- Jul 2024
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Script Olympia SM3 Disassembled in 5 minutes. Time Lapsed by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]
Basic breakdown of the Olympia SM3 body parts, platen, etc. for cleaning.
Steps: - platen, etc...
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munk.org munk.org
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Differences between Olympia SGE typewriters
reply to u/ingeniouskeys at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1e0utt9/differences_between_olympia_sge_typewriters/
The Typewriter Database is going to be one of your better sources, but will require delving into each particular exemplar to see what their owners may have written about them. So, for example, go to https://typewriterdatabase.com/Olympia.SGE40.61.bmys and then click on the individual galleries for all the machines. If you've got an account, you can message those who currently have them and ask questions directly.
Given their manufacture in the late 60s and into the early 70s you're likely to find small incremental improvements in the electrical side, but you're also likely to find more dramatic changes in manufacturing which made them cheaper (replacing metal pieces for flimsier plastic.) I doubt the 45 (later 70s) is going to be incredibly much better than the 40, which I would suspect to be more robust from a manufacturing standpoint. You may have vaguely better "specs", but its build quality is likely going to suffer even more, so you'll have to balance out what you're after.
If you want to delve into the deeper specifics, then try out the repair manuals for them: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ted-munk/the-olympia-sge-304050-typewriter-repair-manual/paperback/product-1e4pnd4v.html?page=1&pageSize=4
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Taylor Swift uses a Sears Cutlass in All Too Well: The Short Film.
The Sears Cutlass is very similar to the Sears Citation.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Diamant-Blockschrift Ro 209' micro typeface
I've heard of Olympia SG1s with 17 CPI typefaces and some seem to think that 20 CPI machines may exist.
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www.newenglandtypewriter.com www.newenglandtypewriter.com
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https://www.newenglandtypewriter.com/
Announced intention to open in 2024 on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1cxjxt5/new_typewriter_shop_coming_fall_2024/
apprenticed to Tom Furrier of Cambridge Typewriter Co.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series - Episode 173: Olympia SG-3 by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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Joe Van Cleave has noticed that some glasses fit under some typewriter carriages better than others.
This can broaden the number of drink pairings one can make with their typewriter.
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vintagetypewriters.myshopify.com vintagetypewriters.myshopify.com
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https://vintagetypewriters.myshopify.com/products/non-slip-felt-typewriter-pad
Non-slip Felt typewriter pad for $29.50<br /> black felt 12" x 12" x 3/8"
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www.jotandtittletypewriters.com www.jotandtittletypewriters.com
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Olympia SM Typewriter Wash, Scrub Clean Lid Cover, Restore Paint by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
Simple Green gets off most dirt and nicotine as well as some White Out. Duane uses Nu-Trol Control Cleaner (for electronics) as a mild specialty cleaner for tougher White Out cleaning.
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Local file Local file
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Weller, Charles Edward. The Early History of the Typewriter. Chase & Shepard, printers, 1918. http://archive.org/details/earlyhistorytyp00wellgoog.
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The keys beingattached to the type bars and working inunison with the carriage movement enabledus for the first time to test the work ofprinting words and sentences. We werethen in the midst of an exciting politicalcampaign, and it was then for the first timethat the well known sentence was inaugu-rated,—"*Now is the time for all good mento come to the aid of the party;” also theopening sentence of the Declaration of In-dependence, ““When in the course of humanevents,” etc., which sentences were repeat-ed many times in order to test the speed ofthe machine.
While some sources indicate that "Now is the time..." was used as an early typing exercise, Charles Weller in his book on the history of typewriters indicates it, along with the opening of the Declaration of Independence, was "repeated many times in order to test the speed of the [typewriter] machine.
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I have been describing the actions of themachine in some of its worst moods. Butdon’t imagine for a moment that this was acontinuous affair. There were times wheneverything worked beautifully, and _ thespeed that could be gotten out of it at suchtimes was something marvelous, especiallywhen we got onto that familiar centence,“Now is the time for all good men to cometo the aid of the party.”
More recent typing books use a variant: “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country”. This version fills out a 70-space line if you count the period at the end.
General lore has it that Charles Weller used the phrase as a typing exercise in the early 1900s.
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Then again, at times the little steel“dog” with its escapement working backand forth in the ratchet which controlledthe movement of the paper frame wouldfail to do its work properly, and the car-riage would jump an inch or two, or per-haps half a line, stopping with a suddenjerk, which was calculated to make onenervous, to say the least.
Apparently they were calling it a "dog" pretty early on...
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www.straightdope.com www.straightdope.com
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Who originated, “Now is the time for all good men …” by [[Cecil Adams]] dated 1977-09-15 in The Straight Dope
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typewriters.com typewriters.com
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https://typewriters.com/typewriters/nakajima
They still sell the new Nakajima typewriters (though possibly old stock).
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Type Shop, EP. 20: Ribbon Colors by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
blue/pink is an excellent color combination as is the blue/green. blue/purple isn't as strong a differentiated color combination as one might hope.
Typewriter Chicago used to carry orange, but doesn't any longer. Maybe again in the future?
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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How to package an antique/vintage typewriter for shipping <br /> by [[Tampa Typewriter Co.]]
Use elastic band to permanently engage the carriage release so it doesn't engage with the escapement and then cling wrap the carriage so it can't move. (Especially on models without a carriage lock.)
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mytypewriter.com mytypewriter.com
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http://mytypewriter.com/eProducts/Ribbon_List_102806.pdf
A somewhat handy chart of typewriter ribbons by make and model. Will require some work to puzzle out the standards however.
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mytypewriter.com mytypewriter.com
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http://mytypewriter.com/classic-typewriter-pad.aspx
MyTypewriter.com sells a 100% wool typewriter pad which they say is based on an original from the 1940s. It's 11.5" x 13" x 1/2".
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thetype.space thetype.space
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https://thetype.space/
Sales, service and repair of typewriters. Also has some parts access according to some.
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mytypewriter.com mytypewriter.com
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www.tampatypewriter.com www.tampatypewriter.com
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https://www.tampatypewriter.com/<br /> Proprietor: Jack<br /> https://www.instagram.com/tampatypewriter/
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Type Shop, Ep. 15: The Ultimate Keyring Toolset Guide by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
Charles Gu's new keyring pliers for about $500 for a set are as good as if not better than vintage tools. In particular the new rubber pieces seem to help protect from breaking the original glass key tops which will then require replacement.
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mytypewriter.com mytypewriter.com
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http://mytypewriter.com/hello-qwerty-typewriter-keyring-pliers-kit.aspx
Charles Gu at MyTypewriter.com is selling new typewriter keyring pliers!
ᔥ[[Typewriter Chicago]] in Type Shop, Ep. 15: The Ultimate Keyring Toolset Guide at 2022-12-29<br /> (accessed:: 2024-07-08 08:23:36)
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www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CSy6XubgVIK/?img_index=1
I love the idea of hiding interesting visuals underneath the hood of a typewriter. This could be done with a variety of papers, decals, etc., but could also be done with custom printed fabric over felt to get the noise dampening.
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www.etsy.com www.etsy.com
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Meagan Syata is the repair genius behind Unplug Typewriter Company https://www.etsy.com/shop/UnplugTypewriterCo/<br /> https://www.instagram.com/unplugtypewriterco/
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Setting Up Shop! by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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The 2023 Rover Typewriter: Worst Machine Ever? by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
I know Michaels was carrying the We R Memory Keepers typewriter, but hadn't heard about Home Depot carrying them.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Is There a Typewriter Revival? by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Use an Olympia SM4, SM3, or SM2 typewriter - Works for SM1 & SM5. by [[Mr and Mrs Vintage Typewriter]]
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www.tbwritersplus.com www.tbwritersplus.com
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https://www.tbwritersplus.com/general-8
You have to love that they have DIY services for typewriter repair enthusiasts!
