A little reason to celebrate
National Typewriter Day
Hobby · History · June 23
A day for the typewriter, the clacking keyed machine that put letters on paper one strike at a time, and for the people who still use and collect them.
National Typewriter Day falls on Wednesday, June 23, 2027. That is 239 days away.
A typewriter is a machine for writing. Press a key and a metal arm swings up, strikes an inked ribbon, and leaves a letter on the paper behind it. No screen, no battery, no undo.
The experience is physical in a way most writing no longer is. Keys need a firm press. A small bell rings near the end of a line, and the carriage return lever slides the paper back to the left with a satisfying shove. Mistakes stay put unless you reach for correction tape or simply type over them with a row of x's, which has its own honest charm.
People mark the day by pulling an old machine out of a closet or hunting for one at thrift stores and estate sales. Collectors swap tips on cleaning type slugs and finding ribbons that still fit. Some write letters on them, others draft poems, and a few set one up in a public spot and invite strangers to type a line.
If you find a typewriter that seems stuck, it often just needs dust cleared and a fresh ribbon. Many models made decades apart share standard ribbon sizes, so a spool from a stationery shop may fit a machine older than the shop itself.
The QWERTY layout on nearly every keyboard today came from typewriters, so most of us have been typing on one in spirit all along.
Ways to celebrate
- Type a short letter on a typewriter and mail it to a friend.
- Look for typewriters at local thrift stores or antique shops.
- Visit a library or museum that displays a vintage typewriter.
- Try writing one page without a delete key, by hand or by machine.
- Share a photo of a family typewriter and its story.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, June 23 |
| 2027 | Wednesday, June 23 |
| 2028 | Friday, June 23 |
| 2029 | Saturday, June 23 |
| 2030 | Sunday, June 23 |
Also on June 23
Categories: Hobby daysHistory days