Tag: Type Space

2022’s First Adventure

Dear Liza,

You and your Daddy came to visit us last week! And you got here HOURS early. You caught us in our pajamas! Soon, however, I got dressed and you and I were off on an adventure. I showed you my vegetable garden, and you helped me pick up the camellia blooms that fall into my plot.

Then we walked over to Laurelhurst Park. You climbed right up on the big oak tree that fell last year. I had never looked at it from this angle, down in the ravine. It looks very tall!

By the time we wandered back home, everyone had had some breakfast and I had a look at Elephante, your big stufftie. He needs some mending and cleaning.

At lunchtime, we all walked over to Straight from New York Pizza. With the heater on, it was warm enough in the patio to enjoy lunch. It was delicious and just what was needed after your long drive. Grandpa Nelson and your Daddy headed back to the house, while Auntie Bridgett, you and I picked up Elephante and the car, and went to run some errands.

First, we drove to TypeSpace, Tony Valoppi’s shop where he buys, repairs and sells old typewriters. Bridgett found a Triumph from 1966 that has a French keyboard. She was very excited! And while she was checking it out, Tony introduced you to the world of typewriters.

You found one with cursive keys and enjoyed it very much. You got the hang of it quickly, and even wrote a personal paragraph. But we left that one in the shop.

Meanwhile, Bridgett was getting to know her French machine, including how to install the ribbon and adjust the margins.

With the typewriter carefully tucked in the car, we went by Cool Cottons to find some matching fabric for Elephante. You want his tummy fur replaced with a smooth cotton, because you use him as a pillow. We found the fabric and thread, but the sewing will wait for tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Onward to Type Space

Dear Liza,

The final destination of our epic walk was a shop called Type Space, at 2409 SE 49th, just off Division Street. This amazing place, run by Tony Valoppi, has been open for two months.

Tony is a great lover of old typewriters, from the 1905 Fox to the ultra-spiffy IBM Selectrics that terrified me in High School typing class. Anytime you have the chance to learn about something from someone who LOVES it, you should. So we did!

Tony told us all about the first typing machines and their manufacturers, the business intrigue and cut-throat buy outs that affected what typewriters got made and sold.

He took different machines off their shelves to show us the intricate mechanisms, explaining the incremental changes that created what we all think of as a typewriter. My brain was so full!

The space of the shop is very comfortable, with dozens of vintage, working typewriters, a large table, chairs and benches available for typing, chatting, or even working on laptops. Tony wants this space to be used, and makes his more modern machines available to students at nearby Franklin High School for their writing and experimentation.

Typewriter restoration is a hobby that has become a business, which is always the most fun way to make a living. Tony Valoppi is a fascinating, happy, knowledgable person. I am so glad we got to know him. And we will be back.

Love,

Grandma Judy