California Typewriter -- Full Movie with Tom Hanks

I think this one is a bit over the top.  They are way too interested in the old typewirters.  The artist who destroys the old machines to make robots and sculptures... the "musical group" that plays songs on old typrwriters... all the people who decry modern digital tech, but then create internet pages that save the old typewriter shops.   But hey, who am I to criticize them?  Some readers really liked the New York Times article on the Bremerton Typewriters Company.  And there is a lot of overlap between these typrewriter fanatics and the many shades of  ham radio fanaticism (boatanchor-oligists, I'm looking at you!)  So here (above) is the full movie.  

One personal note:  My paternal grandmother was part of that original typewriter revolution - she remained proud all of her life of hwer ability to use that machine.  She kept her own typewriter in her house all of her life. And she used it. 

There are  a LOT of YouTube videos about old typewriters and workshops that service them.  Here is one about the last typewriter shop in Melbourne, Australia: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxx6ZutCU5w

 

A Great Story about the Benefits of Repairing Old Gear -- The Bremerton Typewriter Company

Listen to this in its audio form.  Maybe follow along with the (type?)written text.  Enjoy the pictures and the videos and -- above all -- the message.  

This wonderful article has a lot to say about the value of repairing -- and knowing how to repair -- old gear.  Not just typewriters, although that is very cool.  But this article also pertains to old boatanchor ham gear, and to the skills needed to homebrew rigs today. And it says a lot about mentorship. 

I really liked this story.

 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/11/20/us/typewriter-repair-seattle-bremerton.html?unlocked_article_code=1.208.N367.53DGZGZ8oPIm&smid=url-share

CuriousMarc (AJ6JV) Goes to a Hamfest

Jean Shepherd once said that all of us at one point come to a cross-roads in our lives -- one road leads to success, the other to ham radio flea markets.  

As I watched this, I realized that CuriousMarc sounds like a ham.   Sure enough, some Googling revealed that his real name is Jean-Marc Verdiell and his ham radio callsign is AJ6JV. 

I knew Marc was one of us when, in the video, he opens up the teletype.  He says that the seller claimed that it still worked.  But Marc comments that he hopes that this is not true, so that they will be able to troubleshoot and fix the device.  FB.  That's the spirit.  

We are really lucky to have someone as successful and creative as Marc in the ranks of ham radio operators.  

Be careful with the high voltage Marc!