“Like a jam session for people who like typewriters. You had unions do sit-ins and hippies do be-ins, so I thought, ‘We’ll do a type-in.’”
—Michael McGettigan, 56, bike shop owner who coined the phrase
With attendees from 8 months old to over 80, our Spring type-in was so successful, we’re hosting another one before the end of the year. Bringing your own typewriter(s) and related ephemera is definitely encouraged, but is entirely optional.
Date
Saturday, November 29th, 2025
Time
1:00 – 4:00 PM
Location
Vroman’s Bookstore
695 E Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101
2 blocks West of Lake Avenue, which has both East and Westbound exits off of the 210 Freeway.
We’ll be meeting upstairs on the second floor. Parking available behind the bookstore as well as on surrounding streets. There is a handicapped accessible ramp (from the parking lot in rear) and entrance(s) with an elevator to the second floor as well. (Hint: this is also available for those bringing their collections of standard typewriters.)
What is a Type-in?
Type-ins are community-based, family friendly events at which typewriter enthusiasts share their love for the analog art of putting ink onto paper with mechanical marvels of the late 19th through 20th centuries. To do this they bring one or more manual typewriters and their knowledge and love of the machines to share with the community. New friends share stories, history, repair tips, working methods, and other typewriterly ephemera. Typists of all ages and levels of ability are welcome.
Typewriters optional
We definitely encourage those without their own machines to attend. With some luck and the kindness of new friends, you should be able to try out a variety of machines which are present in an effort to decide what styles and feel you might consider for purchasing one of your own one day (or for the upcoming holidays). Please kindly ask the owners’ permission before trying a machine out. If you’ve got multiple typewriters, feel free to bring an extra for a friend or two. Our current record for the attendee bringing the most typewriters is 6.
Activities during the afternoon
Below is a list of activities we might try based on the interests of the attendees:
- Basic typewriter demonstrations covering: use, maintenance, and repair; how to find/buy typewriters, how to date the year of manufacture of your machine, etc.,
- Type up your letter to Santa
- The holidays are coming, maybe you could type up some holiday cards?
- Speed typing contest
- Writing! (naturally)
- poetry competition
- letter and postcard writing; bring some stationery/envelopes/stamps to write letters to friends & loved ones
- Typing prompts for those who need inspiration for writing
- Typewriter Art – composing visual pictures using ink on paper
- Cadavre Exquis – a dedicated typewriter with paper is set up for participants to compose and write a group story, each taking turns throughout the event at writing one sentence at a time.
- Impromptu lightning talks of 3-5 minutes on topics like “how to buy a typewriter”, “how to get into home typewriter repair”, “how to work a typewriter into your daily writing routine”, “how to join the Typosphere” etc.
- Participants are encouraged to type up their experiences of the event for posting to their personal websites (aka the Typosphere).
- Meet new pen pals to start exchanging letters via typewriter and post
- Selfies with the typewriter mural on the front of the bookstore.
- Typewriter repair advice: Have a broken machine and not sure what’s wrong? Get some advice from the community.
- Show off your typed baseball scorecard from Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. Go Dodgers!
- Bring and share your own ideas… What do you use your typewriter for? (Paul Sheldon, if you’re reading this, you can only bring your Smith-Corona, you CANNOT bring your Royal Ten.)
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Vroman’s Bookstore
Vroman’s Bookstore is a Pasadena institution and SoCal’s oldest indie bookstore since 1894 (almost as old as the invention of the typewriter itself!) While you’re visiting, be sure to check out not only their book selection, but their gifts and cards; the wide array of notebooks, stationery items and their fantastic fountain pen counter; and their children’s section. Downstairs stop by their excellent wine bar or Tepito Coffee Shop which will be open for snacks and beverages throughout the day.
Looking for typewriter-related books as holiday gifts and stocking stuffers while you’re there? Ask for some of the following:
- The Typewriter Revolution: A Typist’s Companion for the 21st Century by Richard Polt (Countryman Press, 2015)
- Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks (Knopf, 2017)
- Olivetti by Allie Millington (Feiwel & Friends, 2024)
- Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (Simon & Schuster, 2003) as well as other follow up books in the series
- Typewriter Beach: A Novel by Meg Waite Clayton (Harper, July 2025)
- Yankees, Typewriters, Scandals, and Cooperstown: A Baseball Memoir by Bill Madden (Triumph, April 2025)
RSVP & Questions
Our meeting space, which is frequently used for author talks and book signings, should be adequate, but please RSVP (with your expected number of typewriters) so we can plan for the appropriate amount of tables and chairs.
Questions? Media queries? Contact: ChrisAldrich@jhu.edu
Is that a Brother in the upper left? It looks interesting. Also the Olivetti and the Clipper. Is that a 48 or 49 QDL Dreyfuss in the upper right? I was thinking about bringing my 48 so if that’s a 49 grey then they could be twinsies.
Yes, a Brother Charger 11. There isn’t an Olivetti here just a couple of SMC 6 series and a Remington Streamliner. I’ve got a variety of both 48 & 49 QDLs including one with Vogue . Assuredly I’ll be bringing a 1950 Royal KMG as the bigger brother.
Syndicated copies:
How many are you able to transport, Chris? Knowing that might influence requests.
Of your suggestions the only one i would consider mandatory is pica AND elite, with possibly an example of the European 11cpi.
Interesting consideration: I was once involved in an automobile museum and a major discussion revolved around where the emphasis should be: the exotic models for their obvious pizazz and dreamy draw for the public vs the more common models that illustrated the everyday experiences of the times that most museum visitors would be able to relate to, that gave them a feel for how their families lived back then. Obviously, I came down on the side of the relatable experiences….
So, if you expect more experienced typewriter aficionados, then the uncommon ones; if more first-timers, then the more regular ones. In either case, though, a mix of vintage (which is probably what people expect) with colorful streamlined ones (they likely actually used newer ones in college), to show a century of “progress”.
Hmmmm, I’m beginning to see your problem 🙂
Have Fun!
If I went to a type-in, I’d love to make myself a sheet with different typefaces. And I’d like to try machines of the same size and age from different manufacturers. Like, an Olympia, a Smith-Corona, an Olivetti and a Hermes, all portables or all standards. To try and get a comparison between manufacturers, if that’s possible. And I’d like to try out very iconic machines, like an Oliver, an Underwood No.5, an Olympia SG1, an Olivetti Valentine. Besides that, I think typewriters are a bit like pipe tobacco. They’re easy to categorise but hard to describe, and their perception is dependent on the user. And they’re absolutely not for everyone, and it’s always the risk that somebody around might find it’s a nuisance.
The ones you have in the photo look like a good mix. Perhaps one even earlier model, and either an Olympia or an Olivetti Studio 44 / Underwood 21, if possible.
I would like variety. A series of typewriters were set up QWERTYFest recently, and I was disappointed that they were almost exclusively manuals from the late 60s to 70s, and most of them felt about the same when used.
I got to attend this Type-In yesterday and it was an incredible afternoon. The sounds of slugs striking paper punctuated throughout Vroman’s two floors. It was great to see so many people discovering & rediscovering the joy of typing. All of the OP’s machines were in constant use throughout the day and the range of models ensured that new typers could try their hands across multiple typing experiences.