Not a Type-oh! Last Minute Christmas Gift for the Typewriter Lover in Your Life.
The Gray Sky is the Limit. Bring On Your Creativity.
Outside my window, the sky is a muddy grey, rock salt is sprinkled liberally on the sidewalk, the fir trees outside my window quiver in the breeze. Snow is on the way! Inside my home, a marked-down bouquet of evergreens, white carnations anchored by a festive little Santa decoration, is nestled among baby’s breath in my squarish chartreuse green flower vase.
Counting tonight, it’s six days away from Christmas Eve and lines are forming at the post office across the street for those intent on getting a present under the tree by next Tuesday. I just met a man with a huge cardboard box that he taped a picture of Santa over some old shipping instructions. He was headed to the post office early. Smart guy.
But let’s say you’re not one of those people. You’re delivering gifts in person. Or you thrive on buying Christmas presents last-minute. You thrive under pressure, you delight in keeping the Christmas tree skirt bare until the very eve. You might even thrill in the idea of angering the perfectionists in your life who demand Christmas presents underneath the spruce, balsam or scotch pine days before Christ’s birthday.
I might be one of those people. My dad loved to buy Christmas presents hours before book stores shut down before the holiday. He trolled the aisle finding just the right book for all 10 of us. My late older brother Paul always seemed to attract the self-help books. Me? Anything writing-related.
I’m here to advise you on the best last-minute presents for the typewriter lover in your life. Now the typewriter lover might be one who actually uses his/her machines or it might be someone who simply collects. I’m a little bit of both so here’s my list, from good to great!
Typewriter ribbon tins. These are easily found in antique shops. Some of them are a few dollars. Buy one or two of these. Line them with parchment paper, tissue paper or anything other paper or fabric that’s thin. Fill with candies. Better yet, type your version of Chinese cookies sayings. Make them fun. “You will attend three type-ins in 2025,” “your typewriter is a better friend than a book,” or even “Royals make better lovers.”
White out. I know this item is controversial, because white out-flakes tend to drop to the bottom of the typewriter. But white-out is readily available these days, you can even find it at the local grocery store. I’d welcome it in an aorta beat because that stuff’s not cheap and I would definitely use it. Typewriter purists can ignore this recommendation. Typewriter repairman peeps, I hope you will still be friend; I will give you my business.
Stationery paper. Personally, I love Southworth paper and I believe you can get this at Staples. A box of 500 sheets will last years and the typepal typewriter lover in your life will thank you for this forever. Typewriters tend to perform better (make better imprints) on the thicker paper. In fact, there’s a marked difference between using regular copier paper and thicker cotton papers in a typewriter.
Rubber stamps. You can find these in the thrift store and dollar stores. I’d grab some holiday ones (Christmas, Halloween, Easter) that the writer in your life who loves to type letters might want to use to decorate envelopes. Include an inkpad too, also available at the dollar store.
Book of Forever stamps. These aren’t cheap and the cost keeps going up, up and away like Santa’s sleigh! You might even suggest that your typewriter collector friend type and send you a letter using these. I’d buy a set with a theme that your friend adores: Elvis, famous American writers, nature, state parks, etc. You get the idea.
Staples gift card. I know this is somewhat impersonal, but gift cards are welcome these days. The recipient can use the card to buy pens, paper, envelopes of all sizes, organizer boxes and more. This is very useful for the right person who doesn’t have his/her heart set on a restaurant or Visa gift card.
Gift card for a small business like the local typewriter shop in your ‘hood or Ribbons Unlimited. Your typewriter lover/collector will clap his/her hands in glee with this one and you’ll help a small business this year and next.
Gift card for the local letterpress shop or museum in your area. Your typewriter lover can use it to buy fun, unique cards or a workshop. I really recommend this one for the typewriter collector who goes gaga for all the different typefaces on various machines. A workshop will get him/her into even more typefaces, the kinds you used in a printing press! Bayview Printing in Milwaukee has a regular printing night. People who attend often redeem gift cards given to them for birthdays or Christmas. These tend to be very relaxed. Bring food, wine or beer and a friend. I’ve printed more than a few typing-related posters at Bayview.
A recipe box filled with typed writing inspiration. Another easy one if you’ve got blank index cards, a typewriter and some time. Inspire the writer/typist in your world with “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” — Annie Dillard. “Write a little bit every day — without hope and without despair.” — Isak Dineson. “Holding our most sensitive ear to our best voice and following that voice no matter what.” — Ricardo Yanez. You can even write these with a nice fountain pen, smudges are allowed because they make your cards more personal.
A letter opener. These are fantastic for opening envelopes neatly. Extra points if you can find one at the local antique shop embellished with the name of an extinct typewriter shop with an old-fashioned telephone number. I’ve an old letter opener that I don’t even know where I got it from, but I also use a feather quill with very sharp point from my late brother Mike to slice open envelopes.
That’s it, typewriter friends. Got additional ideas? Leave them in the comments.
