Chapter I
Which relates the novel and agreeable adventure that befell Don Neibauer and his good squire.
Once I got the Remington typewriter home, I immediately set out to learn how to clean and maintain it. There are innumerable YouTube tutorials. As always, YouTubers always make things look easy. Want to replace the engine to your vehicle? Follow these steps! The more I watched, and learned the anatomy of typewriters, the more I realized that I was in over my head. Yes, I could buy some mineral spirits and use a toothbrush to clean all of the metal pieces. But to really do a thorough job, I would need to dismantle the typewriter, and to be honest, I didn’t trust that I would be able to successfully reassemble the machine. I kept hearing Johnny 5 screaming in my head, No disassemble! I’ve never been much a DIY-type. I’ll make the call instead of trying to figure out how to fix something myself, especially complicated machinery.
I wasn’t raised to think in terms of DIY. My father made a point of not fixing his own car or remodeling his own house because he wanted to communicate to others (especially his immigrant family) that he could afford to hire someone else instead. Unfortunately, this meant that I didn’t do much tinkering when I was a kid. Instead, I did plenty of manual labor including endless yard work and house cleaning. I developed a strong work ethic, but that only led me to take pride in jobs I knew how to do. Taking apart and cleaning this Remington typewriter is a job I know nothing about. I needed to find someone who knew typewriters inside and out and could get my typewriter in working order for students in time for the first day of school.
Meet Lowell Plum
I found Lowell Plum of Plum’s Repairs through a subreddit for typewriters. He has been repairing typewriters in Longmont, CO for almost 50 years! His shop is located in the basement of his home, and although he only had a handful of reviews, they were all glowing five-star. Longmont is about an hour northwest of where I live. I decided to call Lowell to ask if he knew of other typewriter repair shops closer to me.
It didn’t take long before I realized that I would drive almost anywhere to meet Lowell. He has such a passion for typewriters, and with almost 50 years of experience, I couldn’t imagine taking my typewriter anywhere else. We arranged to meet.
Once again, I persuaded my oldest son accompany me as squire to this adventure. Since he’s eager to log his required driving hours, it did not take much convincing.
Chapter II
Which describes a brief history of Don Neibauer, the condition of which, is related to the site of Plum’s Repairs in Longmont, CO.
My father was raised by first generation German immigrant parents in the small community of Laurel, MT. Growing up, we would often visit my grandparents and I learned from them the satisfaction of working hard and fully completing jobs. They built their modest square home in the early 50s after WWII displaced them from their mother country. Every time we would drive into town, past the railroad tracks, the smell of sulfur hung in the air and always pricked my nostrils. Laurel is a factory town, kept alive by the refinery and railroad. My grandparents’ neighborhood was simple and clean, the streets lined with German-built homes separated by rocky alleys.
As we drove into Longmont, I was immediately struck with its similarities to Laurel. While my grandparents were building their home, in 1950, the population of Longmont was about 8,000, and the economy was based primarily on agriculture. In 2022, the population of Laurel was 7203. Driving into Lowell’s neighborhood felt like stepping into my childhood memories of visiting my grandparents’ house. The suburban streets were modest and manicured. Each home had its own simple mailbox; the open garages were clean and well-kept, just like my grandparents’ house.
Lowell was waiting for us when we pulled in front of his house. My squire carried the typewriter inside as Lowell led us to his basement workshop. When I would visit my grandparents, I remember walking into their humble home, smelling food cooking, and seeing every possession clean and in its own place. Crocheted blankets decorated chairs. Tables and shelves were dustless. The windows were sparkling. The mantle clock that adorned the living room, ticked quietly, immediately forcing time to slow.
So, too, was Lowell Plum’s home. His basement workshop, furnished with a variety of antique typewriters, was spotless. Lowell set the typewriter on his worktable and immediately began examining and tinkering, narrating as we watched dumbfounded.
Chapter III
Regarding the conversation that Don Neibauer had with Lowell Plum, as well as other events worthy of happy memory.
