VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

D68F400F-44BF-4118-B2AB-858B8BD5FCA7

I wanted to do this post in advance of what I always think of as the new year when all of us say good bye to summer and head back to full time work and the new school year, after our summer breaks (we will leave pumpkin spice everything for another post…it is a season unto itself…I just learned that there will pumpkin spice SPAM……now really!!!!!)

6F67D333-7564-4738-B92A-5C4BB95CAA6D

This strange looking thingie is called a typewriter (I’m obsessed with her hair!!!!)….remember them, no, well let me explain a bit….long before the technological age we live in, they were the devices used to communicate with others using the written word via type…..I know inconceivable but true!!!! Yes, we did get in touch that way for a zillion years….the typewriter, in its first of many guises, was introduced in 1829 in Detroit but it is said to have officially evolved in Milwaukee in 1867….another “tool” that advanced women in the workplace. Progress was fairly quick and many, many different manufactures jumped on board, Royal, Smith-Corona, Oliver, etc. It was one of the reasons women could respectfully enter the workforce.

 

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

I want this, isn’t it stunning….I, by the way, didn’t learn on this particular machine but must admit I did learn to type on a standard keyboard, not an electric. I switched high schools to be able to do two things, art classes and “office” skills, typing and shorthand. I was an excellent typist, still not too bad and I do love technology, (did a lot of thesis papers for Northwestern U students while I was in high school on my portable Royal)….but sucked at shorthand, I could always write faster in long hand…once I proved that, my teacher gave me a pass!!! We had electric typewriters in the classroom, but had to learn manuel first pretty much like a shift car (I also learned to drive a stick shift) with special permits for automatic…yes, pretty much the Stone Age….but I digress! Let’s look at some machines.  You will find many vintage office collectibles at the monthly Randolph Street Market

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

Decoupage….love it!! Notice the ribbon…to be discussed later (the disks on either side of the carriage that round thing at the top..)

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

A decorating idea for a vintage piece…stunning for an office accessory.

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

The two photos above taken by me at Randolph Street Market at Jocelyn Reimann’s The Green Door Booth…always perfectly merchandised and styled.

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

More from The Green Door Booth…a Hermes portable…to die for… perfection mine was similar but a Royal…green, naturally.

A couple of books on the subject, of course….and one by the gentleman who only uses and collects manual typewriters, Tom Hanks!!!! He loves the sound of hitting the keys and has even done an app! Check out his YouTube pieces…they are delightful.

VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

Vintage Office Collectibles

Vintage Office Collectibles

Vintage Office Collectibles

Speaking of keys…..or perhaps do jewelry with finds at RSM….

Vintage Office Collectibles

Vintage Office Collectibles

The aforementioned ribbons….in their decorative tins another collecting thought…

Vintage Office Collectibles

Oh my….look what you can do….

Vintage Office Collectibles

From pencils to…

Vintage Office Collectibles

Staplers to erasers to chalk and rulers, think of vintage in your collecting to add a bit of charm and nostalgia! And guess, what they all work to perfection….who needs new?!

Vintage Office Collectibles

Vintage Office Collectibles

Vintage Office Collectibles

Vintage Office Collectibles

These found in Marci’s Green for Style Booth at RSM, the inspiration for this post.

Vintage Office Collectibles

Vintage Office Collectibles

Two more images found at the Green Door Booth at RSM.

Vintage Office Collectibles

Vintage Office Collectibles

Here is little Nena writing fashion show scripts for her boss!

Vintage Office Collectibles

Today’s technology combined with a “real” keyboard…my dear friend, Barbara Varro, would love this. Vintage meets modernity!

 

FIRST APPEARED ON THE RANDOLPH STREET MARKET BLOG REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

All photos from Pinterest photo credits unknown.

6 thoughts on “VINTAGE OFFICE COLLECTIBLES

  1. Nena August 16, 2019 / 12:29 pm

    Love this post, really fun seeing all those old typewriters and staplers and the vitagum eraser 🤣 Great post as always Nena!!

    • nenasnotes August 16, 2019 / 12:53 pm

      Thanks so much….ran first on the RSM blog last year. It was a fun one to do!!!!!

  2. Abra Wilkin August 16, 2019 / 2:30 pm

    What fun to type down memory lane with all of these vintage machines from our past. Thank you fo providing some history and delightful photos of a writer’s best friend.

    • nenasnotes August 16, 2019 / 5:12 pm

      Thanks Abra, it was fun to write! Glad you enjoyed it.

  3. Dianne Erpenbach August 16, 2019 / 3:33 pm

    Takes me back to classes at Secretary School in Kankakee in 1963! I was the fastest typist and shorthand note taker in my class! Good memories!! Dianne

    • nenasnotes August 16, 2019 / 5:12 pm

      Of course you were…it was a fun time, wasn’t it!!!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.