Devoted to technical writing and technical writers

In certain nooks and crannies one finds a veritable treasure of memorabilia…..things that remind one of a lost childhood or happier memories when time and things moved much more slowly. In one such store, I saw a whole collection of Coke bottles of assorted shapes, sizes, and colors. It was a virtual, visual chronicle of the history of the brand.

Surprisingly, I also saw a collection of old typewriters from  the ancient Underwood to the relatively more modern Triumphs and Smith Coronas. There was a smattering of older versions of the IBM electrics and Selectrics. But it was the old Underwood that brought a feeling of nostalgia to this tired warrior. How could I forget learning to type for two semesters, under the vigilant eye and ruler of a martinet professor, using the old Underwood? It was a miracle that many or us actually learned to type at over a hundred words per minute, given such old and noisy machines!

Talk to any old newsman today and he or she will tell you of days spent producing copy with those old Underwoods. I tell you, today’s writers and editors have it so easy with computers and Cut and Paste.

I plan to go back to that store and probably get me an Underwood. Just to remind me of a lost age.