LEGO Ideas 21327 Typewriter gives the crowdsourcing theme a new taste of nostalgia. With over 2,000 pieces, the set is a life-size replica of a 20th-century portable typewriter with moving keys. The original Ideas project was designed by Steve Guinness, who wanted to create something that hasn’t been done before. The typewriter has a working mechanism in which the keys can be pressed, making the center typebar rise and the carriage move. Real paper can be fed into the platen roller as an authentic user experience. The 2,079-piece set will be available to buy for LEGO VIP members from June 16 and worldwide from July 1, priced at US $199.99 | CAN $269.99 | UK £179.99.
LEGO Ideas 21327 Typewriter | 2,079 pieces | US $199.99 | CAN $269.99 | UK £179.99
The project Steve submitted achieved the 10,000 votes required for LEGO to consider it on October 21, 2019, taking about 600 days to achieve support from the LEGO community. It was greenlit as a LEGO Ideas project on June 23, 2020. Steve bought a vintage typewriter as research material and the ultimate goal he had was to induce a bit of nostalgia for adult fans and create awareness for the younger generations.
The Typewriter set measures 12 cm (4.7 in) high, 27 cm (10.6 in) wide and 26 cm (10.2 in) long. There’s a signed letter from Thomas Kirk Kristiansen in the set, the chairman of the LEGO Group, that is translated into 43 different languages. Each translation is included so that the set can be displayed with whichever language you prefer.
Here’s the official press release and more images of the set.
THE LEGO GROUP REVEALS ELEGANT NEW TYPEWRITER
SET BASED ON WINNING FAN DESIGN
The LEGO Group has revealed the new LEGO® Ideas Typewriter set which is set to delight the most seasoned wordsmiths and fans of all things vintage. Designed by LEGO fan, Steve Guinness from Chester, UK, as part of the LEGO® Ideas platform, the LEGO Ideas Typewriter is based on a contemporary typewriter model of a bygone era, including the one used by LEGO Group founder Ole Kirk Christiansen.
Intricately designed to mirror the function and tactility of a classic typewriter, the LEGO Ideas Typewriter features a center typebar that rises each time a letter key is pressed, linked to the carriage which moves across as you type, as well as a platen roller that real paper can be fed into.
In a fitting nod to the lost art of letter writing, the premium quality LEGO Typewriter set also comes with a letter written and signed by Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, chairman of the LEGO Group and a fourth-generation member of the family which still privately owns the business to this day.
The original concept for the typewriter came through LEGO fan Steve Guinness’ submission to the LEGO Ideas platform, a LEGO initiative that takes new ideas that have been imagined and voted for by fans and turns them into reality. Discussing his idea, Steve said: “I wanted to create something totally different from anything that LEGO has ever done before and showcase that you really can make anything out of LEGO. I bought a vintage typewriter for my research and then played around with bricks and the mechanism until I was happy with the design. I hope it will bring nostalgia to adult fans like me, and wonder and curiosity to younger fans who might not have ever seen a real typewriter!”
While the concept of the typewriter dates back to the early 18th Century, Steve’s design, and the LEGO design team’s development of it, captures the styling cues of the modern 20th century typewriters, which still have a cult following today.
Federico Begher, VP of Global Marketing at LEGO Group commented: “It’s not hard to see why the vintage typewriter has such enduring appeal, and Steve’s incredible replica is a thoroughly worthy LEGO Ideas success story.
“For many, the escape from the connected world to the simplicity of the typewriter is a similar experience to the mindful process of building with LEGO bricks. Here, we have a LEGO set that combines these two worlds seamlessly and like its real-life counterparts, is something LEGO fans will be proud to display in their homes.”
The LEGO Typewriter is available to buy from 16th June 2021 via LEGO VIP early access and will be on sale on LEGO.com/ideas from 1st July.
I’d love to replace all the green with gold, and recreate Ian Fleming’s typewriter with this set.
At first I was “meh” with this – but then I had a thought….
This might form a good basis for an Enigma machine MOC! I’m intrigued now…
This is pretty impressive and thankfully not another license.
Are those keys printed (probably unlikely, but I can’t tell…)? If so this is going to be in high demand