Sylvia Plath, author and poet, at her typewriter - photographer unknown to me
Is it a Royal typewriter? Why is it so many photos of people at typewriters show them outdoors — and will there be many pictures of authors at their computers, let alone at their computers outdoors?
Mystery solved? Update December 30, 2011 — looking at the photo of Rob’s Hermes, in comments below, it sure looks to me that Plath’s machine is a Hermes.
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(The Life of Reason, vol. 1: Reason in Common Sense)
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Not late at all. I took the liberty of attaching your photo to your post (now, if I can recall how to resize the photos to fit the column, it would be good . . . )
Walter Cronkite had a Hermes that he used, during World War II, if I recall correctly. It was on display at the Johnson Library in Austin, and I have a bad photo of it somewhere. It was close to yours in design. Cronkite used several different typewriters over the years. I can imagine he’d burn ’em out. But the Hermes looked fine, even having come through the war.
In a few hours, I’ll have another post up on Einstein’s typewriter — or more accurately, his lack of a typewriter.
Thanks for the info, Rob.
P.S. Warehouse 13 claims a completely different machine, but one that would be difficult to lug outside to get the light; O Audacious Book claims yet a third machine, a Royal.
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Still using it indeed Ed (to be honest I’ve not long owned it), and loving every minute of it. Here’s a pic of mine:
(p.s. Sorry for the late reply)
Rob
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Still using it, Rob?
(Maybe we could settle this with a thumb-wrestling match between Rob and bellarminearc . . .)
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To clear up the mystery, Ms. Plath is not typing on a Royal, nor a Lettera 22. I’m 120% certain that it’s a Hermes 2000. I own one you see :).
Warmest
Rob
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Wow! Thanks for the ID!.
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She is typing on an Olivetti Lettera 22.
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Why outside? Lighting.
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