This purchase is for an author signed copy of TYPEWRITERS, Iconic Machines from the Golden Age of Mechanical Writing.  Personalized on request.

Editorial Reviews


"A Love Letter to Vintage Typewriters" - Wall Street Journal


"Whether you're a writer or a collector who loves the vintage character of an old typewriter, you'll appreciate Anthony Casillo's Typewriters: Iconic Machines from the Golden Age of Mechanical Writing, a208-page, 11 x 9-inch book that pays homage to the golden age of the typewriter.  From the first typewriter in 1874 to the iconic electric models of the 1960s, full-color photos and descriptions throughout celebrate the intricate details and historical impact of this machine."  - Romantic Homes Magazine

"...In "Typewriters: Iconic Machines from the Golden Age of Mechanical Writing," typewriter expert and collector Anthony Casillo presents a visual homage to the device that revolutionized correspondence."   - The Florida Times-Union  (Book of the Week)

"The typewriter has made a comeback as a nostalgic object reminiscent of a time before we were connected to computers. Office machine repairman Casillo began to preserve and collect vintage typewriters in the 1970s.  The machines here are from his own collection, and this book is essentially an extension of his website, typewritercollector.com but with excellent images and detailed descriptions of each machine.  A brief essay by actor Tom Hanks, another avid typewriter fan, is followed by the author's story of becoming a collector.  Casillo then provides a concise history of the typewriter, starting with numerous writing machine inventions in the early 19th century through 1990, when IBM sold its typewriter department.  Details articulate the changes and surprising consistencies in design over the decades.  A glossary and bibliography benefit readers new to typewriter history and collecting.

VERDICT: This is sure to delight typewriter lovers and those interested in machine or design history." -- Shannon Marie Robinson, Drexel Univ. Libs., Philadelphia  2018, - Library Journal 




From the Author

There was a time, not long ago, before personal computers, when a small mechanical device was the primary means for creating written documents and correspondence.  It was developed to help people become more productive and was so successful that it dominated desktops in businesses, schools and homes throughout the world for over a century.  It began life as a relatively simple instrument powered by human force and shortly thereafter by electric power.  In its heyday, a global industry existed to support its design, manufacture, sales and service.  It became indispensable as a tool for modern business yet, almost overnight and unceremoniously, it became obsolete and the victim of a new technology, again promising to help people become more productive.   It was called the typewriter and as several generations came to know it as a staple item, another generation has now come of age without ever having used one.  The obituary for the typewriter has been written many times over the past two decades, however, for many reasons; it refuses to give up without a fight.  What you will experience in "TYPEWRITERS" is my story of the golden age of mechanical writing.   Each photo is one of a typewriter that was found, rescued and preserved for prosperity.   All were worthy of investing my time and energy to add to my collection and include in this publication.


This purchase is for an author signed copy of TYPEWRITERS, Iconic Machines from the Golden Age of Mechanical Writing.  Personalized on request.