ABOUT
SO, Typewriter service in the 21st century….
I’m sure you’re probably thinking, “wow, that doesn’t sound like a very secure line of work.” And you know what? Maybe you’re right, but we’re okay with that. Typewriter Chicago is a home for analog lovers dedicated to ensuring that physical media remains accessible to the masses. Though that primarily means the upkeep, restoration, and refurbishing of typewriters, it also includes film cameras and even sometimes tape recorders and calculators!
The journey started officially in 2018 with the repair of a 1951 Smith Corona Silent, and has since grown from an in-home operation to a brick-and-mortar business in the summer of 2024. In those 7 years of typewriter service, hundreds of machines have been painstakingly brought back to life. Machines ranging from the 1880s all the way to the familiar era of 2023. No machine is too old, no machine is to new. There may be some machines that are too gross, but that’s a different category.
So if you want a typewriter, or have a typewriter you want to use, or even just want to hang and chat about antiques and jam on some machines you haven’t tried out before, than this is the perfect spot. Even more perfect if you happen to be in need of accessories like cool ribbons in cool colors, and stickers, and paper. Heck, we’ll sell you pencils or used napkins if that’s what you’re into.
The point is: passion for creativity drives the best of humanity. It only makes sense that you guys get the best tools for the job.
Meet the Team
Lucas: I do stuff.
Charlie: Apprentice Tech
Ellis: Camera Service Tech
Ruby Ribbons: The 8-armed hard-working manager.
Frank: The Temporary Seasonal Employee
About the Owner
My name is Lucas Dul, I’m that guy that fixes typewriters. I’ve often been told that typewriter servicing is an art, and I find that to be an interesting way of looking at things as I have been known to appear artistic. I started this website as www.lucasdul.com (vain, I know right?) a few years back to showcase my photography, as well as the wide variety of other things I do ranging from drawing to stained glass I am exactly the type of person who can’t pick one thing and stick with it. Don’t worry, your typewriter will get finished. I got my first typewriter at 14, it was a Royal 10. Back then, I knew absolutely nothing about typewriters. I like to think I’ve learned a thing or two by now. The typewriter fit neatly into the intersection of writing and mechanical objects, two things I’ve always loved, and from there it went from something niche and cool, to a problem. You can’t have just one potato chip, you can’t just give a mouse a cookie… Since then I have had my hands on countless machines from all over the world. I haven’t had enough of it yet!
My favorite part of the job is the typing. I am a person who appreciates tactile feedback. I love buttons and dials and switches, and I absolutely love the feel of typing. I don’t personally own a large amount of machines (though some would consider more than one a lot), instead I curate only the ones I really enjoy using. It seems I only become more picky as time goes on. I think I have about 6 right now.
The other main question I get is in regards to my logo. As I mentioned previously, I love art! Even digital art, which my best friend has warmed me up to lately. I drew my logo in the “traditional” manner: with a pen and a scrap sheet of paper. I could pretend that it was my intent all along to relate cephalopods and typewriters through ink, but in reality I’m just a big nerd who loves the ocean. My favorite books as a kid had everything to do with the sea and the creatures that inhabited it.
Photo Credit: Kevin Richard
I have relocated most of my webpages that relate to photography as well, so those of you who were frequent visitors may have noticed something missing. I love photography, and I love film. Film gives the artist amazing hands-on control over the final image, and I’ve come to enjoy the process very much! My basement plays host to a small darkroom where I occasionally make black and white prints. Currently, I am rocking the Nikon F3 and the Hasselblad 500cm, the latter of the two I have recently been using to photograph many of my typewriters.
My background in art is also a bit extensive, but the variety of disciplines have lent themselves well to working with old machines. Metal smithing and casting has aided in the fabrication of typewriter parts, and the time I spent learning as well as teaching stained glass has aided in the skills required to fabricated glass components to typewriters as well (keytops, windows, etc).
So that’s me, I love fish, typewriters, film, and art. I also like music (reel to reel anyone? I am very obsessed with Nagras), and fountain pens... Basically I’ll find myself dabbling at literally anything that interests me. I don’t really know where I was going with all this to be honest. Why are you still scrolling?