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Part 3: COMPLETE Olympia SM3 Service/Set Up Guide- Carriage Adjustments/ Ring and Cylinder by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]
Not mentioned in the video is that, at least on his model, most of the common adjustment points have screws or nuts which have a brassy look rather than silvery almost as a means of highlighting them as subtle adjustment points for improving the performance of the machine.
Sometimes the carriage lock mechanism on the Olympia SM3 may not clear the carriage rail completely and this can result in it rubbing on the returns which results in a zipper or grinding sound. Forming the bar that connects the lever to the mechanism can quickly remedy this issue. See timestamp 2:17
Fore and aft adjustments on carriages
Side to side adjustment on carriage:
Forward and backward carriage adjustments (on both sides):
Adjustment for the spacing between the carriage rails:
This adjustment is rarely done unless there is something drastically wrong with the machine Details at timestamp
Adjustment on the carriage stoppers for how much bounce the carriage shift might have as well as how high or low the carriage sits at it's lowest point using the triangle sliding bracket on each side of the carriage with two screws. If these force the carriage too high, it can affect where the type sits in terms of potentially interfering with the bichrome settings to make letters (especially the tallest ones) have two colors when they should only have one. Details at timestamp 8:14
Adjustment on the rear springs for how light or heavy the carriage shift may be. Raise the spring and then adjust the small "nut" on the top. Details at timestamp 9:52
Ring and Cylinder adjustment for Olympia SM3<br /> Details at timestamp
Gerren doesn't seem to understand (or perhaps doesn't discuss it) some of the mechanics behind this adjustment beyond the distance of the platen to the typeface, but the usual suggestion is that the typeface shouldn't actually strike the paper and/or the platen. Ideally there should be just enough space between the typeface and the platen that an addition sheet of paper can be easily slid between the two along with the ribbon and another sheet of paper. This will allow the typeface to just kiss the ribbon and force the ink onto the front sheet of paper. Doing this will help to protect the integrity of the paper being typed on (ie, no deep imprints being pressed into the paper -- often seen with the period), as well as the integrity of the platen (preventing chips and imprints into the rubber, especially if it has been hardened), and the longer term integrity of the ribbon which can tend to be cut into by the typeface if it's too close.
From a physics perspective there is some minor amount of flex in the typebar arm between where the "hammer" at the bottom of the typebar hits the "anvil" (aka ring) and the top of the typeface which, when typing at speed will tend to "throw" the typeface a tad farther than it would hit when the hammer hits the anvil when simply holding it against the ring manually.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Part 2: COMPLETE Olympia SM3 Typewriter Service/repair- SO YOU WANT TO BE A MECHANICAL ENGINEER?!? by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]
An excellent video in terms of coming to understand the functionality of a typewriter versus how the pieces interact to effectuate those functionalities.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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COMPLETE Olympia SM1/2/3/4/5/7 Typewriter Build/Service/Tune up Series- Part 1 by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Likely the key lockout isn't resetting like it's supposed to upon carriage return - the little part you mentioned. Cleaning and light oil on the friction and pivot points of that and the margin stop assembly usually can get things moving again. That's the most common issue I see in Royal Standards.
Advice by Nashville Typewriter at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1dwqi1r/friend_found_in_junk_pile/lbwege9/
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www.retrotast.no www.retrotast.no
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www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/typewritermaintenance/permalink/2310899869147449/
Details for helping to remove the platen on an Olympia SG1
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Tips for Removing and Installing Olympia SM3/SM4 spring loaded typewriter keys by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]
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myoldtypewriter.com myoldtypewriter.com
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www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com
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myoldtypewriter.com myoldtypewriter.com
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Out with the Old, In with the New: Olympia SM by [[myoldtypewriter]]
They recommend fixing the Olympia SM3 spacer issue with:
Danco 1/2 rubber washer Universal (item #198804, model #88569) -- 00 trade size with 1/2" OD and 3/16" ID. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Danco-10-Pack-1-2-Rubber-Washer/3380002
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clickthing.blogspot.com clickthing.blogspot.com
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The Amazing Floating Olympia by [[Michael P. Clemens]] aka clickthing
Michael recommends using 1/4" flat bibb washers with 9/16" OD to replace the rubber washers on the Olympia SM3, which notoriously are squished and need replacement. The general symptom is that the carriage sits low on the machine and scrapes or hangs on the sides of the body beneath it.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.comYouTube1
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munk.org munk.org
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munk.org munk.org
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munk.org munk.org
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1964 NOMDA Blue Book: Olympia Font Styles
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munk.org munk.org
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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It can be useful to take some mineral spirits, naphtha, or paint thinner and a tooth brush (or, even better, a brass bristle brush) to your typeface every now and then to clean the ink, dirt, paper, bits of ribbon, dust, etc. out of it. Doing it after changing ribbon is always a good idea. If you're really hard pressed, nail polish remover (acetone) or rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball along with a small pin tip for the loops of letters like 'a', 'o', 'p', 'g', etc. can be used.
How well (or not) your typewriter works from a print perspective can also change with the type of paper you're using, what your ribbon is made out of (usually nylon, silk, or cotton), how much ink it's got in it and how old/worn it may be. A good backing sheet behind your typing paper can also be helpful.
reply to u/kirrachristine at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1dtuksy/one_letter_weirdly_thicksmudged/ RE: one letter weirdly thick/smudged
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Olympia SM3 & 9 Comparison by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Basics: End of Page Indicators by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
Handful of methods:<br /> - page gauges (Smith-Corona, some Royals) - paper support arm (adjustable) - notch in paper pan (Hermes & some Silver Seikos) - Platen knobs (requires mod math and adjustable ring) (IBM)
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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I'm two months in to my "writing a book entirely on a typewriter" projectI
I also don't just mean the script, but I mean every thing. The signatures and text block I'm also printing with my typewriter. Looking online before setting this I couldn't find much info or other people doing the same thing, so I feel like it's quite unique.
It's also insane. And I get why people aren't doing it. My book is a small collection of short stories and won't be too big. I have a friend who's a book binder that will bind the text block into a hardcover book. Very excited! Just wanted to share.
[...]
Oh no but I mean it's uncommon to make signatures and text blocks from typewriters. Like each copy of the book will be made from the typewriter.
Example of someone both writing and publishing a book entirely by typewriter.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Before You Buy a Typewriter … Six Top Things You Need to Know by [[CreateX3]]
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Designer Marcelo Nizzoli designed the Lettera 22, 32, and Studio 44.
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Considerations for buying a typewriter:
- Where will you use it? Is weight a consideration? (Standard, portable, ultra portable)
- What Kind of Work will you do? (Do you need tabs, bichrome?)
- How does the Typewriter Feel?
- What type of keyboard will you need? (language, characters, diacritics)
- What is the typeface? You should like/enjoy it and it should be big enough to be easily readable to you.
- Do you like the typewriter's look/style?
