Typewriter shop to be history

When he goes to work for the last time next week, many of Dennis Nachtweih's old friends will be there — the Royals, the Underwoods, the Remingtons.

The antique typewriters decorate the walls at Richards Business Machines on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle, giving the place a feel of a museum. And Nachtweih may be the last of his type.

After Wednesday, what is believed to be the last old-fashioned typewriter repair and supply shop in the Seattle area will be history.

"They're just dropping like flies," said Nachtweih, whose business would get a small boost each time a competitor went out of business. There are a few other repair people still out there, but usually working out of their house or a vehicle, he said.

Nachtweih, 68, said arthritis in his fingers and a rent increase have prompted him to retire. And he couldn't find anyone to take over the business, founded in 1950 by Clark Richards and sold to Nachtweih in 1979 when he was an employee there. Younger people either aren't interested in learning the trade or don't even know what a typewriter is, Nachtweih said with a laugh.

"A lot of them say 'What's a typewriter?' The older ones say 'Gee, I used to have a typewriter. In fact I think I still have one in the closet at home.' "

The computer, of course, has made typewriters nearly obsolete. But there still are people who use typewriters, and Nachtweih says he has customers from Alaska to Montana who will ship their electric and manual machines to him for fixing. He often has to improvise, making his own parts or taking them from other typewriters he has stashed in his shop.

Breaking the news of his impending closure to his customers hasn't been easy. The other day, 86-year-old Shirley Rose drove down from Everett to pick up a couple of tape cartridges for her electric typewriter and seemed to distraught when Nachtweih told her that the shop was closing.

"Ohmigosh. I'm sorry to lose you," she said. "I live in Everett and I came way over here because there is no place that has these anymore. Everyone has a computer, which is fine. But I'm just too old to learn it."

Nachtweih told Rose and other customers that he'll still be available to fix their machines and get them ribbons and other supplies, but will be living in Anacortes. And first he's going to spend the winter in Arizona.

He also plans to keep most of the typewriters in his store, although a few are for sale, such as the 1894 Blickensderfer for $299.95 and a Royal DeLuxe with "Touch Control" for $89.95. He'll also keep some of the newer electric typewriters for parts.

But if any typewriter is sold, he wants to make sure it goes to a good home.

"I've had people come in wanting to buy them for the little chrome rings and the first thing I ask them is 'Are you going to use it for a typewriter?' and if they say it's for jewelry, then I'll say they're not for sale. Jewelry is something they can make out of silver or gold."

Bill Kossen: 206-464-2331 or bkossen@seattletimes.com