Dirjas

Dirjas » collections

British Columbia, Canada

I am a 15 year old typewriter collector. I have several unique pieces collected over the months for not too much money. The crisis also hit this place. Anyway, I am a 15 year old typewriter collector. I have several unique pieces collected over the months for not too much money. The crisis also hit this place. Anyway, this is the story. I have had my grandfather's typewriter for my whole life. It is a 1935 Olympia Elite with dutch keyboard because i am dutch. In 2009 we moved from Holland to here, (Canada) and that is when i started to develop some interest. I found a Ol' Underwood desktop at a junkstore but because i didn't had the feeling of getting it yet i let is stand there. About a week later my aunt came to visit us from Holland. We were walking along the beach here when i said that i wanted to do something. Like make a artpiece or have something special. She agreed with that but there was only a limited time because she had to go back to Holland in a week. I remembered the ol' Underwood in the junkstore. I could remember it was in rough shape. But anyway, she agreed with the plan of starting a restoration. Too bad it was sunday and when we got there the shop was closed. I could see the underwood through the dusty window but there was no way of getting it. A week later, my aunt left the country. I didn't forget the machine for about a week when we went back to school. I had to get my mother to get to the go to the store because it closes a bit early. Earlier then the school closes. So every time when i went there i couldn't get in. On the thursday of that week my mother told me the machine wasn't there anymore so i let the idea go and went on with my life. My granddad's typewriter didn't get much attention. I think i wrote a couple of letters on it in my life but because i was too young in Holland to pay attention to it, it became a decoration piece on the shelf in my bedroom. After about half a year i went to a thriftstore and was looking around when i saw something heavy under a big ripped dust cover and i could see the leaver from the ripped part. I took the cover off and saw this beautiful Underwood Typemaster from '59. It was in great condition. First i thought my dad wouldn't agree with the price since he thought it was going to be a part of the week that i was interested in it and then it would dissapear in the garage. But the price sticker was placed wrong and appearantly it didn't go for $45,- (that was the price for the table) but for $3,-. I turned red out of happyness when i heard it. So i bought it. I didn't know back then that those things were so heavy so that was a suprise. It took 3 people to carry. (By now i can carry them on my own). When i got home i was really happy with the fact that there was a ribbon in there that still worked. (The original ribbon that came with the sale was used but still worked. I bought this machine 1.5 years ago. I still have the ribbon in it and it still works. Crazy how long the go). Anyway, i spend a day just trying it out and became fascinated with it. All the time on the days i am out early i would go to the junkstore to see if there was something there. One day there was a little green portable typewriter. I think it was a 'Colibiri' but i am not sure and a Smith-Corona Electric 250. I am afraid i bought the Smith-c0r0na. I was not knowing back then that manuals are the ones i was looking for. But the 250 worked. Only the "W" was not working well, it was dirty and there was a grinding noise coming out of the motor. It didn't affect the typing but after a while i became more interested in typewriters and more kept coming my way. I have special ones that i collected like a, 1909 Underwood Nr. 2 that i will post soon, a "Remington standart 12" from '25 and way more. One of my machine which was the most expensive i bought was a "Oliver nr. 9". I only have one Oliver. It got to me for $90 which was a good price. It needs repair though, the platen needs to be replaced. There was one on the internet in mint condition with case and cleaning tools for $200,00. I am really sorry to say that i had to let that one go because we didn't had any money. Too bad but it probably got somebody else as owner. That was a bummer though. My collection keeps expending every month. I have a machine that is in mint condition. Some machines in mint condition but this one came in it's original carton box, came with, Suitcase, Paperwork, commercial ads (You know what i mean, if not post a comment.) Cleaning brush And plastic carriage "In-place-holders" Pretty sweet. I am still intent to keep collecting. My collection is placed in my sleeping room since my house is so small. The portables i keep in the closet and the standard-desktops go on shelfs in my room. I wish to thank the people that gave me there machine to me for adoption and for all the wonderfull sellers that sold me these masterpieces. I would like to thank the great produces of these workhorses and first of all my granddad that has passed away a month before 9-11. His machine was also the switch for starting this wonderfull collection. I hope many more come and wish you all collectors good luck with you're collection. I see collecting as a hobby and not as a competition. I hope you guys agree. Thanks, Dirk Plante (Founder of: Dirjas Typewriter collectiong Dirjas Job service 'Started in Holland' -Dirjas Klussenservice- is dutch 2012 (Read more)