleteThe obsession has been with me for a long time… helped by a stunning array of colors, designs, and typefaces over the years.
DeleteBuying that Torpedo was certainly one of their best decisions in life, I'd say. For the era, the glass keys were archaic, but looking back it's so much more attractive than a 1951 Smith-Corona Silent! Not to mention how it's superior to the US-made machines of that time.
What a great line of typewriters. I envy your chance to meet Mr. Montgomery.
ReplyDeleteIf I could pick one from your collection, that'd be the one! Perfect.
ReplyDelete... from your collection of Torpedos I mean.
DeleteNice looking machine. Indeed the paint works on this one - the other one I liked in this paint was your long gone Corona Comet. Did you take the machine to the shooting range to confirm the statement about the case?
ReplyDeleteNo, although in 2011 I did take a useless broken Quiet-Riter out on the range… ;) http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HCFFlt0jQeo/TdAAxCrOmkI/AAAAAAAAAJc/A0ES5HEjSUs/s1600/Phlsphthght-35-4-11-05-15.jpg
DeleteThough most of the damage is actually from throwing it repeatedly into the driveway. Typewriters are just too tough.
Nick, I enjoyed the photos of Mr.Montgomery and his well-organized workshop as much as those of your stunning new Torpedo.One can only hope that an apprentice is in training to pick up when he passes on.
ReplyDeleteNo apprentices are training—in fact, I don't think there are any young people training full time under a typewriter repair person. (I know of at least one person who's in their 40s though) Scott and I were discussing this, and all signs are leading towards in the next 20 years serious collector-users becoming collector-user-mechanics, as self-sufficient as possible in repairing, with the collective mental resources of the typosphere. It is sad to loose the repair shops we have…but unless I'm wrong, there aren't many people ready to take the mantle.
DeleteThis is true here too, Bill at MTE has a son, but with no interest in being the 4th of the Wahl generations to run the shop. Luckily Bill's young and very fit. He should last a long while.
DeleteNice looking typewriter and a great collection. Truly love Mr. Montgomery's shop. He is one of the few repair shops leftr. I would love to have a shop like that.
ReplyDeleteSo many tools! It was crazy seeing the tools Remington made for working on the Noiseless standard… the designers made it about as difficult as possible to reach certain adjustment points and had to make tools with handles that bend around 270º to get to them!
Deleteso many books on his shelf. I wonder if he has factory serial number lists for the brands he dealt? I always look at the pictures of shelves in out-of-state typewriter shops and wonder what gems are hidden in there...
DeleteHis father was primarily an Underwood dealer, I'm not sure if they sold any other brands in large quantities. He has travelled around a lot though, so I wonder what might be there.
DeleteThis is a very cool post! Isn't he an interesting guy?
ReplyDeleteWe should have a type-out soon.
He is indeed!
DeleteWe should, I've had thoughts of one in Wright, or Fireman's Park, I always love the view from there and how it's a bit out of the way.
Great chance Nick! I imagine you will return to Mr. Montgomery more often now? His shop looks very neat and tidy for a work environment. Or is it just this picture?
ReplyDeleteHaha, you guessed. It's quite a messy place actually. An old friend friend would have called it an organized mess, Mr Montgomery can find anything he wants easily, but to a visitor it looks hopelessly confusing. I suppose you might say that my own typewriter workspace looks like that, except I don't have many tools. XD
DeleteSir! what an amazing collection! bless you for keeping them so well preserved.
ReplyDeleteI bought a Torpedo 6, and today i get it from restoration and i'm amazed, they are just beautiful.
Cheers, nice post!
I've been pouring over thousands of images of typewriters as part of my research to learn more about these machines since developing an interest in them after the pandemic started. There have been but a few, that based on their looks alone, have truly caught my eye and embedded themselves in my long-term memory based solely on that first impression. One of those typewriters is the Torpedo 18 in the blue over silver variation as seen in the top center of your Torpedo 18 group shots. Learning that its beauty is actually more than skin deep makes this typewriter incredibly desirable.
ReplyDelete