Sad to report that we didn’t take any fun typewriter hunting excursions to antique malls in Nevada. I was concerned about the roads between Winnemucca, NV and San Mateo, CA. There are currently 17 active wild fires burning in California. I worried that we might hit road closures in the Sierra. It was a bit smoky in parts, but otherwise the roads were fine—congested with weekend traffic but fine.
We made it to San Francisco, the City of Year Round Wool. I love you, Fog. It was 64° as we crossed the Bay Bridge.
We got to the House Without Parents: Bay Area Edition™ where my son greeted us. We delivered the car and accomplished our primary mission. The old house smelled vaguely of old typewriters – I added a couple more to the aroma:
I felt like I needed some closure to my Typewriters Across America Experience, so I went out walking in the neighborhood to visit some of my old haunts – various thrifts, Goodwill, antique stores. I saw a really cool van, but no typewriters:
I drove down the peninsula to an antique mall that I have been to before and saw some typewriters:
Three out of the five didn’t have a price, so this wasn’t a very informative typewriter safari.
I was restless, so I decided to head up to San Francisco check out an antique and collectibles mall I had heard about.
When Moe closed her shop in San Mateo, she opened a small display at an antiques and colllectibles collective in SF called Stuff.
I took the train up to San Francisco and hiked over:
Stuff
150 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94103
https://www.stuffsf.com/
It’s big: two levels with 17,000 sq ft of display space and 60+ vendors.
I found Moe’s case – a distillation of the pure essence of Mozo’s:
Stuff is full of stuff, and they had typewriters.
The Adler came with the factory control sheet, user manual, cleaning set. Looks like it has an interesting typeface.
Power Return!
I hadn’t meant to buy anything since I was on foot and on the train. I ended up with two. Can you guess which two?
Now I need to drive up to San Francisco to retrieve my loot.
I laughed out loud at the price for that royal de luxe but then I read all the other crazy prices.
LikeLike
Some of the prices are crazy high, but many reasonable considering how high rent and overhead are for small businesses in the Bay Area.
LikeLike
Adler & Alpina?
LikeLike
Yes and Yes!
LikeLike
Also guessing Adler and Alpina
LikeLike
You are so right! I brought those two home.
LikeLike
Mt guess is teh J3 and the Wizard. Adler J3 & J4 typewriters are generally smooth as silk and will rival many others. Brothers are surprisingly good typewriters from Japan.
All those way out of line prices: as bad as Epay.
LikeLike
I did bring the Adler home, but I left the Wizard and took the Alpina. I hadn’t seen a Wizard before, but from what I’ve read they were sold through the Western Auto chain.
LikeLike
oops very bad typing before my morning coffee… My guess is the…
LikeLike
Personally, I would have snapped up the Adler.
LikeLike
And I did just that.
LikeLike
I like that Alpine.
Plenty of smoke on my trip, too.
LikeLike
I love that Alpina – so I brought it home with the Adler.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I wonder about the Corona Flat Top because they are so classy but I am spoiled – I spent $25 for my last Flat Top from an old Vermonter who found it in a storage shed. I’m not sure if I would go $145 – but…it is a good price. Love that two tone Remington but $365 is out of my price range. I am only sure about one of the machines you purchased – the Alpina. They are fantastic, I have one that I also got for $25….I KNOW! I’m lucky! The one you pictured is a beautiful example plus it’s seems broken, which I know you love! I bet you negotiated the price down.
PS – I am sure you did not get the Underwood 5 – way overpriced and impossible to lug around San Francisco!
LikeLike
David – you’re killing me with your Vermont typewriter deals – so lucky. You’ll need to do a safari post on Vermont typewriters.
You are right about the Alpina. I also bought the Adler.
LikeLike
Wowser.. I think the only one that would’ve tempted me at those prices would be the Adler J3 – but then I’m a spoiled brat. 😀
LikeLike
I got the Adler and the Alpina. The Alpina was much pricier than I like them, but it looks like a green robot and I decided to give it a home.
LikeLike
good choices! (:
LikeLike
I’d take the Adler 😀
Also, Alpina?
Great choices!
LikeLike
You are so right. I took the Adler and the Alpina. The Adler looks like it has never been used.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My guess is also the Adler and the Alpina. Are we all right??
LikeLike
You are so right. I brought the Adler and the Alpina home.
LikeLike
Came here to guess Adler and Alpina too. Nice grabs. Love the trip info. Interesting to see the state to state inventory and prices.
LikeLike
Thank you – I am glad I brought the Adler and Alpina home.
LikeLike
I guessed the Adler and Alpina too — the Adler is a great deal, and the typeface is great, as you mentioned. When I saw the Alpina was “as is” I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist that challenge! Plus, those are reputed to be wonderful machines.
LikeLike
The Alpina is just a beautiful monster in person. I can’t wait to clean it up.
LikeLike
Late comment, but some of those prices! Typewriters have gone up – I can understand a 2-tone Remington being pricey, the Underwood is nice, but not /that/ nice.
But the machines ‘ve gone up in the Low Countries too – it may be that Vermont is the remaining spot where they can be had for reasonable amounts 😉
LikeLike
RobertG, understand that this last set was in San Francisco, where an older 1-bathroom house in a modest neighborhood costs $1,600,000. Prices for everything are higher in that kind of environment, so I’d expect typewriters to be most expensive there as well.
LikeLike
yikes! 🙂
LikeLike
That $575 Underwood 5 was nice – maybe these old machines are finally getting the respect they deserve. However, it makes me think I should maybe start a business rehabilitating Underwood 5s that I come across. 🙂
LikeLike