GeekSugar

Mad Men and Its Glam Vintage Geek Dream

GeekSugar — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:16:13 PDT

AMC's Mad Men won the outstanding drama series award at last night's Emmy's, and we couldn't agree more. While the show is packed with drama, it's had its retro gadget moments as well. Check out some of our favorite tech from Mad Men over the years.

Photos courtesy of AMC

Do You Own a Typewriter?

CasaSugar — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:30:00 PDT

I just watched the new trailer for the Allen Ginsberg biopic Howl on Buzz, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it. The performances look fantastic, and the script seems engaging. Seeing James Franco writing poems at his typewriter reminded me of how much I used to love playing around with my parents' old IBM Selectric. As frustrating as it was to start from scratch when I needed to edit my writing, or use that very obvious white-out, I did always love the sound of the keys clicking up and down and the distinct impression the ink made on my letter paper. It would be fun to own one again. Do you have one?

Is This USB iPad Typewriter For Sale or Just a Concept?

GeekSugar — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:45:14 PDT

Love your iPad but still nostalgic for the clack-clack-clack of classic typewriter keys? Check out the USB Typewriter, an actual typewriter that is transformed into a keyboard for your iPad. By adding a USB connection and using Apple's camera connection kit, you can use a vintage typewriter to type directly onto your iPad.

Awesome vintage geek concept, but is it actually for sale?

Take the Quiz

Urban Outfitters Gets In on the Vintage Typewriter Trend

GeekSugar — Fri, 14 May 2010 01:47:40 PDT

Lately, Urban Outfitters has been killing it with their vintage geek offerings. From record players to Polaroid-inspired goodies, the retail chain's geeky offerings are usually a delight! (I am getting a little tired of the novelty camera trend, though.)

Of course, I'm loving their latest vintage-inspired product, the Olivetti Manual Typewriter ($140), an old-school typewriter that types old-school typewritten letters without the fuss of maintaining an actual vintage typewriter - though I must admit, they are lovely to look at.

Urban added a few vintage-style phones to their site, too, though they don't get me nearly as excited. I'm in love with this typewriter!

View 5 Photos ›

A Vintage and Modern Mashup From GoingLikeSixty

GeekSugar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:07:39 PST

I was totally stunned into disbelief when I saw this photo of GoingLikeSixty's typewriter and monitor combo. Could she have really rigged the old Royal to type on her computer screen? Well, no, but it was a cool pic (and dream) anyway!

My old record player gets a pretty good workout now that vinyl is back in style, but what about you - do you have some amazing geeky vintage goods you can't get enough of? If so, share it with us by creating a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then join the Vintage Geek Group and share the story. You could end up on GeekSugar!

Author Cormac McCarthy's Typewriter on the Auction Block

GeekSugar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:50:37 PST

Again, I will profess my love for vintage typewriters. They're such a lovely mix of beautiful typeface, simplicity, and vintage geek. Now, a very famous typewriter is going on the auction block.

The machine belongs to Cormac McCarthy, author of The Road (which was recently made into a movie) and No Country For Old Men. He purchased it from a Knoxville, TN pawnshop in 1963. After finding a similar vintage model in better condition (after all, who knows how many words were typed on the vintage Olivetti typewriter), McCarthy agreed to sell it, donating the proceeds to charity.

According to New York auction house Christie's, the typewriter is expected to bring in upwards of $15,000.

And if, like me, you can't stop staring at these retro beauties, take a look at my gallery of vintage typewriters.

Photos courtesy of Christie's

Urban Outfitters Ups the Retro Ante, I'm All In

GeekSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:07:19 PDT

I'm the kind of girl that can appreciate the early days of technology and rock a vinyl record player next to a high-quality sound system. Urban Outfitters isn't the first place you'd think to get your tech fix, but it has been raising the bar when it comes to offering up retro gadgets like record players and old-school typewriters. Two of my favorites, natch. Check out a few of Urban Outfitters' latest offerings in the retro gadget arena below and tell me - do you ever buy your vintage gadgets from the chain store?

Unforgettable Typewriter: Thomas Paul Luddite Laptop Sleeve

GeekSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:05:19 PDT

Remember when I told you how typewriter-motif laptop accessories were all the rage? Hate to say it, but I love to be right, and here's Thomas Paul's new Luddite Laptop Sleeve ($50).

I love the name - Luddite, for those who don't know, means a less than tech-savvy person, in a nutshell. Not that Thomas Paul is: he created one of the cutest note pad/mouse pads ever.

Typewriter Laptop Sleeve: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:42:56 PDT

Since this isn't the first typewriter-printed laptop bag I've seen (that honor goes to this red one), I have to note the delicious irony that's having a moment.

The irony, of course, is that of depicting an old-school typewriter on a vessel that transports a new-school computer. Yes, it seems that you can have it both ways: retro and modern.

This Typewriter Print Laptop Sleeve ($35) from the MoMA Store is cashing in on this juxtaposition, and I can't complain; the cool blue and hot orange look stunning together.

But is it pushing a theme too far, or is the laptop/typewriter thing still a cool pairing?

The Charm Bracelet a Vintage Geek Could Love

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:30:56 PDT

In all honesty, I've never really been a charm-bracelet girl. Even if I had been, I think I've outgrown the years I would have been enthusiastic about collecting the charms, and now I usually see bracelets that reflect a cell phone obsession I'm not comfortable with.

But this Typewriter Charm Bracelet - made of various keys from vintage typewriters - is too cool, and even for me, age appropriate. I would rock it so hard (and what if you could pick the letters? Magic!).

So cool it's sold out for now.

AV Room USB Turntable ($160)	Pay Phone ($90)
Writer's Assistant Cassette Player and Recorder ($40)	ION USB Turntable ($130)
Stylophone Synthesizer ($24)	Corsley Stack-O-Matic Woodgrain Turntable ($198)
Bonox Clock ($18)	Special Edition Polaroid One 600 Classic Camera ($180)
Archive USB Turntable in Wood ($140)	Jenny Phone ($50)
Archive USB Turntable ($140)	Olivetti White Manual Typewriter ($100)