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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How to test a typewriter before buying by [[Retrotype]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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[–]DistributionPure6051[S] comment score below threshold-14 points-13 points-12 points 2 days ago (8 children)Managed to grab it for $40. Don't know the model but I'm hoping to clean it up, replace the ribbon, and resell on eBay for a few bucks permalinkembedsaveparentreportreply[–]chrisaldrichMy typewriter addiction is almost as bad as my card index one 7 points8 points9 points 2 days ago (1 child)If that's your intention, you'd have been much better off getting it for $5-10 to get some margin for your work. If that's your intention, you'd have been much better off getting it for $5-10 to get some margin for your work.formatting helphide helpcontent policysavecancelreddit uses a slightly-customized version of Markdown for formatting. See below for some basics, or check the commenting wiki page for more detailed help and solutions to common issues. you type:you see:*italics*italics**bold**bold[reddit!](https://reddit.com)reddit!* item 1* item 2* item 3item 1item 2item 3> quoted textquoted textLines starting with four spacesare treated like code: if 1 * 2 < 3: print "hello, world!"Lines starting with four spacesare treated like code:if 1 * 2 < 3: print "hello, world!"~~strikethrough~~strikethroughsuper^scriptsuperscriptpermalinkembedsaveparenteditdisable inbox repliesare you sure? yes / nodeleteare you sure? yes / noreply[–]DistributionPure6051[S] comment score below threshold-5 points-4 points-3 points 2 days ago (0 children)They wouldn't go lower than $40 permalinkembedsaveparentreportreply[–]Smubee 2 points3 points4 points 2 days ago (5 children)Don't do this. permalinkembedsaveparentreportreply[–]DistributionPure6051[S] comment score below threshold-6 points-5 points-4 points 1 day ago (4 children)Explain permalinkembedsaveparentreportreply[–]Neilgi 3 points4 points5 points 1 day ago* (3 children)Resellers kind of suck the life out of certain industries and make it difficult for hobbyists to get decent equipment. So long as you sell it for what it is WORTH and not upsell by 100%, then you perhaps aren't one of the bad guys. permalinkembedsaveparentreportreply[–]DistributionPure6051[S] -4 points-3 points-2 points 1 day ago (2 children)I'll take a look at the model and see if I can find its actual worth considering its wear just to try and make a profit. If it ends up actually being $50, oh well, maybe I could send it to a theater or props department in the area permalinkembedsaveparentreportreply[–]Smubee 1 point2 points3 points 1 day ago (1 child)This makes you an asshole. Don't buy shit just to make a profit. You're inflating a market unnecessarily. permalinkembedsaveparentreportreply[–]DistributionPure6051[S] -2 points-1 points0 points 1 day ago (0 children)Then I wasted $50 on a theater prop
Typically in this sub, when people ask, "Is it worth it?" the presumption is that they're buying it to use for themselves. You left out your context of buying it to sell until later. This means that once you've cleaned things up, and go to try to sell it for something above $40, people are going to show up here and ask that same question. When they do, the answer is going to be that it's far too expensive, especially with shipping which is notoriously tricky, expensive, and risky.
You'll be sitting there with a typewriter that you don't care enough about to have known anything about it or if it had any particular value. This also probably means that you don't know enough about what goes into cleaning and properly adjusting a typewriter either. If someone is a sucker enough to pay the crazy mark up, it means that someone who wants to try out a typewriter will be buying a sub-par machine and have a sub-par experience.
unposted reply to u/DistributionPure6051 at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1dqr02l/is_this_worth_it/<br /> (Most of context is hiding because of downvoting)
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- Jun 2024
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www.jotandtittletypewriters.com www.jotandtittletypewriters.com
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www.phillytypewriter.com www.phillytypewriter.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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reply to u/virtualellie at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ds1aps/typewriter_suggestions_for_newbie/
aggregated links from prior notes:
I'd generally endorse most of the advice on models you'll find in these sources which are geared specifically toward writers, all three sources have lots experience and reasonable bona fides to make such recommendations.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9dXflhDed0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKMt-aCHZZk
- https://typewriterreview.com/2020/01/10/top-10-writerly-typewriters/
Obviously, you'll want to steer towards the smaller portables in the lists, but most of what's represented should fit your criteria. You'll notice a lot of overlap but with different positioning, so there's obviously some personal preference at play. If there's a nearby shop to you, it may be worth driving over to try out the touch and feel of some machines to see which you like best. Try https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html
There was also some sage advice from u/Thylacine33 about purchasing the other day which may be helpful: https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1drj32h/comment/lawb2h7/
Beyond this Just My Typewriter has a few short videos that'll give you a crash course on Typewriter 101: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJtHauPh529XYHI5QNj5w9PUdi89pOXsS
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www.pbssocal.org www.pbssocal.org
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lataco.com lataco.com
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finelineribbon.net finelineribbon.net
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FINE LINE RIBBON MANUFACTURER OF INKED RIBBONS FOR TYPEWRITERS, CALCULATORS, CASH REGISTERS, POS , ATM AND TIME CLOCKS. CONTACT: 972-875-8681 800-527-0354 theresa@finelineribbon.net 2405 N. PRESTON ST. ENNIS, TX 75119
Found via https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-faq.html#q1
Fine Line Ribbon in Ennis, TX, (972) 878-8683,
Ruben Flores likes them for his bulk ribbon
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spectrumnews1.com spectrumnews1.com
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Family Typewriter Repair Business Forced to Relocate After Rent Increase by [[Nic Cha Kim]] for Spectrum News 1 on 2019-04-16
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www.theeastsiderla.com www.theeastsiderla.com
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Highland Park repair shop enjoys a typewriter revival by [[The Eastsider]]
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Only portable and ultra-portables
List: 1. Hermes 3000 (Switzerland) (pre-1965 curved models; square tops are good, though slightly less solid; later plastic frames aren't durable at all) 2. Olympia SM9, SM8 & Monica (Especially pre-1970s) SM8 has tabs on the back. the SM9 are by the spacebars. Best SM9s are green shift keys and knobs.<br /> 3. Olivetti Lettera 32, Lettera DL (Italian better than Spanish) Mexico, Brazil and other countries are lower quality materials<br /> 4. Olympia SM3, SM4, SM2<br /> 5. Imperial Good Companion Model 1<br /> 6. Smith-Corona Super, Silent Super (Series 5); pre-war flat tops too<br /> 7. Olivetti Lettera 22<br /> 8. Brother De Luxe; Brother 200, 210, 220 (no repeat spacers; prefer metal frames) 9. Olympia Traveller de Luxe S (German; not Eastern Europe which were weaker); Olympia Splendid 33, 66, 99<br /> 10. Adler Tippa; Adler Tippa S; Triumph Tippa
Also rans: <br /> - Underwood 3 bank<br /> - Royal P<br /> - Hermes 2000<br /> - Remington Quiet DeLuxe<br /> - Remington Victor S or T<br /> - Hermes Baby (metal frame)<br /> - Halda and Erika M.
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I tested more than 300 typewriter models & here're the TOP 10. by [[Mr & Mrs Vintage Typewriters]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Joe Van Cleave makes the interesting observation that while a hobbyist will only take a typewriter apart as much as is necessary to fix the issue at hand, the professional repair person will strip it all down and clean everything out for the coming 50 years to prevent it from coming back to them for something else in the near future thus costing more time, effort, and potential damage to their reputation.
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Typewriter Line Lock Repair by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Repairing Bent Typewriter Key Lever by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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reply to u/Rabbits16 at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1df7o2t/request_type_writer_suggestion_please/
For that budget range, pick up something cleaned and fully serviced from a nearby shop https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html
Too many resellers are pushing overpriced machines that say "works" or "may need servicing" on some online shops like ebay or Etsy for top end pricing when you can get something truly spectacular and ready for the next 50 years from a serious pro that needs the support for the same price.
As for particular machines to look at, I can't find much to fault in Joe's advice here https://youtu.be/aKMt-aCHZZk?si=CGPduwA4A3HPDm3u
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www.etsy.com www.etsy.com
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https://www.etsy.com/shop/TypewriterDecalShop
Run by Paul Robert
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.comYouTube2
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https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwMhC_klUByVGdnTTIFP6XmVdLPYwW3mC
Joe Van Cleave typewriter maintenance and repair playlist
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Five Fairly Fun Fixes For Free by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
Advice for typewriter ribbon printing, especially as silk ribbons age and more quickly gunk up the loops or letters like "e" or "a". Nylon ribbon and a thin plastic backing sheet can be helpfu.
Use of bookbinder's glue on fabric of typewriter cases, then layers of shoe polish.
General advice for replacing feet on typewriter cases.
Small incremental improvements to your typewriter can be easier and more sustainable than trying to do everything at once.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith-Corona 5-Series Touch Adjustment by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Royal QDL Quiet Deluxe Typewriter, Left Margin Stop, Alignment Adjustment, Repaired uneven edge by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
How to adjust the margin stops on a Royal Quiet De Luxe and related portable models.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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I dont know if im hitting too hard or not. ( second image is the backup paper behind the actual one)
If you've got heavy impressions going to the level of the backing sheet or things like your period cutting holes directly through your paper, then it's not really so much an issue of typing too hard, but your carriage is slightly out of alignment with respect to your type bars.
