LEGO Ideas has unveiled 21327 Typewriter, the latest set in the fan-driven theme that will launch on June 16.
Typewriters are beloved because of their connection to the written word. ‘There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed,’ Hemingway famously said, romanticising the notion of tapping away on the mechanical devices.
It’s that connection with a time gone by that makes a typewriter worthy of a LEGO set, with 21327 Typewriter inspired by LEGO Masters champion and former Blocks magazine contributor Steve Guinness’s MOC. He got the necessary 10,000 votes on LEGO Ideas and saw his project selected.
‘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,’ said Steve.
Get exclusive insights into the creation of this set in the next issue of Blocks. To get the ultimate LEGO magazine every month – at a discount and earlier than the shops – order a 12-month or 24-month subscription. Direct debit payment options are available too; to find out more get in touch via subs@silverbackpublishing.rocks.
21327 Typewriter
Theme: Ideas
UK Price: £TBC
USA Price: $199.99
Piece count: 2,079
Minifigures: 0
Release date: June 16
The set has been designed to follow the functionality of an actual typewriter. Each time a key is pressed on the model, the carriage will move along. It’s also possible to feed paper into it using the platen roller.
In fact, a special letter is included in the set that can be fed into the machine. Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, third generation owner of the LEGO Group, has written the letter and been photographed to pay homage to a photo that showed Ole Kirk Christiansen with a traditional typewriter.
‘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,’ said LEGO Vice President of Global Marketing Federico Begher. ‘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.’
The set has been added to the LEGO 2021 checklist.