29 Matching Annotations
  1. Last 7 days
    1. New ribbons should look wet and get your fingers a bit inky when you touch them, but shouldn't be dripping ink. I've certainly bought new ribbon that was on the dry side and needed to return it. https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-faq.html#q1

      Beyond this, your machine may need a ring and cylinder adjustment. Check YouTube for this. Most platens now are typically rock hard and have shrunken a bit, so recovering the platen is always helpful. You can use a backing sheet or two as a stopgap if necessary, but a new platen and proper adjustment will make a world of difference.

      reply to u/asdrubalino99 at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1n7c1x1/faded_ink_help/

  2. Aug 2025
  3. Jun 2025
  4. May 2025
  5. Apr 2025
    1. I actually have pretty good feedback to share on this... I bought the remaining inventory from the guy that does these about 3 years back. We initially had a verbal agreement about me taking over the turboplaten business and we discussed the process in detail while loading a truck full of typewriters, but as the day wore on he seemed a little reluctant and when we started getting into inner/outer diameter measurements and specific PVC tubing he kinda clammed up. *For the record, I wasn't put out by it really as I had virtually zero intention of starting a platen business and told him as such- that any I made would likely only be for machines I sold. But it definitely felt weird as he literally gave me his custom built lathe and much of his tubing stock. 🤷🏻‍♂️ That said, I know how to make these from start to finish. The quality is decent enough, and the ones I got from him and the ones I made myself perform pretty well for the most part. However, I found some machines react poorly to the different material - causing escapement skip. The PVC material is bouncier than natural rubber, and doesn't play well with ALL typewriters without being specifically messed with during construction. His method of heat treatment of the tubing is what's supposed to combat this, but it's almost impossible to gauge the amount of heat needed for various machines specific escapements. All that to say; They're an interesting concept in theory, and given the right equipment could be a compelling alternative for natural rubber. But given what I saw and experienced in the process, I'd have a difficult time justifying paying essentially twice what JJ Short charges for one. Not saying you shouldn't, just sharing my experience.

      Nashville Typewriter tells the story of almost taking over the concept of Turboplaten.

      https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1k0p2ha/turboplaten/ on 2025-04-16.

  6. Mar 2025
  7. Feb 2025
  8. Dec 2024
    1. 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.)
  9. Oct 2024
    1. You might not want to get too hung up on sound deadening material. Anything is better than nothing and stick on felt works just fine. Most of the noise from a typewriter comes from the paper being slapped between the platen. A new platen will give you more quiet sessions. Any felt added will keep out any high pitch resonant echos but it's not going to do a whole lot for the overall volume you will experience. A good typing mat like wool, and a new platen are by far the two optimal solutions for noise. Felt can be a bonus but unless it's a complete tin can rattle trap, the difference between 1mm and 3mm felt probably isnt going to rock your world.

      via Gerren @ HotRod Typewriter Co. at https://www.facebook.com/groups/typewritermaintenance/posts/3903042456599841/

      new platen > felt typewriter pad >> new felt in a typewriter for dampening sound.

    1. The 2024 Phoenix Type-In by [[Joe Van Cleave]]

      Platen shrinkage

      • most typewriters are 6 lines per inch
      • 6.5 lines per inch based on actual measurement per JVC on one of his machines
      • 2mm shrinkage??
      • Per Bob/Typewriter Muse 1.1

      Bob had a machine that was supposed to be 1.27 but was measured at 1.259 when pulled off. So shrinkage of platens can be roughly fifteen hundredths of an inch (0.015" or about 0.4mm)

      Bob at Typewriter Muse custom tunes platens to the typewriter. Only place doing platens outside of JJ Short.

      JVC's partner took him to the Phoenix Type-in for her birthday.

      Bill Wahl of Mesa Typewriter Exchange

      grandfather started in the 40s<br /> bill started in 73<br /> part time help to 92 and now by himself<br /> does his benchwork after hours and chats during the day

      Ted Munk

      adding machine database consideration

      looking for service manuals for: - royal portables 50-59<br /> - skyriter 40s / 50s<br /> - sm9 service manual

      Royal Mercury manual is a clear, well-written manual. The Smith-Corona series 5 typewriter manuals are great too, though a bit more dense.

      Brian Goode and Christy organized this year's Phoenix Type-In.

  10. Aug 2024
    1. Colloquial repair solutions for hard platens: <br /> - use backing sheet(s) - light sanding and cleaning with organic solvents - Brake Fluid soaking for an hour followed by drying time (see also: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html) - Rubber Renue https://mgchemicals.com/products/electronics-maintenance/specialized-cleaners/rubber-renue/ - Methyl salicylate and alcohol mixture - Sanding and/or lathing and resurfacing with heat shrink tubing and/or by bicycle inner tube

      Actual repair/restoration/recovery:<br /> - J. J. Short Associates, Inc. https://www.jjshort.com/typewriter-platen-repair.php

      see colloquial advice at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ewb36f/rubber_renue_to_soften_platens/

    2. This has been an ongoing "philosophers stone" in the repair community for a long time. Hard platens are the result of the rubber losing its moisture, there's virtually no way to fix that long term. Brake fluid, rubber renew, even the wintergreen oil trick only temporarily soften platens/feeds. They will absolutely go back to their former state after a time. (1-2 months) You can sand the exterior and clean with organic solvents to restore grip and improve the original platen, but recovery is really the only long term fix. *There's a ton of back and forth about the sanding method, particularly from the old timers being salty about it. But I have seen HUNDREDS of old platens in machines that have absolutely been sanded by repair folks back in the day, so there's definitely value in the process.

      Kirk Jackson, Nashville Typewriter via https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ewb36f/rubber_renue_to_soften_platens/lj24vxx/

  11. Jul 2024
  12. May 2024
  13. Apr 2024
  14. Mar 2024
  15. Apr 2023