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Typewriters click with history

Steve Soboroff, the investor and civic leader, has a not-so-secret passion for typewriters. As part of his collection, Soboroff ownes this machine once owned by Ernest Hemmingway.

L.A. civic leader Steve Soboroff’s collection includes a typewriter used by Ernest Hemingway.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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In an era of iPads and text-spouting telephones, the ancient, clunky typewriter has become an improbable object of desire. Analog aficionados of all ages are collecting, admiring, fussing over and rhapsodizing about the noisy instruments. See full story

Steve Soboroff's collection includes typewriters used by George Bernard Shaw and John Lennon.

Steve Soboroff’s collection includes typewriters used by George Bernard Shaw and John Lennon.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Keys to history

Steve Soboroff types on a machine once owned by Ernest Hemmingway.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Steve Soboroff bought the typewriter of Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray at an auction.

Steve Soboroff bought the typewriter of Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray at an auction.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Last year, Steve Soboroff bought at government auction the Signature Portable seized from the cabin of Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski.

Last year, Steve Soboroff bought at government auction the Signature Portable seized from the cabin of Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Steve Soboroff contacted Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski in an attempt to learn details about his typewriter.

Steve Soboroff contacted Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski in an attempt to learn details about his typewriter.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Among Steve Soboroff's finds is a movie prop used in the 1973 film "The Way We Were," starring Robert Redford as a novelist and screenwriter and Barbra Streisand as a political firebrand.

Among Steve Soboroff’s finds is a movie prop used in the 1973 film “The Way We Were,” starring Robert Redford as a novelist and screenwriter and Barbra Streisand as a political firebrand.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Steve Soboroff made a cold call to one of Andy Rooney's neighbors for help in acquiring the author's typewriter.

Steve Soboroff made a cold call to one of Andy Rooney’s neighbors for help in acquiring the author’s typewriter.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

This Imperial Good Companion Model T was used by John Lennon to write song lyrics.

This Imperial Good Companion Model T was used by John Lennon to write song lyrics.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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