Finally, a post that's not about typewriters! I did happen to come across a few nice finds at the flea market in the last two weeks, but that's not for this post.

I've finally found the time to get my doll accessory store opened up and I'm slowly filling it with goodies. Can't tell you how great it feels to finally have something other than crocheting to do.

Anyway a link: www.StarrshineDesigns.etsy.com

And a preview of the fun things I've been putting together:

Fun stuff.

This week's flea market treasure is an Olivetti Lettera 32 made in 1965. I found this little baby in its original case with a cardboard box full of cds on top of it. Of course with my obsession for these things, I recognized the case immediately as belonging to a typewriter and did my usual slow, uninterested mosey over to inspect it. The case was marked $40 and I managed to get it for $20, which is more than I usually pay, but worth it all the same.

That was until I got it home and really began to inspect it. The zipper on the case was broken and it was sticky and reeked of smoke. Pretty gross. You can see above where I cleaned off half the case to show just how dirty it was.

The machine itself was absolutely filthy. And not just inky fingerprints or mildew filthy, this thing looked like it had taken a bath in cooking oil. It was sticky and filmy with a tobacco smoke residue that stank up my whole living room. The guts were covered in pink eraser shavings that were stuck to the strange "old oil" slime and were gumming up the keys.

I guess the photos don't really do a good job of showing the nastiness this thing was steeped in. If you could, imagine the smell of stale cigarettes and old french fries wafting out of its insides. I almost wouldn't be surprised of some idiot used spray cooking oil to lubricate the inner workings.

Well anyway, I've been wanting a Lettera for some time now. I've heard great things about the Olivetti machines. The absolute stankiness was really more of an excuse to focus all of my attention into restoring it. Aside from the dirt and grime, there were a few mechanical issues to it. The bell didn't work (gasp) and the ribbon wouldn't spool properly, plus the slugs were gummed up and the keys stuck. The margins kind of didn't work either. Ugh.

So once I had it apart to clean it and make all those little repairs and adjustments, I figured, what the hell, and gave it a new coat of paint. I don't know if I'll be doing too many more painting projects. It's fun and all, but a small part of me laments the loss of the original paint, even if it was an awful color. ^___^

Now she's orange and beautiful and another lovely addition to my collection.

Well, I need to catalog the newest pieces in my rapidly growing collection. They're starting to take over quite a bit of my bedroom, so it may not be long before I part with a few to make room for new treasures...



Number 11 is a 1939 Underwood Ace that I got at the flea market. I paid $10 for it because it came with the case, but in my early morning excitement (this was the very first booth I stopped at) I didn't bother to do much more than make sure that the keys struck and the carriage moved. While the machine works flawlessly and types so straight you would think you're using a computer, it was absolutely disgusting. I should have haggled a bit more. Ugh. I forgot to take before pictures, but the keys were so mildew encrusted that I resorted to removing the tops of each key and wiping the cardboard inserts clean. The case (the original reason I didn't mind paying $10 for it) has been discarded due to mildew and mold rot. Yuck.

Number 12 is a Remington Noiseless No.5 Streamlined with touch regulator. They made these from 1938 to 1942 and I'm estimating that my serial is going to be a 1940 or 1941. What a stunning little machine! I found it on Etsy, advertised as a 1910 Smith-Corona that was good for "parts, repair, or crafts". I took a huge gamble on it because the wonderfully friendly woman selling it told me that the keys strike but nothing else works. She had another machine in her shop that she had a margin issue with, but she had no clue about it, so I figured maybe, just maybe the carriage lock was on. And anyway, I couldn't let the gorgeous little machine become prey to a key cutter, especially with those brilliant red keytops. I talked her into a lower price and got this gem for $45, including shipping. And, to my delite, the carriage lock indeed was on and this little beauty is now one of my top performing machines. One thing I think is really cool, and you can't see it in the photo, but instead of having a "tab" key, it has a "self-starter" key.

