It seems as though, every other day, someone draws my attention to a new service aimed at reproducing an antiquated service via now-ubiquitous technology. First, I heard about Snail Mail My Email, which promised to generate–at no charge–hand-written letters from senders’ emails. (Full disclosure: I volunteered to write for this project, but backed out when the project head emailed to say that they would need me to provide not only my time and my own supplies, but also pay *all* the postage on my own. It just seemed like a poorly-planned endeavor.)

Then, at the ARCH Snail Mail Social, I was in the process of setting up typewriters and arranging stationery when a gentleman approached me, gazing amusedly at the typewriters. His comments consisted of ideas I’ve been hearing a lot, recently: what was the point of events like these; why did people want to write and typewrite instead of email; and, finally, what did I think of this project he was working on? (I thought, but didn’t say, that ideas like his are ones that wouldn’t appeal to anyone like me. But most people are not like me, after all.)

Then, this morning, Dr. X pointed out a blurb from yesterday’s newspaper. A UK service calling itself Type-O-Matic offers to type, confidentially (and anonymously, if you should so choose), any letter of your choice, on a “vintage mechanical typewriter,” and mail it for you. For a “small fee.” (If you should like to take advantage of this service from the United States, the “small fee” translates to roughly $24, which I do not consider small.)

My first reaction to services and companies like this is “big deal.” The second is “why can’t people just do those things themselves?” And, if I’m being honest, my third reaction is “damn, I wish I’d thought of that.” But I want to understand why these efforts are growing, if not in popularity, in scope. I realize that, just by reading this blog, you are all more like me than not, but maybe you can help me understand.

Are these services useful? Do you, or would you, use them? And do you think they are good in general?

Please, weigh in.

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