John Peralta, the brilliant artist behind Professor Fox’s Fantastic Writing Machine was very kind to answer a few burning questions about his Hammond installation. (edited slightly for clarity)
![](https://hammondtypewriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image-1.jpg)
“I first fell in love with Hammond’s at the home of a friend in Austin who is an avid collector of Hammond’s and Blickensderfer’s. I now own two – this one and another multiplex in pristine condition. Based on the serial number (107193) the best i could determine this particular Hammond is a multiplex from circa 1913. But you could probably better date it than i can. It came only with a paper label on the back that read: property of john fox, and his address. Through research i learned that he was a professor at Harvard and that he passed away a few years ago.”
“I’ve done quite a few typewriters now, and I’ve collected quite a few over the years. I’m drawn equally to their beautiful designs and their utilitarian purpose. They also hold sentimental value for me, which is why i believe my clients are drawn to them as well. It amazes me that there were so many ingenious innovations over the years, like the various different keyboard configurations, from a multitude of manufacturers. Yet only a few survived past the advent of the computer.”
![](https://hammondtypewriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image-3.jpg)
John first became interested in the exploded view in 2005, while living in Asia. He “came across an exploded diagram of a bicycle on the back of a magazine” and “was inspired by its fragile beauty, and imagined a three-dimensional version with a physical object.” He continued “I went home and rifled through my desk and found an old pocket watch. That was to be my very first piece. Using only a ruler and simple tools, which i still use today, i developed my own techniques for suspension for exposing the inner workings of these humble machines.”
How do you choose your sculptures?
“The subjects I choose for my sculptures, like typewriters and sewing machines, are typically icons of utility and invention. I also like to think they hold memories we’ve long forgotten. They’ve watched generations pass; recorded every scene, love letter, and document. Each image, word, and note is permanently imprinted on them.”
![](https://hammondtypewriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image-5.jpg)
What process do you follow and how long did Professor Fox’s Hammond take?
“My process involves close examination of the object to understand how it works and how i want to display it. I do as much research online as possible. It’s always helpful if there is any ephemera included, it can be helpful with recreating a provenance or building a story. I then disassemble the object and clean it. I do some repair and restoration only as really necessary. I like to preserve much of the wear as it represents the “memories” of the previous owner. I lay out the components on my work bench it the configuration i want to display it and take measurements for the framing. I then construct the display frame or case in steel, wood, or other materials. And finally begin the work of suspending the pieces. There’s a lot of decision making at every point in the process. The whole project typically takes 300-400 hours from start to finish, depending on the piece.”
John’s next pieces are “the electric guitar Robby Krieger played on the doors’ first album, and a post WWII submarine periscope.”
Currently his work is on display in galleries in Los Angeles, Austin, Dallas, Strasbourg, and Aix-en-Provance, France.