I am now the proud owner of a Soviet-made Moskva portable typewriter.
Moskvas are some of the most enigmatic typewriters on the planet, as not much information about them escaped the iron curtain. But I’m hooked up to some knowledgeable people now, and information is trickling through slowly. I’m still hungry to know anything and everything about this machine, though, so if anyone out there happens to be a Moskva expert, do speak up. Now would be a great time to show off your geekiness.
It’s in the original case and everything… and it’s in fantastic cosmetic condition. See more photos here.
You just ganked the ISO50 blog code to make your site, NO BUENO, big no no in the design world
Er, I have no idea what you’re talking about – I didn’t “gank” any code from anywhere, I write my sites by hand and from scratch. Check the source yourself, be my guest. In fact, you might have checked it before you went throwing accusations around.
The only thing that I took from anywhere was the code for the nested comments, which I took from one of the default WP themes because I hadn’t done nested comments before. And the code sucks, as it turns out – I still need to fix it but haven’t found the time.
But I totally dig your generic myspace link… enjoy your trolling.
You just ganked the ISO50 blog code to make your site, NO BUENO, big no no in the design world
Er, I have no idea what you’re talking about – I didn’t “gank” any code from anywhere, I write my sites by hand and from scratch. Check the source yourself, be my guest. In fact, you might have checked it before you went throwing accusations around.
The only thing that I took from anywhere was the code for the nested comments, which I took from one of the default WP themes because I hadn’t done nested comments before. And the code sucks, as it turns out – I still need to fix it but haven’t found the time.
But I totally dig your generic myspace link… enjoy your trolling.
Hello!
I just bought a Moskva typewriter myself and am having a LOT of trouble finding any information on them. Would you be able to perhaps share any information you did manage to find, or even just the sources you used? I would really appreciate it.
Your typewriter is a real beauty by the way!
Thanks! I finally gave up on trying to learn anything about it… I posted a general question in a few forums, but never got anything back more specific than people saying they thought there wasn't much information.
So it's one of the mysteries of the universe, I'm afraid. 🙂
Hi
from what i can understand these were made by state controlled factories, so distribution was strictly controlled. Having a legal permit to own one of these was rather like having to apply for a gun permit in a country where gun are not allowed! though certain people like writers, poets, were given permits then put under strict surveillance. the USSR authorities were concerned with the translating, reproduction and dissemination within the Soviet public of banned literature – something which did happen. several sheets of carbon paper were used, so output was increased. the NKVD later KGB had a department whose sole task was to record the type head of every letter of very typewriter issued to members of the public. this was a means of tracing the origins of recovered illegal banned literature. magnifying the letters/printed text, fine but unique imperfections were like finger prints, the KGB would then be have the identities of the persons permitted to use the typewriter. your machine looks to be made sometime in the late 1950s early 1960s, used in good condition.i have a Moskva model 4 from the 1930s for sale ?
That is amazing information, thank you so much for commenting, that’s more than I’ve learned in the past three years put together! Thanks again.