When Did You Last Use A Manual Typewriter?

Published November 13, 2014 at 10:44 AM CST

Produced in the early 1900s, the Smith Premier No. 2 typewriter has a double keyboard — capital letters are separate from lowercase letters. It's not a visible typewriter: The keys strike under the carriage, so the typist could not see what he was typing.

“St. Louis on the Air" online producer Erica Smith is oddly excited about typewriters, so we’re letting her run with it.

While Henry Goldkamp told "St. Louis on the Air" listeners about his typewriter-based project and book "What the Hell is St. Louis Thinking?," we asked about your typewriter stories.

I may be a bit biased — I have several manual typewriters at home, including the Smith Premier No. 2 seen here. Each typewriter sees infrequent use (usually around birthdays and holidays). Pounding the keys on a 100-year-old typewriter is much different from pecking on a computer keyboard, and you don't realize how much you use backspace until it's gone.

Here are the typewriter stories and memories you shared with us:

@STLonAir When I was a kid, my mom had an old one. I LOVED IT. But not as much as I loved our fancy electric one.
— Justine Collum (she/her) (@jcollum682) November 12, 2014

@STLonAir Of course! I started with Grandma's old typewriter and then got my own and used it for years!
— Robyn Wright (@RobynsWorld) November 12, 2014

@STLonAir Yes. I had a manual typewriter in grade school. I had timed typing tests in high school.
— Anjanette Smith (@summercayman) November 12, 2014

@STLonAir I asked for a typewriter when I was about four. Grandmother gave me a cool yellow one for Christmas!
— Wendy Todd (@_WendyTodd) November 12, 2014

@STLonAir I'm dating myself but in college I had a portable electric typewriter WITH autocorrect. Yes I really was that cool. :-)
— Hilary Perkins (@HilaryPerkins) November 12, 2014

@STLonAir Yes. High school and college. Took typing class in high school.
— Deborah Johnson (@deborah91473) November 12, 2014

@STLonAir Yes, many times. My father was worked for a typewriter company, when I was a kid.
— Andrew (@CreateAdrew) November 12, 2014

@STLonAir Failed typing in HS but still one the most useful classes I've taken. Have an electric typewriter tucked away in the closet.
— that Death will tremble to take us (@WJohnson68) November 12, 2014

@STLonAir I learned how to type on a manual. To this day I hit my keyboard way harder than necessary.
— James Overholt (@JamesOverholt) November 13, 2014

Share your typewriter experiences in the comments below, or on Facebook.

“St. Louis on the Air” discusses issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and hosted by veteran journalist Don Marsh. Follow us on Twitter: @STLonAir.