They were all from Santa Monica, California. Inside, the small business owners found typewriters draped in green towels with the logo for Playtone -- a production company founded by Tom Hanks.

MACHINES. IT’S BEEN SAID THAT THE CLACKING OF THE TYPEWRITER IS MUSIC TO A WRITER’S EARS, AND FOR 45 YEARS, BUM BUM BUM BUM. IT’S BEEN TOM FURRIER’S JOB TO MAKE SURE THOSE KEYS STAY IN TUNE.

a tiny shop crammed wall to wall with old typewriters. The customer, Ron Lewis, had brought in a small portable typewriter he bought on eBay. “Oh, it’s a cute little thing. Look at that,” Furrier said ...