Your typeface shouldn't actually hit the platen when pressed (or held forward), but should just kiss the ribbon which then places the imprint onto the paper. Holding your typeslug forward against the type guide you should have just enough space to slip a piece of paper between your slug and the platen. If there isn't a tiny bit of space, your typeface will chew up your ribbon and paper over time. The typing thunk sound that typewriters make isn't the slug hitting the platen (aka cylinder), but the typebar hitting the anvil (aka ring).
The proper adjustment for fixing this is thus commonly called a ring and cylinder adjustment and how it's effected depends on whether you have a segment shift or a carriage shift machine. On many machines it requires adjusting two screws on either side of the machine. It changes the distance of platen from typeface and can prevent your making holes in the paper and/or ribbon, which isn't good. Sometimes using a simple backing sheet can remedy a bit of this distance problem, especially on platens which have hardened or shrunk slightly over time. Searching YouTube for your make/model (or similar models) will usually show you the adjustment you'll need to make to remedy these problems.
See also: https://hypothes.is/a/AegRziHnEe-Ud_stVcPQLA
Reply to u/Bitter_Rent_141 at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1dnnh2n/is_this_normal/
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Test typing and adjustments
- Ring and Cylinder adjustment (distance of platen from typeface; the type shouldn't touch the platen or you'll find you're imprinting on your paper, making holes in the paper and/or ribbon, which isn't good) [Interestingly Dul doesn't mention this particular adjustment]
- evenness of the letters (on feet)
- alignment between capital and lower case (motion)
- margin consistency
- line scale height
- adjust escapement "so that it's moving the proper distance both up and down to prevent skipping or missing spaces"
- adjust the height of the ribbon, this is done to make sure the entire letter is printed (and presumably so the bichrome is properly usable when available)
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How A Rusty 1930s Royal Typewriter Is Professionally Restored | Refurbished | Insider
Done by Lucas Dul. Some particularly interesting portions on adjustments after restoration. He generally touches on the order of adjustments he makes, but in brief rather than completely.
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typewriterchicago.com typewriterchicago.com
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https://typewriterchicago.com/
Run by Lucas Dul
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Links to Typeface Resources- Olympia- https://munk.org/typecast/2011/04/23/... Royal- https://munk.org/typecast/2011/04/24/... Smith Corona- https://munk.org/typecast/2020/06/15/... Adler- https://munk.org/typecast/2023/02/04/... Story of vertical script- https://munk.org/typecast/2022/02/26/... Typewriter Database Typefaces- https://typewriterdatabase.com/typefa... Typographica.org- https://typographica.org/on-typograph... Type Slug Specs- https://munk.org/typecast/2023/02/05/...
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Typewriter 101: The ULTIMATE TYPEFACE Guide (ft. Typewriter Chicago) by [[Just My Typewriter]]
featuring Typewriter Chicago's Lucas Dul
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www.phillytypewriter.com www.phillytypewriter.com
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James Norris is the owner and operator of Ex Nihilo 3D Print and Design in Spring, Texas. He has always had a fascination with figuring out how things work and seeing if there was a way it could be better. In late 2016 his wife, a burgeoning writer, purchased their first typewriter. He soon became obsessed with all the amazing parts and mechanisms. From there the typewriter collecting began.From the first Olympia, to an inherited Olivetti, to his first Selectric, and so on.While repairing these machines he realized that there where a few setbacks. The most immediate being parts availability. So armed with his 3d printer he designed and printed his first part. A Selectric cycle clutch pulley in mid 2021. After showing the 3d printed part to some like minded individuals he was happy to learn that they were as excited as he was. He loves to design new parts and accessories to bring these typewriters back to life.James is thrilled to be working with Philly Typewriter, and looks forward to helping with your current and future parts needs. James lives in Texas, is married with two children.
https://www.phillytypewriter.com/parts-mfg.html#/
James Norris does 3D printing of replacement parts for typewriter restoration projects.
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www.phillytypewriter.com www.phillytypewriter.com
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typewriters.co.uk typewriters.co.uk
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www.classictypewriter.com www.classictypewriter.com
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The benefits of using a typewriter to write novels and poetry. by [[Classic Typewriter]]
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oztypewriter.blogspot.com oztypewriter.blogspot.com
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Sundberg’s first typewriter design was for IBM in 1955. This was for what we generally call the IBM Executive (Model C/Model 41);
If Sundberg's first design was for IBM in 1955, how is he influential to Dreyfuss' 1948 typewriter design for Royal?
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Carl Sundberg’s European-made Remington Portable Typewriters by [[Robert Messenger]]
Tags
- Eliot Noyes
- Ed Johnson
- Remington Ten Forty
- Karl Baughman
- John Steinbeck
- Powel Crosley
- New South Wales Rail Authority
- Cycolac
- Detroit, Michigan
- Ray Dietrich
- Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART)
- Charles Jaworski
- Henry Dreyfuss
- read
- Alfons Boothby
- Richard Penney
- Philip Stevens
- Remington typewriters
- Crosley Hotshot
- Ettore Sottsass
- John Tjaarda
- Tom Tjaarda
- industrial design
- Sundberg-Ferar
- Royal Oak, Michigan
- Montgomery Ferar
- Laird Fortune Covey
- typewriters of authors
- typewriter design
- Barbie typewriter
- Maya Stein
- David Chase
- Anton Demmel
- Southfield, Michigan
- Carl Sundberg
Annotators
URL
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tsesaraheverett3.wixsite.com tsesaraheverett3.wixsite.com
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www.bullydozer-typewriters.com www.bullydozer-typewriters.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.comSkyriter1
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Skyriter
These have been selling at auction sites over the past several months for $45-$75 plus shipping based only on pictures and without any information at all about their working condition, so all-in you probably got a great deal. I'm just finishing up work on cleaning up a 1951 2Y series Skyriter myself, and I really like its typing action. Don't throw away the spools if it came with them as they're non-standard and slightly smaller than the ubiquitous universal spools. This being said you can buy the standard 1/2" ribbon and manually spool new ribbon onto your existing spools. Mine didn't have spools at all, but I found some replacements (with ribbon) at https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/. Take note that it's not a bichrome machine, so you can buy a single color ribbon.
There are two screws that hold the chassis of these into the bottom of their case. They're hiding just underneath the carriage. Once removed, the typewriter lifts back and up and out of the base. You'll find the serial number on the right hand side of the frame underneath the platen and can use it to date your machine with the database: https://typewriterdatabase.com/smithcorona.86.typewriter-serial-number-database. Based on appearance alone, I'd place it as a 1960 3Y series based on the color, the badging and the white keys. You can look at others' individual models and notes at https://typewriterdatabase.com/Smith+Corona.Skyriter.86.bmys. If I'm right about the date, Richard Polt has online manuals available for the 1960 as well as others at: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjumGF9NFE8 is a pretty solid cleaning primer. Searching YouTube will uncover some potential additional advice in addition to what you can find at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html or in his book. I will say that in cleaning mine, the mineral spirits dissolved the glue holding the felt on underneath the typebars, but it was in terrible shape anyway and needed replacing. The foam strip underneath that felt came out unscathed without much effort on my part to be careful with it.
Most of the mechanics are pretty basic and easy to clean/service. Unless there's something dramatically wrong with it, you could very likely clean and service it yourself. (As an example, I had to re-slot the mechanism for the margin release which was almost too easy.) Even the mid-level repair issues for it can be easily found on YouTube if you're handy with a screwdriver (Joe Van Cleave and Phoenix Typewriter in particular have several model specific videos on the Skyriter). The platen and rollers come out fairly easy with a small screwdriver and removing one half of a spring on the back of the paper tray. This gives you great access to clean the escapement from above as well as to potentially send them off to JJ Short Associates for replacement via https://www.jjshort.com/typewriter-platen-repair.php. If you're less handy, Polt's website has a list of repair shops around the world that could clean/repair it for you.
