Chris Aldrich

@chrisaldrich
1.5K Followers
1.3K Following
1.3K Posts

Educator, reader, inveterate note taker, biomedical engineer (he/him)

#IndieWeb, #education, #ToolsForThought, #NoteTaking, #InformationTheory, #math, #complexity, #journalism, #mnemotechny, #economics, #history, #orality, #anthropology, #OER, #fedi22, #typewriter

Websitehttps://boffosocko.com
Fediverse@[email protected]
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 toot.waleshttps://toot.wales/web/@chrisaldrich
Other Socialhttps://boffosocko.com/about/social-media-accounts-and-links/
Chris AldrichJan 8

On Purchasing Typewriters: Condition is King; Context is Queen

New typewriter enthusiasts will very often post to Reddit, one of the Facebook typewriter groups or other similar fora, something along the lines of: "I spotted this typewriter at an antique store. Good condition to buy?" and include a picture of some generic typewriter.

It bears mentioning and thoroughly understanding that eve

https://boffosocko.com/2026/01/08/on-purchasing-typewriters-condition-is-king-context-is-queen/

On Purchasing Typewriters: Condition is King; Context is Queen | Chris Aldrich

New typewriter enthusiasts will very often post to Reddit, one of the Facebook typewriter groups or other similar fora, something along the lines of: "I spotted this typewriter at an antique store. Good condition to buy?" and include a picture of some generic typewriter. It bears mentioning and thoroughly understanding that even an expert typewriter

BoffoSocko.com
Chris AldrichNov 22
Programming InsiderNov 21
One of the most controversial episodes of any sitcom historically was Maude Findlay’s (Bea Arthur) decision to have an abortion on Norman Lear’s “Maude,” which aired today in 1972. Approximately 30 stations across the country refused to air the episode.
Chris AldrichAug 2, 2025
Douglas SpencerAug 2, 2025

rupturewort

#typewriter

Chris AldrichMay 3, 2025
https://boffosocko.com/2025/05/03/invitation-to-a-type-in-on-may-10-2025/
| Chris Aldrich

BoffoSocko.com
Chris AldrichFeb 1, 2025

As a 50 year old with a 13 year old daughter living in Octavia Butler's neighborhood of Altadena, CA, it was eerie when I re-read The Parable of the Sower last summer. Today following the devastating Eaton Fire, the opening of chapter four just doubles down on the dystopia in which we're living.

https://boffosocko.com/2025/02/01/we-had-a-fire-today-octavia-butler/

| Chris Aldrich

As a 50 year old with a 13 year old daughter living in Octavia Butler's neighborhood of Altadena, CA, it was eerie when I re-read The Parable of the Sower last summer. Today following the devastating Eaton Fire, the opening of chapter four just doubles down on the dystopia in which we're living.

BoffoSocko.com
Chris AldrichJan 23, 2025

I may post on mastodon.social on occasion, but really it's assured to be a cross post of something on my personal website.

Moving forward, you're probably best off following my personal site using Mastodon or other fediverse clients at @[email protected]

Chris AldrichDec 6, 2024

Using the Fold-A-Matic feature of the Remington Standard to Clean, Oil, and Adjust

Today I spent a few hours cleaning, oiling, and adjusting my new (to me) Remington Standard typewriter.

Remington Fold-A-Matic

Fortunately, before I had started I was aware of a possibly little known feature called the Fold-A-Matic. I came across the idea of the Fold-A-Matic while lookin

https://boffosocko.com/2024/12/06/using-the-fold-a-matic-feature-of-the-remington-standard-to-clean-oil-and-adjust/

Using the Fold-A-Matic feature of the Remington Standard to Clean, Oil, and Adjust | Chris Aldrich

Today I spent a few hours cleaning, oiling, and adjusting my new (to me) Remington Standard typewriter. Remington Fold-A-Matic Fortunately, before I had started I was aware of a possibly little known feature called the Fold-A-Matic. I came across the idea of the Fold-A-Matic while looking at other Remington Standards and Super-Riters on the TypewriterDatabase. This

BoffoSocko.com
Chris AldrichNov 13, 2024
Chris AldrichNov 13, 2024
Acquired 100% New Zealand Felted Wool Typewriter Mat by ZOMONETI (Amazon)

MOHOM 17" x 13.5" Wool Pressing Mat 100% New Zealand Felted Wool Ironing Mat Pad Blanket for Quilter, Sewing, Quilting Supplies and Notions

I’ve been looking for a reasonable and inexpensive typewriter mat for a while. There are lots of wool options out there and even some with thin rubber layers to prevent your typewriter from walking across your desk. 

I had appreciated the ones I’ve seen in Gerren Balch’s YouTube repair videos for The HotRod Typewriter Co. which he also uses on his workbench, so I asked him his preference. His reply was these 100% wool ironing pads in 17 x 13.5 x 1/2″ form factor for about $15 on Amazon. He said “it’s soaked up 5 years of everything I do and it still looks like the day I bought it.”

The company has some square 13.5 x 13.5 options, which might be better for smaller portables, but I figured that the slightly larger version for both my workbench as well as for my larger standards would be more flexible. Since the price was half of what I’d seen from other vendors, I jumped on it and bought two: one for my workbench and another for my typing desk.

They’re definitely thick and high-quality. On my noisiest table, they definitely make a difference. They prevent some of the typewriter walking my worst rubber-footed typewriters have, but I’ve also got thin sheets of rug pad gripper that I’ve used before if things get out of hand. 

Chris AldrichNov 13, 2024
Chris AldrichNov 9, 2024

Fine Line Ribbon for your Typewriter Ribbon Needs

I've yet to find a bulk dealer in typewriter ribbon that has a significant website with listings of their offerings and options. (Let's hear it for analog!) Baco Ribbon certainly didn't, so I called a few times and made some orders and pieced together most of what Baco Ribbon & Supply Co. offers.  Fine Line Ribbon also has some excellent bulk offerings and an almost non-existent website. I thought I'd make a similar post with their current offerings so that those who have typewriter […]

https://boffosocko.com/2024/11/08/fine-line-ribbon-for-your-typewriter-ribbon-needs/

Fine Line Ribbon for your Typewriter Ribbon Needs

Fine Line Ribbon has excellent bulk typewriter ribbon offerings and an almost non-existent website, so I thought I'd make a post with their current list.

BoffoSocko.com
Chris AldrichOct 28, 2024
Chris AldrichOct 28, 2024

Restoring a 1950 Royal KMG Typewriter

I spent some time this past week and over the weekend beginning restoration on my 1950 Royal KMG (Keyset Magic Grey) and getting it back "on [its] feet". fixed the grinding carriage formed the bent rear tabulator enclosure stripped down the body and did a full flush/cleaning on interior light oiling repaired disconnected typebars Q and @ by shifting the fulcrum pivot wire repaired issues with the shift keys formed the bar on shift assembly to improve the [...]

https://boffosocko.com/2024/10/27/restoring-a-1950-royal-kmg-typewriter/

Restoring a 1950 Royal KMG Typewriter

I've now got this lovely Royal standard typewriter "on [its] feet".

BoffoSocko.com