Tom Hanks visited Berkeley Typewriter on Thursday and spent nearly an hour testing machines before gifting the 90-year-old Bay Area store a rare typewriter from his personal collection. The Oscar-winning actor purchased a 1930s Royal standard typewriter during the visit, and left behind a signed letter accompanying his donation for public display.
Ken Alexander, a technician at Berkeley Typewriter, confirmed Hanks’ visit and described the actor’s expertise. “He tried pretty much everything in the store here, and actually walked away with a 1930s Royal standard typewriter,” Alexander said. “He really liked the touch on it.” Alexander noted that Hanks spent an hour testing all available merchandise before making his selection and demonstrated deep knowledge of typewriter mechanics and history.
In the letter accompanying his gift, Hanks reflected on the significance of donating from his collection. “On one hand, you are taking it off my shelves and out in the greater world,” he wrote. “On the other hand you are giving me more space and less clutter. On the third hand, you just may be giving this miracle of a machine a fuller, newer life of use.” He asked the store to care for the typewriter and expressed hope it would continue operating for another 100 years.
Hanks has built one of the world’s most extensive typewriter collections over more than 30 years, owning over 300 machines. According to Yahoo Entertainment, the actor has been collecting them over 30 years and was involved in efforts to save California Typewriter, another iconic Bay Area shop that ultimately closed in 2020. Hanks’ passion for typewriters extends beyond collecting: he has developed an app called Hanx Writer that emulates the feel and sound of typing on vintage machines, and published a short-story collection titled “Uncommon Type” featuring typewriters as central elements.
The Berkeley visit fits a broader pattern of Hanks supporting typewriter shops and enthusiasts. In 2023, he quietly sent signed typewriters to repair shops across the country, including an Olympia SM4 to Cambridge Typewriter in Arlington, Massachusetts. In September 2025, he fulfilled a two-year-old promise to Portland shop owner Tony Valoppi by mailing him a 1955 German typewriter from his personal collection. More recently, in April 2026, he gifted a 1935 Remington Noiseless 77 manual typewriter to Clickety Clack Typewriters in Rolla, Missouri, accompanied by a handwritten letter.
Hanks has spoken about his love for typewriters, saying they offer unique charm and tactile experience that digital devices cannot replicate. Staff at Berkeley Typewriter noted his positive demeanor during the visit. “He’s got a really positive attitude, just about everything,” Alexander said, adding that Hanks’ assistant brought a Polaroid camera to capture physical photographs while staff took digital images on their phones—a detail reflecting Hanks’ broader affection for analog technology.
Sources
- SFGATE — Detailed account of Hanks’ visit to Berkeley Typewriter, his purchase of the 1930s Royal typewriter, and Ken Alexander’s observations about his expertise and demeanor
- Yahoo Entertainment — Confirmation of the visit, details about the gifted typewriter and signed letter, Hanks’ 30-year collection history, and the full text of his gift letter
- The Art Newspaper — Confirmation that Hanks has been collecting typewriters for more than 50 years and owns over 300 machines
- New York Post — Details about Hanks’ 2025 gift to Portland shop owner Tony Valoppi, a 1955 German typewriter sent after a two-year promise
- KCUR — Information about Hanks’ April 2026 gift of a 1935 Remington Noiseless 77 typewriter to Clickety Clack Typewriters in Rolla, Missouri
- Boston.com — Details about Hanks’ 2023 donation of an Olympia SM4 typewriter to Cambridge Typewriter in Arlington, Massachusetts