Good luck with it. I hope you like yours as much as I like mine. They're one of the most solid and sought after ultra-portables out there.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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A Tale of Two Toy Typewriters..... by [[Just My Typewriter]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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How to display Typewriters properly?
You can certainly keep them out on shelves and rely on occasional dusting.
If they're in a dustier-than-typical room or you have compounding factors, like the presence of cats or dogs (like my German Shedder, I meant German Shepherd), and don't want to go the route of traditional fabric-like dust covers, you might consider doing a thicker plastic/acrylic cover which will give you a clear plastic layer of protection, but still show off your machines.
I live in Los Angeles and there are half a dozen places that do this sort of custom plastic work all the time for very reasonable rates. Searching for "plastic fabricator memorabilia case" along with variations of plastics (acrylic, lucite, plexiglass) should get you what you want locally. (Here's a few examples I've used in Los Angeles before to give you an idea: https://solterplastics.com/, https://www.plasticfactoryinc.com/, https://www.customacrylicproducts.com/, https://plexidisplays.com/). Search for something similar in your area for easier communication and cheaper pick up/shipping.
If you search around for companies that make plastic displays, particularly for memorabilia (baseball bats, baseball cards, etc.), you can have them design and make a custom sized clear plastic box/enclosure that will keep the dust and dirt out, but still allow you to see the machine inside. If done well it may actually make them appear more precious because you've taken the additional precaution.
Enclosed glass shelving is also a potential solution as well, but requires a larger investment and also requires more work to rotate machines out for regular use.
Most of my machines get daily use, so I'm not really using them for display or presentation purposes (except for one machine which sits on our library card catalog, but even then, it is frequently used as a standing desk, for occasional poetry by everyone in the family, or for guests who want to try their hand). I go through lots of index cards, so I'll usually temporarily protect against dust, dirt, and fur by slipping an index card on top of the hood or slightly into it to protect the segment.
But at the end of the day, as long as you haven't used WD-40 or some other lubricant on your segment and typebars (and what typewriter monster would do such barbaric things?), you should easily be able to go long periods between dustings and still have a highly functional machine. After all, who hasn't bought a machine full of dirt, dust, White Out, and eraser shavings/crumbs that still works like a dream?
It may bear brief mention for those who display their machines and forget, that you might also disengage the paper lock/paper release lever which will release the tension on your rubber rollers against the platen so that they don't go "flat" or become misshapen when not in use for long periods.
Expansion of https://hypothes.is/a/NjoVMA1REe-f47d0T4ZOkg
Reply to u/Styr0foam at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1djgjv2/how_to_display_typewriters_properly/
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archive.org archive.org
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Removing rust from typewriters
Steel wool can be useful for removing rust from keylevers and other parts on typewriters, but can leave dust/slag behind which can be a bear to clean up especially when used on typebars.
De-rusters like Evaporust can be useful, but should be tested against causing harm to other parts of a machine. Some rust removal chemicals can strip galvanization from machine parts. Olympia typewriters in particular are infamous for galvanized steel parts.
Another option can be to use a rotary tool (like a Dremel) with a wire brush head to remove rust.
Take care and be sure to use proper eye protection against dirt, dust, and chemicals when doing this sort of work. Also make sure you have proper ventilation and/or a mask to avoid breathing in dust and toxic chemicals.
Richard Polt's site has additional resources for typewriter restoration: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html
Reply to https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1da2zg6/how_do_i_remove_rust/
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Hahaha you’re going to have to start slipping the UPS guy a $20 to keep it on the hush hush. “Don’t worry honey, I am getting them to fix up and sell”
reply to u/baxter1207 at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1da0voq/repairsclean_ups/l7jg8nl/
I'm pretty sure those exact words have escaped my lips...
Her: "I know you've got five typewriters already, and I'm not counting the one I know you're hiding underneath the bed. Which ones are you going to sell??"
Me (in my head): Where am I going to stash the 12th machine when it arrives later today? At least it's an ultraportable, so it won't take up as much space. Why is my least favorite machine that I want to sell her favorite machine? Will selling it upset the delicate typewriter balance in the house? I can always say that the typewriter coming on Tuesday is a parts machine that I'm using to repair two of the others so I can sell them. Is this how all typewriter repair shops began?
Me: I'm trying to finish up refinishing the two executive tanker desks and the filing cabinet in the garage first so I can get them out and make some space.
😁
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munk.org munk.org
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Not sure if it may help your Typewriter Typefaces Bible project or not, but I'll mention that Marcin Wichary used the Internet Archive to collect a lot of the materials for his massive 3 volume 2023 book "Shift Happens: A Book About Keyboards": https://archive.org/details/wicharytypewriter
In addition to lots of material which he found and collected on the Archive, he added a huge number of resources, catalogs, and books which are either rare or incredibly difficult to find by uploading them to the Archive for others to potentially find and use. You and others may find it valuable and or useful to follow his pattern of uploading and storage there.
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munk.org munk.org
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Smith-Corona (SCM) Font Styles – To Type, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth… by [[Theodore Munk]]
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munk.org munk.org
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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You should not have much trouble finding a cubist (aka techno, square, robotic, futuristic, etc.) font or even Vogue; but good luck finding an italic. Of course, if you want to use them instead of collecting typewriters, get an IBM Selectric and a collection of balls.
colloquial advice
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littlewishingstar.wordpress.com littlewishingstar.wordpress.com
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Swiss-made Hermes (3000, Media 3) seems to top the list of the most sought after vintage manuals with script fontAnother popular choice among collectors is the script typewriter debuted by Olivetti Lettera in 1963.Other typewriter manufacturers that offered the script font were Olympia (SM3, SM7, SM8), Adler (Tippa, J4, J5), Royal (Safari, Sahara), Remington (Deluxe 5, Personal Riter), Smith-Corona (Classic 12, Sterling 5A, Galaxie Deluxe 10, Galaxie 11, Galaxie 12, Silent Super), Torpedo 18, Blickensderfer (with cylinder) and IBM (Selectric with typeball)
unreferenced here, so treat as colloquial
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A field guide to hunting down script typewriters. by [[May Tobias-Papa]]
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And David McCullough is not typing on a computer. He’s using the pre-digital dinosaur that requires a considerable force of those digits called fingers: the typewriter. Not even a zippy electric version, but a 1940s vintage Royal manual typewriter that he bought second-hand in the 1960s. So if you want to know how it is that David McCullough’s books always hit the New York Times bestseller lists, capture Pulitzers, and have never gone out of print, it just may be this old machine.
too many people want to attribute the accolades stemming from the work of a person and their process to the tools they use....
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The sound of typewriters—the tappety-tap and the tiny bell signaling need for a carriage return— became part of America’s soundscape in offices and late-night garrets.
I love the setting of a "late-night garret"....
Tags
- imaginative literature
- garrets
- settings
- tool fetishization
- David McCullough
- typewriter lore
- Royal typewriter
Annotators
URL
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writingball.blogspot.com writingball.blogspot.com
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One to get rid of<br /> by [[Richard Polt]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Also are the key caps supposed to be that yellow or is that from cigarettes.
For yellowed glass keys on typewriters, there's usually a key top covered by a piece of paper with the key glyph on it which is sandwiched in with a small piece of glass and a metal ring that holds it down with several metal tabs underneath the key to hold it all in place. There are custom keyring pliers for quickly removing and replacing the papers which needs care not to crack the glass. Otherwise you can manually bend the metal tabs on all your key rings to remove them and replace the papers. (This is generally a LOT of work either way.) See: https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1csni4d/neat_find_on_clients_kmg/
I prefer the yellowed patina of the older key papers, so I tend to leave them versus spending the time and effort to replace them.
