Photo by Jim Muchlinski Blake Windey pecks on the keyboard on one of his typewriters in his collection

The typewriter is more than just an old machine for Blake Windey of Marshall.

In slightly more than a year, he has assembled a collection of 13 fully functional vintage typewriters. They range in time periods from the 1890s to the 1970s.

He found his first typewriter on Facebook. It was advertised by its original owner, Darlene Timm of Wood Lake. She received the 1963 Smith Corona as a gift from her parents.

The transaction motivated Windey to take an interest in the entire history of typewriters, and to collect a full range of typewriter brands.

“Once I started I fell down the rabbit hole, Windey said. “I learned more about all designs and styles.”

He’s found some of his typewriters locally and purchased others on eBay. Some of them were given to him as gifts. Ones for which he paid have been purchased for about $100 or less.

The collection includes two Smith Coronas, three Coronas, two Remingtons, two Royals, two Underwoods, a Blickensderfer and an Olympia.

His favorites are the 1917 Corona 3 for its portable design and the 1958 Olympia because of its precision and aesthetics.

“The Olympia is rare because it’s cursive,” he said. “I use it when I create documents that need an unusual, formal writing style.”

All 13 typewriters work as they did when they were new. They’ve mostly been purchased in good condition. Windey cleaned them himself by taking them apart and using an air compressor, brushes, mineral spirits, oil and rags.

“They’re made of metal, so they’re easier to work with than modern plastic,” he said. “I usually find lots of eraser shavings. They were well built and made to last.”

He said his most unique typewriter is his oldest, the 1890s Blickensderfer No.7. It was made at a time when several different keyboard designs were vying for public favor in the typewriter industry. His Blickensderfer has a QWERTY (refers to the first six letters on the upper row of the keyboard) keyboard, which became the industry’s standard.

The only thing that’s difficult to do with typewriter repair is to resurface rubber parts. He had two typewriters serviced at Vale Typewriter in the Twin Cities before they closed shop. He’s also worked with a source in New York state by shipping parts back and forth.

The typewriter industry dates back to 1860. The first patented typewriter was manufactured in Milwaukee. The world’s oldest typewriters are often located in typewriter museums, which Windey at some point wants to visit.

He uses his typewriters for a variety of purposes. They include letter writing, thank you notes, sticky notes, check writing and envelope addressing.

“In a world of instant connection and everything electronic, I saw them as a way to bring back creativity and meaning,” Windey said. “They produce something a person can treasure instead of immediately discarding as with an email or text message. A person has to think differently when typing because there’s no delete button.”

He said typewriters also represent a tradition of quality associated with their time periods, one that often doesn’t exist in the 21st century.

“They’re very sturdy machines,” he said. It’s interesting to think that no modern company is likely to create them again. They stand the test of time.”

He also has an antique typewriter desk, one that is built to exactly the right height for an average sized person to sit and type.

He said he’s unlikely to add more typewriters to his collection, unless he finds one that’s so unusual that he can’t turn it down.

“This is probably as big as it’s going to get,” Windey said. “I have about as many typewriters as my wife will let me have.”

He has two other main hobbies, his 1976 Mini Cooper automobile and his accordion. They serve as enjoyale pastimes when he’s not busy with family activities.

“I’m always busy” he said. “Mostly it’s with my car, my typewriters and the kids. With those three things I’m never bored.”

Lyon County Museum Director Jennifer Andries said antique typewriters are widely available. Most local museums have as many as they can handle.

“If we take another typewriter it needs to include a local story,” Andries said. “It makes a difference if it came from a particular business or a public building like the courthouse.”

Lyon County Museum Collections Manager Paul Evenson said typewriters are likely to remain popular as antiques because of the important role they played in society and because of their excellent workmanship.

“They were a great invention,” Evenson said. “They’re an example of traditional workmanship that doesn’t take much maintenance. They last forever.”