Saturday, February 16, 2013

Hello Chief!

Tower Chieftain III (Sears Skyriter)

I finally got to photograph this typer. It was the last addition of 2012. It was a remnant of my California restoration days with the racing Skyriters. I had wanted to refurb a Tower Chieftain to add to the squadron. Took me a while to find one on eBay. Now the problem is I don't have the space, i.e. a garage to do all the work. NYC living is tight and tiny. It's also winter so I don't want the fumes in the apt. This project will have to be put on hold until time suitable...

Say Hello, Chief! For some reason I hear the voice of Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I don't even know if he even says that line in the movie, but I'm imagining.

I did take an inventory of my last years guilty pleasure purchases of typewriters. I totaled 12. Which I guess isn't that bad, considering the addiction. But it also averages one a month, which is totally outrageous for someone who originally just wanted to get one typewriter to write on. There is no denying that I've become a collector now. I'll have to do a full roll call of my collection in another post one day. I just wish I didn't feel as guilty as I do. I know many in the typosphere who find it odd, and maybe one day it will be a guilt-free process for me too, but as it stands, still feeling guilty. :))


This photo may hint to how I will pimp this into a racer if I keep to my original plans by the time I get to it.
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13 comments:

  1. Joe VFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:08 PM

    I really like that last photo, well done. How does the Chieftan type, action-wise? Is he worthy of keeping as a good portable typer?

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    Replies
    1. - a typebarheadFebruary 16, 2013 at 7:47 PM

      Honestly, I haven't tried it out yet. It needs a good cleaning so I just pulled it out to photograph and then back in the box it came in. This may be the first typer I have done this with now that I think about it. Usually I can't wait to test drive them but since this was a project oriented purchase, I didn't do it. Shameful of me. May have to pull it out again but too lazy. :)

      Delete
  2. Bill MFebruary 16, 2013 at 6:02 PM

    Nice looking Chieftain. You sound like many of us. Set out to buy a typewriter and end up having several. In my case I wanted a different one than what I had. In just over a year I have around 30 and I gave several away on top of that. Wife just does not understand why I need so many typewriters and they just keep on multiplying. I fully understand lack of space. We have a very small house.

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  3. teeritzFebruary 16, 2013 at 10:42 PM

    Nice Chieftain. I've been tempted to go for a Tower, since they are basically a rebranded Smith-Corona. And thanks for following my blog, too. I had a look at your profile. Fountain pens, cameras, typewriters. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were me!
    Nice blog layout too.

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    Replies
    1. - a typebarheadFebruary 17, 2013 at 7:38 AM

      It is interesting that many of us are into the same cluster of things. I wonder why.

      Delete
    2. teeritzFebruary 17, 2013 at 5:37 PM

      Everything happens faster these days. I was buying a couple of ice creams and a carton of milk at a petrol (gas) station the other day and, as soon as the dude behind the counter handed me my change, he said "Next!", while I was fumbling with trying to put the change into my wallet and pick up the ice creams and milk. I saw a bumper sticker once that said;"I am not in YOUR hurry." I decided to adopt that philosophy. Fountain pens, film cameras, typewriters and mechanical wristwatches (yep, I got quite a few of those)all hark back to an age when people used to take a little more time with things. Everybody was a little more polite and everything got done a little better.
      Society started going downhill when the microwave oven was invented. That's my take.

      Delete
    3. - a typebarheadFebruary 17, 2013 at 7:17 PM

      That's pretty funny, you and I are pretty similar. I don't own a microwave. :)

      Delete
  4. Richard PFebruary 17, 2013 at 3:16 AM

    Yeah, I've been getting 1-2 typewriters a month for 19 years now and it adds up! No need to feel guilty, though, unless there's a partner whose time/money/space your collection is chewing up.

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    1. - a typebarheadFebruary 17, 2013 at 7:39 AM

      Still working on getting to your zen state of collecting. :))

      Delete
  5. TedFebruary 17, 2013 at 9:51 AM

    Ahh, yes - that should be a nice typer. I have one of those in much rougher shape, missing its backplate that says "Chieftan III". It's my favorite Skyriter-style machine to type on, though. I especially like the carriage return lever and the carrying case that came with these.

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  6. Rob BowkerMarch 1, 2013 at 10:46 AM

    That's strange. In the UK Chieftain would only bring one thing to mind (apart from a tribal elder of course) and that's a tank!

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  7. mcgetApril 9, 2013 at 5:10 AM

    Greetings --as you are in NYC, perhaps you'd like to attend the first Manhattan Type-IN.

    It's set for Sun., 21 April, 1-4 p.m. , at Theatre 80, 80 St. Marks Place in the East Village just off 1st Ave.

    Full details at www.phillytyper.com

    thanks et cheers
    -- Mike McGettigan

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  8. AnonymousMarch 11, 2015 at 12:43 AM

    Hello, I have over 100 typewriters from my great-grandfather, please, let me know if you have any interest at kmn_atanasov at yahoo.com

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete

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