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www.usbtypewriter.com www.usbtypewriter.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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www.amsterdamtypewriter.com www.amsterdamtypewriter.com
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torontotypewriters.com torontotypewriters.com
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https://torontotypewriters.com/
Owner? Chris?
Tags
Annotators
URL
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reeselectronics.com reeselectronics.com
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https://reeselectronics.com/typewriter-service-department/
Helmut is an amazing engineer/repairman via https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/w8viia/comment/ihrw7cg/
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en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrobright
This process can be used to whiten yellowed plastics.
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- May 2024
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munk.org munk.org
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Replace the carriage string in your 1950’s Smith-Corona Silent by [[Theodore Munk]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Removing the Platen on Mid-Century Olivetti Typewriters. by [[Dr. Typewriter - Venneburg Typewriters]]
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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A really nice example of a model from the birth of Remington's Quiet-Riter line. The bulbous styling bears some resemblance to Henry Dreyfuss' Mercury steam locomotive engine from 1938, but the typewriter itself includes modern conveniences such as segment shift and tab set and clear at the keyboard.
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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I don't collect them. They follow me home in small groups of 2 or 3...
via Glen Crookston at https://typewriterdatabase.com/1949-remington-allnew.17706.typewriter
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www.midcenturychap.com www.midcenturychap.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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To be more specific on solvents for beginners, potentially try mineral spirits (white spirit in UK), paint thinner, naphtha (lighter fluid), kerosene, varnish remover, PB B'laster, or carburetor or brake cleaner. Be careful as many of these are flammable and some can remove paint or decals; use all of them in a well ventilated area. You may see some recommend household variations of alcohol, but these do contain water and generally aren't very effective solvents for the types of oil/grease/dust you'll probably want to remove; professional typewriter repair shops would not use alcohol on a machine. And for those in the back, no one but a psychopath would use WD-40 on a machine's internals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjumGF9NFE8 is a pretty solid cleaning primer. Searching YouTube will uncover some potential additional advice in addition to what you can find at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html
Good luck. That's a lovely machine!
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith Corona 5 Series Typewriter Keyboard Adjustment for Lighter Touch Silent Super by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
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munk.org munk.org
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Taming The Tinny Typing Sound of a Brother JP-1 Typewriter (Part 3 – the Finale?) by [[Theodore Munk]]
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munk.org munk.org
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Adjusting Ring & Cylinder on a Brother JP-1 by [[Theodore Munk]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/21zpri/what_you_should_know_before_cleaning_your/
Note the stated 33 year experience as typewriter repairman
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Don't feel bad. Your not the only one. This misconception has been going on for years simply because no typewriter repairman has stood up and said " Now wait a minute! " The collectors have done all the talking and publishing while the typewriter man isn't heard. Consequently, it's the big typewriter collectors that are heard. They never talk about how many times they had to reclean a machine. They often have several and may only use 1 or 2. Also there isn't that many of us real typewriter repairman left to do the talking.
Due to the nature of online communication, it may often be the case that typewriter collectors and their colloquial advice may drown out the more experienced and professional typewriter repair people.
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Most typewriter shops did not use alcohol as it was ineffective and contained water. Industrial alcohols contained keytones and acetones that will melt plastic and remove paint.
Solvents for typewriters used in repair shops: - White mineral spirits with a squeeze bottle. (Sometimes also called Varsol, Stoddard's Formula, and possibly Inhibisol) - Naphtha (aka lighter fluid; used in Zippo lighters, and frequently seen in Europe). PB B'laster is essentially pressurized naphtha in a can. - Auto carb and brake cleaners, usually pressurized in a can. These usually have acetone in them and will melt plastic. Will remove WD-40 if accidentally used on a typewriter.
For cleaning typeslugs, one can use naphtha or mineral spirits with a brass bristle brush.
For platen cleaning try mineral spirits or fedron.
Only oil the carriage rails for the bearings or trucks.
(This is all colloquial advice, albeit with experience, so check specific facts about what certain products contain.)
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You will notice that manual was printed in 1920. Gas was the only cleaner available then. In just one more year in 1921 Stoddards Formula was invented (Varsol) for the dry cleaning business. Everything changed then and Varsol was the cleaner of choice.
should find a better reference
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typespec.com typespec.com
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Ames Segment Pick, an Artisan Tool – For Sale $24.95 by Paul of Bremerton Office Machine Company
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a No. 93 (Royal) Segment Pick from the 1940 Ames catalog. Sold in 1940 for 20 cents each.
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It is kinda funny that our shop, which has been around since 1947, has only ONE segment pick.
Is it telling that a typewriter shop around since 1947 only has one segment pick?
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Everyone mentioned most of the usual tricks, but one.
To get your sticky typewriter keys working again, while you're flushing out the segment with your solvent of choice (lacquer thinner, paint thinner, mineral spirits, alcohol, etc.), actually move the typebars using the keys or by other means. This will help to get them moving and allow the solvent and subsequently compressed air to help flush the oil, dust, hair, etc. out of your machine. You've already got a mechanical cleaning device of sorts (the typebar itself) inside the segment, so move it while you're flushing it out!
It may take a few repeated treatments/attempts to get it all clear for all the keys, but it's far easier than taking everything apart.
reply to u/nogaesallowed at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1cp75ln/how_do_you_clean_a_1mm_gap/
People were recommending all sorts of ideas and solvents here, including folded card stock, tooth brushes, floss, toothpicks, interdental brushes, wood cuticle sticks, Swiss Army knife tweezers, microbrushes, and even an ultrasonic cleaner.
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www.amazon.com www.amazon.com
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Speedy Inks with typewriter ribbon with DIN spools for European typewriter spools (eg: Adler, Olympia, Adler, Facit, etc.).
12 pack for about $10.
Recommended by Joe Van Cleave
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series Episode 244: Ribbon Winder by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/266277055176
Typewritermuse's "Speedy Spooler"
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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www.bedlamcreations.com www.bedlamcreations.com
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www.swintec.com www.swintec.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series - Episode 175: Skipping Skyriter<br /> by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Watch Phoenix Typewriter in Remington Quiet-Riter Typewriter, Skipping Letters, Adjust Escapement, Type Bar Trip
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www.vintagetypewritershoppe.com www.vintagetypewritershoppe.com
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typewriterreview.com typewriterreview.com
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Thank the Ribbons! by [[Daniel Marleau]]
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site.xavier.edu site.xavier.edu
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Baco Ribbons makes ribbons in many sizes, colors, and materials. Contact Charlene Oesch, Baco Ribbon & Supply Co., 1521 Carman Road, Ballwin, MO 63021, 314-835-9300, fax 636-394-5475, e-mail bacoribbon@sbcglobal.net.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Baco Ribbons by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith Corona Skyriter Shift Repair, Ring & Cylinder Adjustment for Even Quality Print by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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My first "ultra-portable" (Skyriter 1955) by [[Just My Typewriter]]
55 had an integral cover versus later versions which had bags.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series Episode 407: Remington Ten Forty by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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The Remington Ten Forty typewriter is a half-space machine. This means that when one presses a key, for example the spacebar, the carriage advances a half space and then advances the other half space when released.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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offountainpenstypewriters.blogspot.com offountainpenstypewriters.blogspot.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Congratulations on that beautiful machine!
Don't listen to the nay-sayers who likely have very different priorities and esthetics. If this is your machine, and you love it, then "own it".
It does look like a standard (as opposed to portable) typewriter. (Standards are often better and more robust typers due to their size and design.) Likely a Model 1 or Model 2, but I don't have specific knowledge beyond a cursory glance at the typewriter database. You can start by looking at examples of machine types and bodies at https://typewriterdatabase.com/smithcorona.86.typewriter-serial-number-database.
From there, the Model 1 says "Electric Serial Numbers Concurrent with Standard", so scroll down the page and see if you can identify a year based on a serial number you should be able to find underneath the hood. You can try https://typewriterdatabase.com/Smith+Corona.Standard.86.bmys, but I don't see any later models there, so perhaps no one has documented one before and you could be the first.
