The worst kind of censorship is the kind that takes place in your own mind before you sit down to a typewriter.

Paddy Chayefsky

As a writer, I have always been fascinated by those old typewriter machines. Here is a list of my collected devices:

1961 Royal Futura 800

I purchased this beautiful Royal Futura 800 from my new best friend, Paul Nixon, at the Austin Typewriter Group Type-in on 3/25/2023. I loved the color and the condition of the machine. This typewriter uses an Elite typeface, so the lettering is smaller, but it would be perfect for writing my novel, Knights of the Valiant Heart. So here’s to happy writing!

1956 Smith Corona Silent Super

I got this Silent Super on 10/07/2022. I purchased it on Facebook. I used it to write my book, The Young Screenwriter’s Guide.

1954 Empire Aristocrat

I got this at the Austin Typewriter Group Type-In event on 1/21/2023. I always wanted an ultra-portable machine to write story treatments or short letters. I’m thrilled with this find! I used this to write two children’s books based on Knights of the Valiant Heart.

196X Smith Corona Corsair 700

I got this as my Christmas 2022 gift from my girlfriend, Alba Peña!

1966 Royal Custom

I was looking for an affordable machine in excellent condition. So I could cherish and use something for writing short movie scripts while I continue doing features with my Mac mini. I saw listed on eBay a Smith-Corona typewriter that was refurbished and repainted. It looked fantastic, but I lost the opportunity to buy it because I hesitated. C’est la vie.

Later that day, I saw this Royal Custom typewriter. I liked the 60’s space age design; the gray color gave it a cool professional look. It belonged at my desk, besides my other writing tools. The seller stated that he refurbished and cleaned the machine. He also added a new ribbon.

I made an offer, and the seller gratefully accepted. We had excellent communication during the transaction. I immediately sent the payment, and the seller wrapped the typewriter and the case in a well-protected box. I got the package a few days later, in October 2018, and boy, did I fall in love with this machine. Everything works great and smoothly!

I loved how easy it was to set the margins and tabs to use the machine for the modern screenwriting format. Later, I started to type some of my scripts, which was an incredible experience. I hope this little machine last for a long time.

People on the outside think there’s something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn’t like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that’s all there is to it.

Harlan Ellison