Number 13 is an Underwood Jewell with an attached writing lamp. I can't find any information on the Jewell models except that they have a short-lived Underwood logo. I don't know if the lamp was an Underwood option or something that was added to the machine later in its life. I'm estimating this machine was made in the mid 40's to early 50's, but honestly, I have no clue. The database doesn't have the Jewell model listed. I bought it on Ebay for a little more than I'm proud of, a total of about $60 when you add in shipping. But the lamp works and I think that adds a whole lot of character to this piece. It performs well, too. It's got this great loud clack clack clack that we all love about these manuals. I can really imagine someone in their underwear, hunched over a little metal writing desk, cranking out pages of their screenplay in their LA studio apartment. ^___^

Number 14 is a Smith-Corona Skyriter from 1951. Oh, Smith-Corona, you and your beautiful little workers. This is now my favorite machine to write with. Not only does it work like new (and make a nice, beautiful, dark print with every stoke) but it's also the most compact and lightweight of all my portables. I could take it anywhere! I got it on Ebay for only about $15 plus shipping. Only downside, no tab function. But for anyone who is collecting to use their machines, like I do, you really can't beat the functionality of these 1950's Smith-Coronas.

Number 15 is a 1966 Hermes 3000 that I bought from the original owner at a flea market for $9. Everything I've heard about these machines made me want one so badly and then, almost right after I drooled over another collector's 3000, I happened to find one right here in my area. It came with the original manual and both cleaning brushes along with the top portion of the case. I must say, the tab feature on this machine is impeccable and the margins are so easy to set it's a dream. It even has a little ribbon inside of the paper bail that moves when you change your margin settings so you know at glance where your lines end. Another great perk, the paper goes in straight every single time. Not sure how it does it, but I'm in love. The only thing I have a small issue with is that my Skyriter has completely spoiled me and the 3000's letters don't come out nearly as clean and crisp. I'm sure a little adjusting and cleaning would fix this right up though.

Number 16 is a Brother Charger 11 that was rebranded as a Sears /with correction. I picked it up the same day as the Hermes 3000 for only $7. It was white when I got it and I've been itching to do some customization (you can check out the before and after in a previous post) so I stripped it and painted it lime green and olive. I have no idea when these were made, but a few cursory searches lead me to guess this was made in the 70's or even closer to the 80's. It looks like it was only used for maybe a month before it was locked up in its case. It feels dinky compared to my other portables, like I might break the thing, but it types so clean you would think it was printout.

And Number 17 is an Underwood De Luxe made in 1949. I got it from Ebay for about $23 plus shipping. I just got it today and it needs a bit of cleaning (it's covered in dust inside). Also one of the few machines that I've picked up in a while that needs a new ribbon. I like it though. It's got that 40's and 50's charm that draws me into these machines in the first place. It's not quiet at all and, much like the Jewell, it makes that sharp clack with every keystroke. With a little bit of tlc I think I can make this into really beautiful machine.



And that's it for now. I have another Smith-Corona on its way from Ebay, but I think I'm finished buying them online. Part of the fun of collecting these is getting up early on Sundays and going to the flea market with my family. It's like a treasure hunt every time and when I do find a machine, it almost doesn't matter what brand it is or what it looks like. Anyway, I probably should start to be a little more picky about these things or else they might just take over the house...

Custom Paint

Another trip to the flea market this week earned me two new machines, a 1966 Hermes 3000 and this cute little Brother Charger 11 that was rebranded by Sears as a "Sears /with correction". I haven't been able to look up any information of the production dates of the model, but I'm pretty sure that it's from the mid 70's or closer to the 80's.

I got the little guy for $7 from a really cute older couple who were just really excited that a younger person would even be interested in a typewriter. And really, I'm not normally interested in machines that look like electrics. I generally gravitate toward more antique and vintage looks, but I never pass up a machine at the flea market that works, especially if it's under $10.

I hate correction ribbons. I loathe them. Whoever used this machine before I got my hands on it apparently swore by the correction ribbon (which is not surprising since it was marketed with the correction feature). The entire machine was covered in white flecks and there were a few incoherent sentences typed out on the platen in white lettering. Somewhere along the line, the ribbon had been replaced with a red and black one, so I was saved from having to order one myself.