Then start with Richard Polt's site https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/ where you may likely find a manual and if you're lucky a repair manual. Surely there will be a few manuals for similar 50s standard S-C manual typewriters which should at least get you started. His site has a wealth of other information to give you pointers. His book The Typewriter Revolution (2015) has good intro chapters on cleaning, basic repair, and restoration. YouTube may have some useful videos as well. The typewriter database will have some later model S-C electric machines which you might try searching for on YouTube as well and it's highly likely that the design changes weren't so drastic that those may help you significantly.
For basic cleaning, try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjumGF9NFE8 which has some solid advice. Obviously take care with respect to getting the electrical portion of your machine wet.
I've not done any electric machines before, but if I recall, I seem to have read/heard (maybe from Tom Hanks who I know has a 50s electric Smith-Corona) that the early electrics only went as far as doing power for the keys, so it should be reasonably repairable if it doesn't work out of the box.
I'm sure you'll love it. With any luck, you'll also get some serious enjoyment and sense of accomplishment out of cleaning it up. If nothing else, it'll give you a wealth of experience in making the attempt and you can apply that to other machines if you continue collecting and typing. Some of my first machines weren't immediate "successes" until after I'd been able to tinker with others and was able to come back to them with a more experienced hand.
Have fun with it!
reply to https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1cuzy04/please_can_someone_identify_this/
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It's a great thing to waste time. The secret of life is to waste time in ways that you like. —Jerry Seinfeld 6:18
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Typewriter 101: THE CLEANING GUIDE! by [[Just My Typewriter]]
A solid primer for cleaning typewriters
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typewriterfeet.com typewriterfeet.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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You can cross check the data in the typewriter database for most of the big US and European brands to see the slow merging and dying out of the typewriter through the late 60s and early 70s onward. See, for example, Royal: https://typewriterdatabase.com/royal.72.typewriter-serial-number-database which has buyouts and mergers listed at the top. The database also has a huge volume of references for how it was compiled which will give you additional history.
The early 70s saw a lot of plastic entering the space where more durable steel used to be. Most major US firms were shifting to electric after IBM in roughly 1961. Post war manufacture of machines picked up significantly in Italy, Spain, Holland, and even Wales which displaced some of the manufacturing in the US, where solid machines of the prior generation still worked and only needed servicing rather than outright replacement. (Planned obsolescence wasn't as much of a thing during the 30s and 40s, and in fact, [maintenance was heavily highlighted during the war](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocdxgkxKAKo) when most US manufacturers ceased production of most models.) Eventually Japan displaced the business followed by India (which ceased in 2009) and China. Wrexham, Wales ceased manufacture of electronic Brother typewriters in 2012.
Ever decreasing costs of materials and manufacturing, improved manufacturing technology, increased competition in the space, combined with containerized shipping, competition from computers, etc. all contributed to the cheapening of the typewriter and hastened the death of manufacturing (though not the use) of manual typewriters.
Richard Polt's The Typewriter Revolution (2015) has a "microhistory" of typewriters in chapter 2 with references to some addition histories if you're interested.
Your question about Olympia manufacture dates (and more) can be found via: https://typewriterdatabase.com/olympia.61.typewriter-serial-number-database
x over it has a good two part series about the evolution of Olympias at:
https://xoverit.blogspot.com/2015/02/olympia-sm-series-part-1-1948-1964.html
https://xoverit.blogspot.com/2015/04/olympia-sm-series-part-2-1964-1980s.html
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Toaster-Typewriter – An investigation of humor in design by [[CreativeApplications.Net]]
A cross between a typewriter and a toaster that writes by toasting bread.
The toaster-typewriter is the work of [Ritika Kedia], and it forms part of her thesis in product design at the Parsons School of Design, New York. It’s written up very much from an artistic rather than a tech perspective, but it’s no less ingenious for that in the way it uses letters formed from hot wire on a clay substrate, mounted on the end of the typewriter arms in front of a toaster.<br /> —This Typewriter Types Toast by Jenny List
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www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
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Bruder, Jessica. “Click, Clack, Ding! Sigh ...” The New York Times, March 30, 2011, sec. Fashion. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/fashion/31Typewriter.html.
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“I’m actually not surprised,” Mr. Caro said, when told of the typewriter renaissance. The tangible pleasures of typewriters are something he’s known about for decades. “One reason I type is it simply makes me feel closer to my words,” Mr. Caro said. “It’s like being a cabinetmaker. It’s like laying down the planks. This is the way it’s supposed to feel.”
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Tom Furrier, who owns the Cambridge Typewriter Company in Massachusetts, has sold several typewriters to Mr. Cidoni and said that high school and college students have become a staple of his business.
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www.jjshort.com www.jjshort.com
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J.J. Short Associates, Inc for Typewriter Platens, Feed Rollers, Bail Rollers, Finger Rollers, and Power Rollers https://www.jjshort.com/typewriter-platen-repair.php
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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These were sometimes used to assist in the learning of touch typing. Clients would have their local repair person install these little black paper circles to cover the letters so they wouldn't be tempted to stare at the keyboard. Fairly rare, I've not seen them used on any of the 500+ machines I've serviced in the past 7 or so years. There were also dedicated blank caps designed to go over the keytops that were used, those are much more common than the blackout paper method.
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Even with keyring pliers and the skill to use them, the blackout paper method is a lengthy one.
Keyring pliers are used to remove the metal rings off of both circular and tombstone glass typewriter keys so that the legends can be replaced or even covered over with black paper circles for teaching or learning typing. They take some practice and skill to use, but speed up the replacement of legends significantly.
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I was in a vintage shop about 30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles earlier in the week and the proprietor had a mostly functioning 1950 Smith-Corona Sterling for sale for a roughly equivalent US $150. (One key was disconnected, but fixable, and some keys were sticky, the ribbon was disintegrating, it was incredibly dirty, with a case in very poor condition.) The Sterling was similar to the Silent, but without some of the extra bells and whistles. She wouldn't accept an offer of $40 for it, which I thought was a reach for the dreadful condition it was in. Her reasoning was that she was sure that someone (read: a sucker) would pay the $150 for it. At a yard sale it might be worth $5. Cleaned up a bit maybe $30. In online platforms they're going for a bit more, but you're also saving yourself some level of "shoe leather" in the work of searching for the exact model you want.
I've been specifically watching this model and a few related ones for a few months, and machines of indeterminate condition (though in my experience they're usually reasonably functionable or easily fixable), like this go for about $50 on ShopGoodWill.com (as auction items). There are usually about 4-5 per week which come up as this was a popular model in the 50s. You can probably find similar prices on eBay, though sellers there usually have a little more information about the working condition. They're definitely common enough that you could easily wait for the exact color options and typeface (pica or elite) that you're looking for, and could also probably purchase two for the price he's asking (including shipping.) I've been watching for a similar mid-50s Smith-Corona Clipper with similar colors and elite type for a while and just bought one online last week for $35. Patience definitely pays off.
I would only go as high as $150 on that machine if I knew it was well functioning and had a brand new platen in the last several years. You can tell him that most of the expensive machines in the range he's asking for are all fully functioning, have been well maintained and/or recently serviced, and often have new platens, rubber rollers, and feet replaced. He'll know that this isn't the case with his and may come down in price. They're likely pricing it based on other listings they see and not pricing it based on actual sales. If it's their only machine, wait things out until they see that there aren't any takers. If it's a vintage shop, simply move on.
The Smith-Corona Silents from this time period are really spectacular and solid machines, so good luck in your search for the perfect one.
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oztypewriter.blogspot.com oztypewriter.blogspot.com
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Vale Paul Auster (1947-2024) by [[Robert Messenger]]
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3dtypewriterparts.com 3dtypewriterparts.com
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writingball.blogspot.com writingball.blogspot.com
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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New 1964 Sears Cutlass Model advertised in February 1965. The faceplate of existing examples exactly matches other machines only offered between 1964-65 (Citation, Constellation), so it is presumed to be exactly contemporary. Manufactured by Smith-Corona and similar to Smith-Corona "New 5-Series", with custom shell.
