Matt Snyder was born, raised, and educated in Pennsylvania, receiving a B.S. in Chemistry from Penn State University.  Shortly after graduation, he and his then-fiancée (now-wife) moved to Massachusetts for her to attend grad school.  A few years later, they relocated to southern New Hampshire, where they have lived happily for over 15 years.

A former bioanalytical research chemist, Matt spent long hours in laboratories, worn out and pondering other interests.  After watching a making-of featurette for the TV mini-series, John Adams, he became enamored by author David McCullough and his typewriter, a Royal KMM.  Days later, Matt visited Cambridge Typewriter Company (CTC), buying his first of many typewriters.

In 2020, shortly after pandemic quarantine measures lifted, Matt traveled to CTC, worried it had closed forever like so many small businesses at the time.  Instead, he found the shop experiencing the busiest period in its history—and its owner facing the onslaught alone.  Matt offered his assistance and, soon enough, became an apprentice typewriter repairman.

Over the next four years, Matt cut his teeth on multitudes of typewriter makes and models, repairing more than 1,000 writing machines for customers, for sale, and even for Hollywood productions.  At times, it seemed that for every typewriter to leave the shop, another three would arrive.  In time, the surge tapered, but not Matt’s interest in typewriter repair.

Eventually, CTC’s owner was ready for retirement, approaching Matt with an opportunity to purchase the shop.  Unfortunately, while interested, Matt could not afford the mature business—his years at CTC fueled solely by his passion and a desire to learn the trade. Instead, utilizing what funds Matt’s wife had managed to squirrel away in anticipation of one day supporting his dream of owning CTC, they decided to self-fund a new venture.

Months later, New England Typewriter was born.