Despite some surface grime and the crust of flaky correction tape, the machine was pretty clean. And it types great too, a real precision typer. It's white and white is okay and all, but I wanted something little more flashy.

So I decided to take it apart and give it a new look. This was my first attempt at repainting a machine and this particular model made it such a fun experience. I've taken the skin off of my Underwood Ace and it was such a headache that I can't imagine trying to put it back on with a fresh paint job without scratching the hell out of it.

The Charger 11's skin comes apart in 4 pieces: the top cover which simply pulls off, the bottom (which also serves as the back of the case), and the sides. All together I think it was a total of 10 screws. And the casing is metal, which is a huge bonus to me because I'd never paint plastic.

I used Rustoleum spray paint and it took absolutely forever to dry and I'm sure I did it wrong anyway. You definitely can't see the imperfections in the photos, but there are a few minor blemishes. I think it came out amazing for my first attempt, for being impatient and spraying the coats too thick and too soon together, and for painting on a crazy humid day.

It's yard sale and flea market season and now that I've begun to amass a small collection, I thought I'd take a moment to catalog my typewriters here. Mostly it's for my own reference because I have an awful memory...

When I was a kid I wrote stories constantly and my parents bought me a few typewriters to use. My very first one was a Smith Corona Galaxie Twelve that has since been banished to storage or possibly lost. Either way, I don't think I'll ever have it back in my possession.

A few years ago I decided that I wanted to reconnect with that raw imagination I always felt while banging out two-page stories on that old Galaxie Twelve. And hence the beginning of an obsession. Each of my machines types well and the bell still works on all of them.



Number one is a Smith Corona Corsair Deluxe from the mid 60's or so. I bought it from a vintage seller on Etsy for $30. I fell in love with the design and the way the case clips on from above. Alas, I paid too much for it (and imagine I paid for shipping too) because it's not a particularly smooth typer. All the same, I was in love with it for all of two weeks before I found number two...



Number two is a Royal Aristocrat made in the 1960's. I went to a local flea market with my parents on my birthday and along the last row of vendors I found this gem hiding under a table. The woman selling it was only asking $5 for it and seemed relieved that I didn't try to haggle her down. It's the cleanest and least used machine I own, just beautiful. I absolutely love the colors and the design, but I was head over heels for it when I tested the keys. It types in cursive font!



Number 3 is a Royal Quiet DeLuxe from around the end of WW2. I found the poor thing in its original case in the attic of a house my brother bought, so this baby was completely free. It's so clean too. It barely looks used. My only complaint is that it hiccups every once in a while and adds an extra space between letters. I haven't had time to service it yet.



Number 4 is a Royal Aristocrat from about 1940. It was gift from my oldest brother and he bought it in its original case at a flea market in Ohio for $10. Without any service at all, it types flawlessly. It has a really great sound to it. I'm thinking it was a French model because it has a ç key.



Number 5 is by far my favorite to write with. It's a Smith-Corona Silent from the 1950's. I picked this one up with its original case at a flea market for $10. It has the easiest keystroke of all my machines, but yet it makes the most satisfying thacka thacka thacka as you type. My other machines have been neglected since I picked this one up. I love it.



Number 6 is a Smith-Corona Skyriter from the 60's. I found it at a flea market with its case for only $1, which makes me regret ever dropping $30 plus shipping for my Corsair Deluxe. Not only is this one a beautiful turquoise, it's cleaner and works much better than the Corsair. I love these compact little portables.



Number 7 is yet another Royal Aristocrat, this one from the mid 50's. It was another flea market find, on the same day as the Skyriter above. It was stashed under the table with the case barely cracked open enough to see inside. I paid $10 for it and found that it came with the original manual and warranty card still stowed away in the case.



