Lucas Dul, a 24-year-old typewriter repairman, is at the heart of a unique trend in Chicago. He runs Typewriter Chicago, a shop that specializes in repairing and selling vintage typewriters. Despite the seemingly outdated nature of his business, Dul is thriving with a waiting list of about 80 typewriters in need of repair.
Dul’s passion for typewriters began at a young age when he started tinkering with broken machines to learn how to fix them. Over the years, his skills grew, and he eventually turned his hobby into a business. Now, he not only repairs typewriters but also hosts events like a short-story-writing contest to foster a community of creative thinkers, writers, and artists.
The demand for typewriters has been steadily increasing in recent years, with people looking to disconnect from digital technology and embrace a more straightforward and tactile form of writing. Typewriters offer a sense of productivity and reliability that is often missing in today’s fast-paced digital world. Businesses like Kibbitznest Books, Brews & Blarney have embraced this ethos by providing typewriters for customers to use, creating a nostalgic and sensory experience that harkens back to a time before smartphones and computers dominated our lives.
Lucas Dul’s shop is not only a place for typewriter enthusiasts to get their machines repaired but also a hub for building community and sharing creative endeavors. Through collaborations with other typewriter poets and organizations like the Glass Keys Collective and Poems While You Wait, Dul is helping to cultivate a network of like-minded individuals who appreciate the art of typewriting.
As typewriters continue to gain popularity and attract a new generation of fans, Dul’s shop serves as a beacon for those looking to reconnect with analog technology and embrace a slower, more deliberate form of communication. In a world inundated with digital distractions, the clack of typewriter keys offers a welcome respite, allowing people to focus on their thoughts and create meaningful connections through the written word.