Rachel Pierce
MONTPELIER — On the workbench in the back room of 174 River Street, a Smith-Corona Sterling sits stripped down to its skeleton as shop owner James Rea leans over it. Tiny tools of the trade hang in impeccably organized rows on the pegboard wall.
Rea worked in science and sustainability communication for over 30 years, traveling the country helping researchers better explain their work. In 2016, he was tackling a complex writing project and needed to hyper-focus. He had read that some of his favorite authors — historian David McCullough, playwright Sam Shepard, novelist Cormac McCarthy — were typewriter loyalists.
One day, browsing the former antique store on Main Street, he spied one. Something clicked. He took it home, cleaned it, and started hammering away.
“I focused better. I was more creative with my writing. It was a more fun process. I liked the tactile experience, all of it,” he said.
Then the tinkerer took over. Rea plays guitar and enjoys experimenting with amplifiers and other gear. Working on a typewriter struck the same chord. He began combing thrift shops for them. “I never really set out to collect. I wanted to try a bunch, and I wanted to save them from being thrown into the dump,” he said. “To me, they’re sort of like stray puppies. I can’t let that happen.”
He started using a typewriter more often. “They’re magnificent for this intentional, focused, highly creative writing,” he said. “They’re terrible if you’ve ever tried to complete an entire page without a typo.” He would use one for a first draft, allowing the ideas to flow without distraction. When traveling, he brought along his “trusty companion,” a portable Hermes Rocket.
As the typewriters piled up at home, Rea began refurbishing them and selling them at J. Langdon. More recently, he led “type-in” workshops at Magpie and Tiger. People began seeking him out for typewriter advice or repair. He was “getting these very clear signals about the interest out there,” but his day job never left time for it.
Meanwhile, typewriter repair shops in the region began shutting down. Cambridge Typewriter in Arlington, Massachusetts — the last of its kind in greater Boston — closed in March 2025 when its owner retired and no buyer came forward. New England Typewriter in Merrimack, New Hampshire, also closed within the year. Yet interest in typewriters remains high, partially driven by the trend toward all things analog.
The online typewriter community is highly active and continues to grow: the Antique Typewriter Collectors group on Facebook has over 56,000 members. With demand, supply, and a gap in the market, Rea finally devoted himself fully to his craft.
Northeast Typewriter Exchange is open by appointment until its official opening on Aug. 7. Muted jewel-tone walls and functional furnishings give the shop a distinct mid-century modern aesthetic. The front room is Rea’s office, where he completes each sale across a vintage metal desk. The 20-or-so machines on display form a visual typewriter timeline — from an embellished Royal from the 1930s to a sturdy beige electric model from the heyday of the word processor. Rea envisions a lounge in the middle room where customers can test typewriters and talk technique.
Most of the machines are intended to be work pieces, not mere collector’s items. Rea hopes to encourage people to tap into that creative vein, hence the tagline, “Vintage machines for modern creators.”
Because every typewriter has its own story, Rea prices them on a case-by-case basis. Most of the ones on display fall between $200 and $400. He also offers lower-priced “student specials” that are fully functional but may be missing a case or have cosmetic damage. Repair costs are tiered: basic servicing runs $75 and a full four-hour disassembly and cleaning is $225.
Rea also buys typewriters in all conditions, from ready-to-use to broken down — even those with no obvious value can be salvaged for parts. Donate a typewriter and he will service it, sell it, and give half the proceeds to your charity of choice. He also rents them for theater and film productions and special events such as weddings. A typewriter makes a fun guest book where people can hunt and peck their message to the happy couple.
As further evidence that Rea has found his calling: his new landlord, Steve Ribolini, took his first job in 1966 — repairing typewriters.
Northeast Typewriter Exchange is located at 174 River Street, Suite 2 in Montpelier. It is open by appointment through Aug. 6; regular hours begin Aug. 7, Monday through Wednesday by appointment, Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 802-222-0906 or visit northeasttypewriter.com
