Tappety tap tap: Fairbanks celebrates the cool comeback of typewriters

That, of course, thrilled event organizers JR Ancheta and John Dougherty, who each brought about 10 typewriters of their own to the event. Their intent was to share their love of these vintage machines with others. A steady stream of visitors checked out all the typewriters during the first-time, two-hour event held in the library’s Active Learning Lab.

Apparently, these kinds of typewriter gatherings are popular in other states.

To make this event happen, Ancheta typed a letter to the director of Fairbanks North Star Borough Libraries, proposing the typewriter event. That instantly garnered some curious attention.

“That’s how it got started here,” he said. “They were interested in the idea, but again, it’s a very very obscure event idea. So finally, I proposed a meeting and I brought three typewriters and let them type. We picked a date and here it is.”

There were 24 typewriters at the event — of all shapes and sizes.

John Dougherty even displayed a super thin typewriter, that measured about 1.7 inches when it was closed. He said he often travels with it.

It was actually Dougherty who first lured Ancheta into the world of typewriters. Dougherty started collecting typewriters after his wedding in 2021. He and his wife-to-be didn’t want a traditional guest book. So he found an old typewriter for $20 at an antique store, repaired it, and guests typed in their names when they arrived for the wedding ceremony.

Ancheta was intrigued by old sewing machines at the time, but it didn’t take Dougherty long to convert him to a new love for typewriters. Now, both collectors own many typewriters (Dougherty owns 17 of them) and they spend time restoring them, and then using them regularly. There were 24 typewriters for visitors to check out at Saturday’s event. The two aficionados often go to coffee shops and type, letting other curious customers try the typewriters while they are there.

Dougherty said he is fascinated by not just typewriters but typefaces and fonts. He has one typewriter that types cursive. Another types giant letters and yet a third type tiny letters.

What are they used for?

“I use them to write letters, journals,” Dougherty said.

Connor Harty even used his typewriter to type his name tag. He got his own typewriter for Christmas last year and brought it with him.

“I always kind of liked old timey things,” he said.

At the typewriter event, he was excited to learn how to use the Tabs and how to move the carriage back to the starting position quickly.

“I’m still learning,” he said.

Here is how typewriters came to be, he told me.

“It was faster,” he said. “Everybody didn’t want to write with their hands. It was very useful.”

People wandered in and out of the room filled with typewriters. Some tried typing for the first time. Others were experienced and recalling their typing skills from years past. One visitor even admitted she was shopping for a typewriter.

“I just can’t use computers,” she said.

At least one person decided to type a poem:

“Can I still do this? Wheee!

Tappety tap tap

Tappety tap tap

Old memories coming back

Typewriters are cool”