Bigger is better — keyboards, that is.

Catherine Stribling and I worked together at MPH Entertainment a while back… and we’ve stayed friends, usually drinking lunch

with Bonnie Peterson… over margaritas and tortilla chips in dark and busy Mexican joints.

But this time, I wanted something different.

Catherine had sent me a picture of a typewriter keyboard —  a wall installation  — from Mitchell Litt Antiques on Ventura Boulevard.

I was jones-ing to see it.

Catherine kindly agreed to meet at Marmalade in Sherman Oaks, right next door, and found me a seat so I could gaze out onto the store.

Talk about a tease.

I worried it might have been sold, but Catherine had checked it out.  “It’s still there,” she assured me.  “You can eat.”

For several thousand dollars, a re-made typewriter piece — with individually hanging ‘keys’ is not a brisk item.

Immediately after lunch, we raced across the parking lot — and I plunked myself down on the sofa under

the ‘keyboard  on the wall’.

It was heaven.

(I particularly loved the l/4 “key” — Catherine remembers that used to be made, and saw it on her Daddy’s portable.

I need to do some research to verify,  but however authentic or not it may be — it’s very cunning.)

Go see it for yourself.  And if you decide to buy it, may I please come visit?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mitchell-litt-antiques-sherman-oaks