Number 8 is (in my opinion) the most beautiful machine I currently own. It's an Underwood Champion from 1941 and I purchased it for $32 on Ebay (shipping included). It's in wonderful condition, with only a few paint defects, but the case was destroyed in shipping and the machine took some mechanical damage on the trip that I was able to fix myself. It appears to be a Spanish/Mexican model because it has an n key and an ñ.



Number 9 was my first desktop machine, a Remington-Rand Super Riter from the 1950's. I can't believe the difference between using a portable and using a desktop. This machine means business. You never have to worry about it moving around on your desk, it's very heavy and sturdy. They keys hit so beautifully too, and the font is a little smaller than I've seen before. I picked this one up at a Goodwill for $5. Out of my entire collection, this is the only one that can type in red and doesn't leave messy black remnants around the letters.



And number 10, one I just picked up yesterday, a Royal HH in Pink from 1956. I had seen pink portables and knew they were somewhat rare, so I figured a pink desktop could be worth my while and I bought it for $39.95 at an antique mall on my way home from a vacation. It was filthy and has some scuffs and a light touch of rust on the back of it, so I was hesitant to buy it. I'm glad I did though, because when I tested the keys I found that it types in Blackletter font. I love the font. I'll need to get a new ribbon before I can do too much with it though.



I hit the flea market once a week or so and I've been going to antique malls more and more often, so my little collection is sure to grow. If I have any information wrong, please feel free to correct me. I'm a beginner collector so I'm sure some of my research may be off.

Thought I would add an update about some of the projects I've been working on and some unexpected blooms.

When I was a little kid, we had an elderly neighbor who had massive peony bushes that grew just on the other side of the fence between our lawns. I remember being so completely fascinated by the buds and the ants that crawled over them that I used to beg to visit Margaret just to get a better view of the plants. I absolutely adore these flowers and I had no idea that the previous owner had planted a bush right in the front yard. Almost as nice of a surprise as the army of daffodils that sprung up in April.

And then there's the rose bush which looked so unruly and sickly when we moved here in September that I was planning to cut it back to nothing. So glad that I gave it a shot and let it bloom to see what it could do. It smells just amazing with these gorgeous pink-toned flowers. Definitely going to have fresh rosehip tea in the fall.

What I'm really proud of right now is my set of raised beds that I threw together last week. They were pretty simple to make and only used 3 2x4x8 boards. The first one was just planted with a flat of spices. I can't get enough fresh basil and cilantro when I'm cooking.

The second bed was seeded with echinacea, chamomile and spearmint with some small sunflowers around the border that I'll transplant very soon. The withered looking bush in the front of the bed is my poor lemon thyme that miraculously came back after spending a winter on the porch step. Looks like it won't be long before it comes back to good health. Planning to use these for some herbal teas to get me through the winter.

I had a bit of an issue with my poor grapes and blueberries and a mixture I slapped together with Dawn dish soap to kill some bugs I had crawling around. I mixed the concentrate too strong and wound up burning the edges of my grape leaves. We haven't had a good rain in about 10 days, so I've been rinsing the plants everyday, hoping to wash off the soap. Don't seem to have hurt the fruits, but I feel pretty dumb about it anyway.

And finally, the reason why I'm so excited about my new blooms and my sprouting chamomile, echinacea, and sunflowers: a natural honeybee hive!! Hard to make out anything in the picture, but this little hive is thriving. I've never found a hive in nature. I think it's so cool.

And that's all for now. :)

It's becoming a trend to see the first line of my new posts starting with "I'm so bad at updating this thing", but it's true. I'm awful at this. Very busy for the next week restocking in time for ACen next weekend, but then I get a glorious month off. It will be a much needed break from making loops every day. Plenty of yard/house work to be done on the new house and not to mention putting in the garden and tending all the adorable little sprouts. I'll be attending AnimeNext June 8, 9 and 10th and then I'll have another glorious break until November when I'll be attending Anime USA and hopefully Nekocon. So to celebrate my free time, I'm going to put the store on a sale for the entire month of May. Look for a flat percentage discount for the entire month, and other promotional offers on random days to free up old stock and introduce new products. Fun fun. I think that about covers it. <3