Check out the machine Tom Hanks sent Passyunk’s Philly Typewriter

If you knew Tom Hanks was a big fan of typewriters, well … that makes one of us.

The actor, who’s spent time in Philadelphia for a handful of roles, including to star in the iconic 1993 film named after the City of Brotherly Love, has quite a collection of typewriters. And he recently sent an autographed Rheinmetall machine to Bryan Kravtiz, Philly’s resident typewriter mechanic.

You might recall Kravitz from his repair shop, Philly Typewriter, on Passyunk Avenue, or from the Philadelphia Public Typewriter Program, in which he was aiming to place 2,000 typewriters around the city. You’ve also probably seen Kravitz at a handful of our Philly Tech Week events over the years (and you’ll get to see him at PTW23, during Signature Event).

In an announcement last week, Kravitz told the community that frequents the shop that Hanks had sent a Rheinmetall typewriter “in beautiful condition.” The machine came with a letter, telling the owner to feel free to repair the device, sell it or keep it on display. Check out the machine here.

“On one hand you are taking off my shelves and out in the greater world,” Hanks wrote in the letter. “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.”

It’s not the first time Kravitz has interacted with Hanks: When the actor was in town for a tour for his 2017-published book, “Uncommon Type,” he gave the South Philly shop some accolades.

“The machine has joined the ranks of our museum pieces, and is available for use in our showroom,” the shop shared on Instagram. “Come by and check it out if you’re in the neighborhood.”

And if you’re in the mood to learn more about all things typewriters, you can hit up Philly Typerwriter’s lecture series. On May 17, Kravitz will be lecturing about the IBM Selectric, a machine he says “revolutionized business and how it’s still being used and sought out today.”