You Can Actually Type On This Lego Typewriter

You can’t see typewriters in offices or classrooms anymore, but you may still be astonished by this Lego typewriter.

Powered by Mindstorms EV3 software, this replica typewriter is 100 percent motorized, moving through a hand-cranked mechanism. The device also has some major typewriter details like the round buttons, strikers, roller knob, ribbon spool, paper rest, and carriage return.

Steve Guinness, the designer behind this device, submitted this typewriter to the website of Lego Ideas that encourages its fans to give suggestions for original sets of Lego, which people can vote to determine if the ideas should become real sets. Guinness’s idea was voted 10,000 times, meaning it will proceed to the review stage.

This Lego typewriter moves like a real machine, but you cannot add real ink to type on a piece of paper. So it’s just for display, not writing.

According to the designer’s description on the Lego Ideas page, he came up with the idea while he was on the TV show “Lego Masters” in the United Kingdom. He has since continued to refine his design by replacing the previous power functions motor with a hand-cranked mechanism.

Guinness added that he thought it indicates the Lego brick’s versatility, and it would look great on anyone’s desks, not just those of Lego fans, no matter if you put it at work or at home.

In the review stage, the Lego typewriter will be examined by a board that includes product managers, Lego designers, as well as other core team members.

Then, the team will build concept models to determine whether the design can turn into a Lego product under certain standards like safety, playability, and it has to fit the company brand as well.