Door Prize Winners

Deep in the sub-basement of Magic Margin HQ our UNIVAC has been running the numbers and has identified the three winners of the 7th Phoenix Type-In Door Prize. We had two lovely typewriters to give away along with a copy of Richard Polt's new book The Typewriter Revolution. So without further ado...the paper tape reads:

The Olympia goes to Cameron!

The Remington goes to Candace!

And the book goes to Sierra!

Congratulations to everyone who won. I will contact the winners personally over the next couple of days. I hope you had fun at the type-in. It was certainly exciting to meet so many new typewriter fans. I want to thank all the kind people at Changing Hands and First Draft. Without their continued support we couldn't have so much fun looking at typewriters.

I'll post some pictures in my next post.

7th Phoenix Type-In

Get ready for the 7th Phoenix Type-In at Changing Hands and First Draft Bookbar in Phoenix! August 20, 1-4pm. Bring a typewriter and digitally detox.

The Desert Types: KJZZ Story

Annika Cline of our local NPR station, KJZZ, recorded a very nice piece about typewriting in Arizona. It's a great read that features one of my students getting her very own first typewriter. You can find it at:

http://kjzz.org/content/222013/new-generation-revives-old-typewriters-helps-keep-mesa-repair-shop-open

This story comes on the heels of the publishing of Richard's new book of which there is a hearty mention of First Draft, Phoenix's local typewriter-friendly venue. If you find yourself in need of a digital detox, grab your typewriter and head on over. Order a drink. Have a chat. Write a draft. Enjoy the nice weather and know that typewriting is alive and well in Phoenix.

Some Thoughts and Thanks About the 6th Phoenix Type-In

If you didn't make it out to the 6th Phoenix Type-In at Changing Hands you missed a great event. There were more people than ever interested in getting behind the keyboard of a typewriter. I thought it was fantastic to meet so many new people and hear their typewriter stories. 

We had a few new events that we never tried. First, was a speed typing competition arranged and organized by Jake Fisher. Jake printed out the typing assignment and really did a lion's share of the work on this event. About 5 people participated and it was a great time. Brian won the competition on his beautiful blue Selectric. He was worried that there might be a Mark Maguiresque asterisk next to his name because of his performance enhancing typewriter. But as the event was all in good fun no one begrudged him his place on the rostrum. Newcomer Rose came in second. Tori came in third. 

Second, we also had some great door prizes; four typewriters donated by Eric and Ted. I'll do a follow-up post with the names of the winners and information on how they can claim their typers.

Chanel 5 was on had to cover some of the event.

It was a lot of fun

I do want to take some time out to thank all the people who made the 6th Phoenix Type-In a success. Changing Hands has been a partner in the planning of this event. They offer the space and are so very supportive of interesting and fun things. We've held type-ins at a number of locations and by-far Changing Hands has been the most accommodating and the most excited to host us. Walt at Changing Hands was a huge help and very supportive. Thanks Cindy and Walt. I also must thank the Rt. Rev. T. Munk. I met Ted at the first Phoenix Typewriter Round-Up and Type-In at Hulu's and he was an early supporter of the Phoenix typewriter scene. If you haven't found his blog or the new, improved, and vastly better Typewriter Database you are missing out on some great internet. Go there now. Eric Jaros was kind enough to offer typewriters for the raffle. Bill Wahl was there for the first type-in and I am happy to count him as a friend. Bill spreads the word about all the type-ins to his customers and I think that more than half of the attendees knew about it from him. Thanks Bill

One final note. I didn't take nearly enough photos, but I'll include the few that made it to my Instagram feed. If you would like to follow you can find me at @tryanpa 

Type-In Today!

