In an era dominated by smartphones and cloud computing, the rhythmic clack-clack-ding of typewriters still echoes through American offices. While most businesses have long since upgraded to digital solutions, a surprising number still rely on these mechanical relics for daily operations.
Why Typewriters Refuse to Die
At Marr Office Equipment in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Mike Marr repairs 20-25 typewriters every week. His customers aren’t just nostalgic collectors—they’re law firms, real estate agencies, and even prisons.
- Legibility & Security – Lawyers like John Tomasso of Tomasso & Tomasso use typewriters for checks and legal forms because they produce crisp, unalterable documents. “You can’t hack a typewriter,” he points out.
- Cost Efficiency – A $5 ink ribbon lasts far longer than expensive printer cartridges.
- Tactile Satisfaction – “There’s more of a sense of accomplishment than just letters appearing on a screen,” Tomasso says.
Typewriters in the Wild
- Real Estate – Woody Jarvis of Jarvis Realty in Milwaukee prefers typing contract amendments rather than wasting paper on reprints.
- Prisons – Jim Riegert of Typewriters.com recently sold 12 machines to a prison library (where computers are banned).
- Funeral Homes – Some still use typewriters for death certificates.
The Niche Market Keeping Them Alive
Though IBM exited the typewriter business in the 1990s, new models are still made:
- Royal produces ~20,000 electric and 40,000 mechanical typewriters yearly.
- Enthusiasts like Lisa Floading (owner of 62 typewriters) keep the culture alive at events like Milwaukee’s Qwertyfest.
Why They’ll Stick Around
“Typewriters solve problems computers can’t,” says Paul Lundy, a Seattle-based repairman. Warehouse workers, for example, use them to fill out complex forms that printers struggle with.
While they’ll never reclaim their mid-century dominance, typewriters have carved out a stubborn niche—proving that sometimes, the “obsolete” tool is still the right one.
