In Philadelphia, despite the advances in technology, Philly Typewriter is a bustling shop that services typewriters for a variety of clients, including police departments, courts, and title companies. Co-owner Bill Rhoda, a higher education dropout, learned the trade from a typewriter repair specialist and opened the shop in 2017. The community around Philly Typewriter includes poets, artists, writers, and students who appreciate the nostalgia and simplicity of typewriters.
In Midland, Pennsylvania, students at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School are using typewriters under the guidance of their teacher Fred Durbin. Durbin uses typewriters to encourage students to focus on their writing and connect with the art of writing without distractions. Initially resistant, the students have come around to the idea and are now embracing typewriters in their creative projects.
The typewriter resurgence is not limited to schools and repair shops. Artist Sheryl Oring uses typewriters for her art installations, encouraging people to write letters to presidential candidates and advocating against censorship. She believes that typewriters enhance the human connection to creativity and provide a sensory experience that is lacking in digital platforms. Typewriters, she argues, allow for a more personal and preserved connection to our personal histories, unlike emails or texts.
Overall, the typewriter community in Philadelphia and beyond shows a continued appreciation for the analog technology in an increasingly digital world. Typewriters provide a unique and nostalgic experience that captures the attention and creativity of users, leading to a resurgence in their use for artistic expression and communication.
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