Today (May 23rd), from 1-4, is the 6th Phoenix Type-In at Changing Hands on Camelback Rd. Come by and enjoy some beautiful typewriters.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.magicmargin.net/2015/05/the-countdown-to-type-in-and-type-in.html

and here:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/the-6th-annual-phoenix-type-in-celebrates-typewriters-at-changing-hands-7343100

We plan on having some great things this year including:

• A typewriter clinic with Bill Wahl from the Mesa Typewriter Exchange. Bill will be on-hand to give his professional opinion about your typewriter.

• Jake Fischer, the typewriter wunderkind, will be holding a speed typing competition which may include fabulous prizes.

• A special exhibit of The Typewriters of Mad Men. You can see, in person IBM Selectrics and a small collection of typewriters featured on the show. 

• A chance to win a typewriter. Just put your First Draft receipt in the box and you can win one of three fantastic, beautiful, mid-century typewriters.

The Countdown to the Type-In and Type-In Press

If you were looking to gather with some like-minded typewriter lovers this weekend, you are in luck because the 6th Phoenix Type-In is happening this weekend at First Draft in Changing Hands. From 1-4 you can get a chance to meet typewriter collectors from across the valley, have a refreshing drink from First Draft, possibly win a typewriter, and see some great machines.

The 6th Phoenix Type-In will include:

• A typewriter clinic with Bill Wahl from the Mesa Typewriter Exchange. Bill will be on-hand to give his professional opinion about your typewriter.

• Jake Fischer, the typewriter wunderkind, will be holding a speed typing competition which may include fabulous prizes.

• A special exhibit of The Typewriters of Mad Men. You can see, in person IBM Selectrics and a small collection of typewriters featured on the show. 

• A chance to win a typewriter. Just put your First Draft receipt in the box and you can win one of three fantastic, beautiful, mid-century typewriters.

Please come out! You'll have a lot of fun.

On another note, the 6th Phoenix Type-In was featured in a New Times article. You can find that story here:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/the-6th-annual-phoenix-type-in-celebrates-typewriters-at-changing-hands-7343100

I hope to see you on Saturday!

6th Phoenix Type-In

If you were in the mood to meet like-minded typewriter enthusiasts, this might be your event. So mark your calendar for May 23rd from 1-4 for some spring typing fun.

I would also like to take a moment and recognize our kind sponsors: First Draft at Changing Hands and the Mesa Typewriter Exchange. Without them this event would not be possible.

Type-In Thank You

No doubt you have seen some of the posts about the type in. I think it was a fantastic success and I'll share more tomorrow, but I want to take some time and thank all the people who made this the type-in possible.

First, I would like to thank Cindy, Mira, and everyone who works at the Phoenix Changing Hands. They were encouraging and exceptionally accommodating. We basically took over a large section of their common room and they were ready with a smile, a step ladder, and enthusiastic support. I would also like to offer a special thanks to Amanda and the First Draft crew. They were really digging the typewriter vibe.

Ted Munk, a type-in original, was there with paper and forms in triplicate. He has done so much to help spread the word in the East Valley and do some creative heavy-lifting. Thanks Ted. Eric Jaros, the retro tech titan, brought out cameras, typewriters, and a great spirit. It was wonderful to meet him and he did more than his fair share to make this type-in happen.

Bill Wahl of Mesa Typewriter Exchange provided his free diagnosis of typewriter ailments. He does this out of the kindness of his heart. Thank you Bill for being a type-in supporter.

I also want to thank the old guard: Robert, Brian, Marshall, Alex, and others for coming out and bringing a typewriter. It was also very nice to meet Billie a letter-writing artist. Thanks for coming out.

But I think that a final thanks is due to the incredibly vibrant typewriter community here in Phoenix. I was talking to Eric about it and it amazes me that we have cobbled together such an interesting and diverse group of people who love typewriters. What's even more amazing is that they all live in the Phoenix metro area. You would expect something like that in Portland or Ann Arbor, but not in Phoenix. It makes me smile that Phoenix is a major center for typewriter collecting.

As I wrote, I will share more tomorrow. In the meantime, thanks to everyone who hosted, planned, and attended the type-in.