Lowell named each piece he took off the typewriter. My son and I learned about rollers, type wheels, carriage return levers, ribbon reverse buttons, and ribbon spools. He taught us how to properly load a typewriter,always with two pages, and press the keys. Quick pecks like touching hot coals. He diagnosed various grinding noises he heard, explaining everything. I was transfixed! Lowell was definitely the person for this job.
I asked about his origin story. How did you get into typewriters? Lowell recounted almost 50 years worth of machines and clients. He accurately connected specific machines to people, telling us one story about restoring a lady’s typewriter that belonged to her grandfather. When a fire destroyed their home of 25 years, she lost all of her belongings, including her grandfather’s typewriter. Lowell was able to fully restore it.
Lowell explained everything that he would do to get my Remington in working order for my students. He asked about my intentions for the typewriter (as any protector would), and I explained that I planned to set up a typewriting station in my classroom because I wanted my students to experience the percussive nature of typing and reconnect to the mindfulness of writing. He told me that a local Montessori school that teaches typing to middle school students, recently received a typewriter donated by Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks is a huge typewriter enthusiast and on Day 1, students watch California Typewriter, a documentary about typewriters.
In fact, Lowell encouraged the teacher to write to Hanks. Lowell has written to Hanks, inviting him to attend his local typewriter-collector club. He even asked that Hanks sign his 1956 Smith-Corona typewriter. Guess what? He did!
Lowell absolutely loves Tom Hanks. He’s my favorite actor. He has a huge heart! Lowell credits Hanks for single-handedly creating a resurgence in typewriters. Hanks often donates typewriters to local repair shops and has over 250 typewriters in his collection!
It’s a dying art we are in. I have seen a small resurgence of repairs from typewriter collectors since California Typewriter came out.
Lowell Plum
My son and I learned more than we expected. I was expecting to drop off the machine and arrange to pick it up before school starts in the fall. Instead, Lowell taught me how to operate my typewriter and inspired me to go looking for another typewriter for my classroom. I have a feeling that I will be sallying forth again on future adventures!
Chapter IV
In which the elegant deeds of Lowell Plum result in a 30 fifth-graders begging to use a typewriter for the first time.
It only took a couple of days before students started asking me if they could use the typewriter. I found a small roll-top desk at a garage sale, but I overestimated the size of the desk and underestimated the size of the typewriter for our new classroom analog writing station. I have it sitting on a shelf in the rear of my classroom. At least five times a day, students have asked to use it. I’ve modeled Lowell’s typing technique (quick pecks like touching hot coals), and the students have loved it. So far, I’ve had a student type a letter to their mother, a couple of students write knock-knock jokes, and one students typed a free-association paragraph about the thoughts in his head!
My quixotic plan to have an analog writing station is a success, thanks in large part to Mark for donating his mother’s Remington typewriter, and Lowell for fixing it up so that it works like new! I’m grateful to them both. This adventure may be over, but I sense that there may be a Second Part of the Ingenious Teacher Don Neibauer. I’ve heard that a Hermes Rocket or a Smith-Corona Skyriter would look good on that desk.
Have a great week!
—Adrian
Resources
Repairman in Longmont keeps the mystery of typewriters alive and well
This is such a heartwarming article about Lowell and his dedication to the art and craft of using and restoring typewriters.
I may not be much of a DIY person, but this Typewriter 101 Cleaning Guide is clear and straightforward. In fact, if you are interested, I’d check out Sarah’s YouTube Channel: Just My Typewriter.
After Lowell mentioned California Typewriter, I went home, watched the documentary. I highly recommend it! This is a short news story about Hanks and his obsession with typewriter.
Machines of War: The Curious Search for a Nazi Typewriter
One of the last things Lowell showed us was a 1940s typewriter with ᛋᛋ (double lightning bolt) above the number 5 key. He asked us if we knew what that symbol meant. The SS Runic Key was specific to German Typewriters during WWII. Later, I discovered that these machines are rare and worth thousands of dollars!
Part Three of Aurora's Smart Teacher Don Neibauer highlights creative approaches educators can take to inspire students. Like the suspenseful and thrilling atmosphere of https://poppyplaytimechapter3.io Neibauer's approach creates an engaging learning environment that captures students' attention.