Underwood Renovation (working title)
Riley Pittenger
3/6/12
Project Proposal
I am proposing to reconstruct, clean and renovate a 1970’s Underwood typewriter back to working condition. Fixing an outdated machine carries less of a priority in a constantly evolving skill marketplace where the value of software and electronics constantly push old tools and one another into the grave. I propose that a niche market still exists for obsolete technology and its repair stemming from nostalgia, mythos, and artistic functionality.
Researching the process of renovation requires the skill and compliance of subject matter experts in office repair and maintenance. Facilities capable of repairing obsolete technology disappear faster than the technology itself as more upgrades to and from accelerated technological development create ever-changing shifts in demography.
The components of the project are as follows:
- Research
- History-uncovering the history of the specific typewriter and its relation to other machines across production chronology. Additional study into typewriters of notoriety.
- Subject Matter Experts-locating and interacting with a specialist in typewriter repair and function. Additional resource location for the restoration step will also be addressed.
- Niche Market-study and location of communities still using and discussing typewriters. Online and local sources combined with personal investment ideally highlights the remaining market for typewriters
- Restoration
- Location-finding and accessing a facility capable of repairing, cleaning and restoring.
- Refurbishment-learning how to incorporate all previous research and advice of subject matter expert in the reinvigoration of this typewriter.
- Implementation
- Training-familiarizing myself with the necessary skills to maintain and operate successfully the restored typewriter
- Writing-composing and editing three to four page short story or play in true anachronistic typewriter style for tangible submission
First off, I don't know if you thought of this already, but it would be really cool to turn in your final draft of this thing on an actual typewriter-typed copy.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I have a question about is what is your short story going to be about? I think you have some great ideas for writing about the history, process of repair, and operation of a typewriter. That in itself is going to be really interesting, but if you include a story at the end that is unrelated to the subject you're talking about, I think it might end up feeling a little bit forced and confusing. So I would just suggest thinking about how you're going to connect your story with the other parts of your paper in a way that would make sense thematically. Otherwise it might end up like, "Here's the history of the typewriter and my process of restoring it, and here's how I learned to use it. Now here's a story about a dog that went to the park one day." Maybe your paper could be an actual story about someone who loves typewriters, and works on restoring one so he can write stories?
Your idea is very unique. This is a very good thing but also you have to make it relevant to others. A way that you could do this would be thinking about new machines that will make machines we use every day end up like that typewriter. Maybe your short story could be about a machine that was used daily then all of the sudden it gets sent to the dump. I wish I could give you better feed back your topic is interesting i just know nothing about it. Something to keep in mind while you write is that the people that will potentially read your essay do not know much about the type writer.
ReplyDeletei like the nostalgia of the typewriter and the idea. Are you planning on having it represent you in anyway or writers that used typewriters? Is it something that you want to revive in someway for the authenticity of being a writer like those of old? just wondering how you are placing the value of its restoration, because you are a writer and have connection to it. etc.
Delete