Keith Chambers and His Amazing Hermes 2000

[David Stafford]

Keith scored a Hermes 2000, a Swiss-made typewriter circa 1952. Some historical background:

In 1952, Hermes came out with the 2000 model which was a black, glossy typewriter with ubiquitous round keys. The Hermes model 2000 was considered to be the absolute best of the immediate post-war typewriters, and the best looking. Later iterations of the model 2000 sported the familiar green color that is so reminiscent of the Hermes typewriter line. The predecessor of the famous Hermes 3000 model, the 2000 was a precision instrument that brought together all the very best improvements and features of the Hermes line - lightning margin, automatic tabulator, and touch regulator. The 2000 was smaller, lighter, and had less intricate controls than the next model, the Hermes model 3000.

I can appreciate his enthusiasm because I had a Hermes 3000. Had is a sad verb here. After lugging the thing around well past the point of obsolescence I finally took it to the Goodwill and we parted ways. Subsequently I found out it was worth real money. Financial considerations aside it's easy to see why Keith was gleeful. The typewriter, no longer queen of the mobile Gutenbergs, has evolved a new function: an art making device all its own. Congratulations, Keith and thank you.

[David Stafford]

Yes, mine was green as well. And I remember those modems too though "ping ping" would not be my onomatopoetic translation. I'm not sure I could come up with a good equivalent to tell you the truth but I bet it could be transcribed onto the player piano roll in your Hermes 2000, Keith.

[Keith S. Chambers]

My Hermes 2000 is the groovy light green [ish-blue] color. In gaining custody of the Hermes,"scored" is not the proper verb; "inherited," would be accurate, which makes the machine that much more precious [at least to me]. The Hermes is one of three typewriters in my possession; one is currently in storage [an Underwood], but the two here in the studio [the Hermes 2000 and a Smith Corona "Silent" — not really silent] work just fine. Sorry to hear about David's Hermes 3000 being discarded, definitely the top tier "Mercedes Benz" of typewriters [ain't hindsight a bitch]. I've given away quite a few "printers," including my original mid-eighties dot matrix printer, oy, and do not miss any of them. Although happening upon the back and forth whirring sound of the dot matrix always transports me back to my youth with the printer buzzing along and the ping-ping of the 28k dial-up modem. Funny how quickly that equipment became useless, but my typewriters live on . . . ah, the analog life. Oh, and you're welcome David.

[PATRICIA LANDON]

who knew?

[ion]

"...- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ..."

[David Stafford]

Well put, Mr. Canard.

[Richard Canard]

13.06.17 Dare David Stafford & Keith Chambers,   ..."elegance".... with what I assume is only one finger. SinCelery. Richard C.