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Polt, Richard. The Typewriter Revolution: A Typist’s Companion for the 21st Century. 1st ed. Woodstock, VT: Countryman Press, 2015.
annotation URL: urn:x-pdf:65fe580cf845ed035c4e57ad02a987cf
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Most Smith-Coronas in the 40s and 50s have similar ribbon set ups. Hopefully this photo and description will help:
(Alt Text) Smith-Corona typewriter ribbon thread sample. A view into the type basket with the hood of the typewriter raised showing the ribbon coming out of a spool on the left, through a black ribbon guide (which actuates the autoswitch when the eyelet at the end of a spool gets stuck between it and the spool) next to the spool cup, and then into the two metal guides of the ribbon vibrator on either side of the the typing point. A silver pen's tip is pointing to the ribbon guide next to the spool cup at about the point where an eyelet clipped onto the middle of the end of a length of a ribbon would trip the ribbon auto switch.
If your ribbon auto-switch isn't working one can usually switch the direction manually with the ribbon reverse lever usually found on the front left side of most machines.
To speed up changing the ribbon on many machines, it can often help to switch the color selector to the red setting and then simultaneously press the G and H keys gently so that they're stuck together almost at the typing point which will raise the ribbon vibrator and make accessing the slots for threading the ribbon easier. Once the ribbon is installed, release the G and H typebars and select the correct color setting for the portion of the ribbon you want to use.
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type-in.org type-in.org
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The term "Type-Out" was coined by Tom at Cambridge Typewriter in MA to refer to the practice of having a Type-In outside in the sunshine. The first such Type-Out was held in front of Cambridge Typewriter on Oct 22, 2011.
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writingball.blogspot.com writingball.blogspot.com
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Want to run a typewriter shop? by [[Richard Polt]]
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If you've been dreaming of plunging into this profession, consider the success of Paul Lundy, who took over Bremerton Office Machine Company from nonagenarian Bob Montgomery; or Antony Valoppi, creator of Portland's Type Space, which combines a traditional typewriter shop with a cultural center; or Trevor Brumfield, a young man in his late twenties who has quickly built Dayton's TB Writers Plus into a busy enterprise.
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www.cambridgetypewriter.com www.cambridgetypewriter.com
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http://www.cambridgetypewriter.com/
CAMBRIDGE TYPEWRITER<br /> 102 Massachusetts Avenue<br /> Arlington, MA 02474<br /> 781-643-7010
Shop owner Tom Furrier hoping to retire sometime in 2024
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where do I start?
reply to u/rocklover7 at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1cnljgm/where_do_i_start/
The best thing you could do is to take a moment at the library or bookshop and pick up a copy of Polt, Richard. The Typewriter Revolution: A Typist’s Companion for the 21st Century. 1st ed. Woodstock, VT: Countryman Press, 2015.
He looks at typewriters from a writers' writer perspective which I'm sure you'll appreciate. He's got experience with a wide variety of machines as well as a large collection himself. He goes over all of the common/popular (and solid machines) in a variety of sizes and formats to help you figure out which one you might like to start out with. He also covers some of the common problems and repairs that regularly pop up. The book is really a "best of" list of typewriter material from the past 15+ years of this reddit forum and material from the "typosphere" of which he's been not only an active member, but literal ring-leader. The vast majority of the questions which appear on a weekly basis here are discussed and addressed in his book, along with some emphasis on writerly concerns and practice which most beginners here wouldn't be asking. Even reading 3 or 4 of the 8 chapters which are rife with images will give you a solid crash course for exactly the sorts of typewriter (and writing) advice you're searching for.
Definitely DO NOT pick up a new machine off of Amazon. They're even worse than some of the late 70s/early 80s machines. Instead, for beginners (and for the value) I'd recommend looking at Remingtons (Quiet-Riter), Royals (Quiet De Luxe), or Smith-Coronas (Clipper, Silent, Super) from roughly 1948-1958 which is generally the peak of U.S. typewriter manufacturing as well as for features. These were all built like tanks and are usually still in very good condition, even when they're in bad condition. I've provided links to some of these models in the typewriter database, so you have an idea visually of what to look out for.
If desperate, and you live in an area where machines are priced starting over $50 or you're more price sensitive (making eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist less appealing), you can find some of these every day listed at shopgoodwill.com starting at $10. Even with heaving bidding on auctions, these usually don't go over $35 (except for some of the Smith-Coronas). I've even seen them (sadly) not move at all for $10. This would give you an incredibly solid and inexpensive machine to tinker on, and will most likely work for you out of the box (as long as it's got a ribbon.) You'll end up with a solid machine to start off on while you search for your dream machine. It'll also give you some experience cleaning up and maintaining one. Of the seven machines I've gotten this way and paid an average of about $30-35 each (all in with shipping, tax, etc.) All but one were all immediately usable and only needed moderate cleaning that one could do at home with a cloth, dish soap, a toothbrush and maybe some canned air. Two of the seven were in near mint condition and didn't need any work at all. Tag/garage sales are also inexpensive options that usually allow you test out a machine, but it requires some shoe leather and lots of patience. If you've got a favorite author you love and trust, you might try searching out their machines: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/typers.html
If there are any type-ins in your local area, try to go so you can not only meet others, but it might give you a chance to see and try out the machines of others to see what might suit you best.
Happiness and best wishes on your search!
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it is not mold; it is plasticizers coming out of the plastic. I remove it with various means: alcohol, polishing with a very fine polish, Goo Gone™, naptha, and such.
The white gunky substances seen on the plastic keys of old, unmaintained typewriters generally isn't mold, but plasticizers coming out of the plastic. These can usually be cleaned off using simple household cleaning products or if necessary heavier cleaners (Goo Gone, alcohol, naptha, etc. - test these on hidden parts first to ensure they don't react with or destroy the plastic or remove the paint of the key letters) followed up by light waxes or polishes and buffing.
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reply to u/FriendlyAd4234 at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1cn004l/olympia_sg1_dust_cover/
Other than the traditional fabric-like dust covers, you might consider doing a thicker plastic/acrylic cover, particularly if you've got several machines and are using them for display purposes. I live in Los Angeles and there are half a dozen places that do this sort of custom work all the time for very reasonable rates. Searching for "plastic fabricator memoriabilia case" along with variations of plastics (acrylic, lucite, plexiglass) should get you what you want locally. (Here's a few examples I've used in Los Angeles before to give you an idea: https://solterplastics.com/, https://www.plasticfactoryinc.com/, https://www.customacrylicproducts.com/, https://plexidisplays.com/). Search for something similar in your area for easier communication and pick up/shipping.
If you search around for companies that make plastic displays, particularly for memorabilia (baseball bats, baseball cards, etc.), you can have them design and make a custom sized clear plastic box/enclosure that will keep the dust and dirt out, but still allow you to see the machine inside.
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Olympia SF Companion adjustments<br /> by [[Typewriter Justice]]
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ber10thal.com ber10thal.com
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Speaking of the keys, they had crap all around them. I used a slightly damp towel and Turtle wax rubbing compound. A light rubbing removed the dirt.
Wiping dirty plastic typewriter keys with a soft cloth and then waxing/buffing them can bring them back to life.
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The last adjustment I needed to make is sometimes called ring and cylinder. It moves the platen closer or further from the typebars. I think the rubber on the platen over time dried and shrunk a bit. I used this adjustment to move the platen closer in order to get a better type imprint. (note: you have to loosen two screws on each side of the carriage [4 screws] in the next photo before making this adjustment.)
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Here it’s outside being cleaned with Mineral Spirits, and carb and choke cleaner. I took one trip to the eye doctor when the carb and choke cleaner bounced and sprayed into both my eyes. I was fine, but wear eye protection.
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