Typewriter Set (retired)
Jun 7, 2007 12:31:26 GMT -5
Post by EB Agent J/Goo on Jun 7, 2007 12:31:26 GMT -5
I got this just today as a gift from the wonderful Bonnie (ag2006) for quitting smoking, and I am so delighted I am almost afraid that I can't be objective. I finally concluded that I'd probably be delighted with this even if it weren't a gift, so my gushing is objective.
For those of you who use this as an indicator of what is and isn't about to retire, the set came in a burgundy box (the first in my growing collection of AG boxes, although I seem to recall Kit's hobo outfit came in a burgundy box when I got it last winter, and I threw the box out. But I digress).
The set in the box. The box was slightly crushed and opened (inside of the bigger UPS box) so I was a bit worried that I might have lost pieces, but everything appears in order, according to the catalog info on the site.
The main typewriter portion. I didn't untie the ribbon: I was able to slip it off and back on when I was done reviewing (I have a thing about completion. I'll take it off to play). Like some of my miniature typewriters, I expected the keys to be all one solid piece that makes a noise when you press the entire keyboard, but each "row" is separate, which does a suitable job of creating the illusion of pressing single keys. FYI: I noticed right away there's no 1 or exclamation point on the keyboard. ^_~ At first I was going to complain that the "@" on it isn't accurate, because I could have sworn that didn't appear on typewriters before the '60s, but according to the Wikipedia, the first typewriter to include it was made in 1902. Also, the space bar doesn't work, but you can't win'em all.
Kit's "newspaper" loaded into it. I chose the "IT'S NOT FAIR!" paper pretty much at random to load in. I didn't have any troubles getting it in, although the bar could have been a little tighter so I didn't have to press to feed it in too much.
Because I am one really anal retentive typewriter collector, I actually lined up the striker over the letters on the paper, so when it "types", it looks like it's really going over the line/continuing from where Kit left off (I tried to get a pic of the striker covering the exclamation point). It skips about four letters with each key your press, but you have to be watching really closely to see it, since it takes a suitable (what I believe to be accurate for scale) amount of time to reach the end of the line. And yes, mine makes a very soft and cute "ding!" when it gets to the end of the line. When you carriage return, however, it doesn't move to the next line, just stays on the same line you just typed, but for my purposes (with it so perfectly lined up), I don't mind.
The stationary box (sorry about the blurriness from here on out. My camera batteries were dying and I couldn't preview the pics before I took them). It's white with green diamonds and red spots in the center of the diamonds, all in all very cute and sturdy. There's a red tassel over the top part that you open, and a red piece of ribbon to pull out the drawer.
The tassel and ribbon.
The top part, which contains three of Kit's "newspapers" and several sheets of blank typing paper (I didn't count, because I didn't take the paper out, just the newspapers. I didn't want to untie the ribbon or take out the flower, which is made of plastic, FYI).
The newspapers. They're "The Hard Times News: Thanksgiving Day Edition", "IT'S NOT FAIR!", and "THE HOWARDS ARE COMING!".
The drawer, which has the picture of the Schnozz and the eraser. I had trouble getting the drawer open myself, even with the ribbon to help.
The picture of the Schnozz. Again, it's my camera's fault it's blurry, not the picture itself, which is actually very clear.
The typewriter eraser, with a brush on one end and a roller on the other. The bristles of the brush have a plastic sheath on them that I will leave on until I set up something formally with it, to keep them nice and neat.
And Liz, playing not!Kit (poor girl has no desk yet) to show you the scale compared to AGs. This is a really good quality item, the typewriter itself is made of durable metal, and a must-have for people who are upset about the lack of quality AG items lately. I couldn't be more delighted with this entire set as a whole. A+
For those of you who use this as an indicator of what is and isn't about to retire, the set came in a burgundy box (the first in my growing collection of AG boxes, although I seem to recall Kit's hobo outfit came in a burgundy box when I got it last winter, and I threw the box out. But I digress).
The set in the box. The box was slightly crushed and opened (inside of the bigger UPS box) so I was a bit worried that I might have lost pieces, but everything appears in order, according to the catalog info on the site.
The main typewriter portion. I didn't untie the ribbon: I was able to slip it off and back on when I was done reviewing (I have a thing about completion. I'll take it off to play). Like some of my miniature typewriters, I expected the keys to be all one solid piece that makes a noise when you press the entire keyboard, but each "row" is separate, which does a suitable job of creating the illusion of pressing single keys. FYI: I noticed right away there's no 1 or exclamation point on the keyboard. ^_~ At first I was going to complain that the "@" on it isn't accurate, because I could have sworn that didn't appear on typewriters before the '60s, but according to the Wikipedia, the first typewriter to include it was made in 1902. Also, the space bar doesn't work, but you can't win'em all.
Kit's "newspaper" loaded into it. I chose the "IT'S NOT FAIR!" paper pretty much at random to load in. I didn't have any troubles getting it in, although the bar could have been a little tighter so I didn't have to press to feed it in too much.
Because I am one really anal retentive typewriter collector, I actually lined up the striker over the letters on the paper, so when it "types", it looks like it's really going over the line/continuing from where Kit left off (I tried to get a pic of the striker covering the exclamation point). It skips about four letters with each key your press, but you have to be watching really closely to see it, since it takes a suitable (what I believe to be accurate for scale) amount of time to reach the end of the line. And yes, mine makes a very soft and cute "ding!" when it gets to the end of the line. When you carriage return, however, it doesn't move to the next line, just stays on the same line you just typed, but for my purposes (with it so perfectly lined up), I don't mind.
The stationary box (sorry about the blurriness from here on out. My camera batteries were dying and I couldn't preview the pics before I took them). It's white with green diamonds and red spots in the center of the diamonds, all in all very cute and sturdy. There's a red tassel over the top part that you open, and a red piece of ribbon to pull out the drawer.
The tassel and ribbon.
The top part, which contains three of Kit's "newspapers" and several sheets of blank typing paper (I didn't count, because I didn't take the paper out, just the newspapers. I didn't want to untie the ribbon or take out the flower, which is made of plastic, FYI).
The newspapers. They're "The Hard Times News: Thanksgiving Day Edition", "IT'S NOT FAIR!", and "THE HOWARDS ARE COMING!".
The drawer, which has the picture of the Schnozz and the eraser. I had trouble getting the drawer open myself, even with the ribbon to help.
The picture of the Schnozz. Again, it's my camera's fault it's blurry, not the picture itself, which is actually very clear.
The typewriter eraser, with a brush on one end and a roller on the other. The bristles of the brush have a plastic sheath on them that I will leave on until I set up something formally with it, to keep them nice and neat.
And Liz, playing not!Kit (poor girl has no desk yet) to show you the scale compared to AGs. This is a really good quality item, the typewriter itself is made of durable metal, and a must-have for people who are upset about the lack of quality AG items lately. I couldn't be more delighted with this entire set as a whole. A+