So I got home last night and between cooking and cleaning I took a closer look at the typewriter. It definately needs cleaning, but more importantly I finally noticed that it's missing a large part. That round cylinder that the keys strike against and the paper rolls around. I doubt very much that I'll be able to get that part anywhere so now I'm in the position of trying to make lemonade with lemons.
I did some online research to see what my options are. Thank god for online research and the many places the internet goes. I looked on ebay to see what broken old typewriters were going for. Not bad, I probably could break even or get slightly ahead, but I'd have to mail the thing and it weighs a TON. Not a literal one, but it's definately over 50 pounds and I don't want to pay postage for that.
So I explored my other options. I Googled words like "old typewriter" "parts" and "ideas" and came up with some good options. I saw just the keys of vintage typewriters being ebayed for more than I paid for the whole thing. I was curious as to what someone would want them for so I Googled "typewriter key products" and found some really pretty found art pieces including jewelry. They were asking 4 or more times what I paid for a few keys in a piece of jewelry. In theory, the whole set of keys could bring a small bundle in sales.
So what's the plan? As much as it appeals to my creative side to attempt to make some typewriter key jewelry I think I'm going to ebay just the keys. This way I cover my cost plus the cost of that nasty ticket I got. Then, for future reference, I will be prepared to snap up any other old typewriters and indulge my creative brain in the future.
Lemonade from Lemons. See! It can be done. Now all I need is a screw driver and perhaps a pair of metal snips .......
