Typewriters

[Shangas]

It's a beautiful typewriter.

If you don't want to REPLACE the ribbon, there is a very cheap and effective method around for re-inking them, provided the ribbon is still in one piece.

It involves a bottle of stamp-pad ink. I've done it myself several times and it works very well.

1. Roll all the ribbon onto one spool.

2. Dabble a LITTLE bit (like a drop) of ink onto the wound-up spool. Spread it around.

3. WITHOUT unwinding the ribbon, rotate the spool, and add another drop of ink where the ribbon is still dry. Spread that around.

4. Repeat step 3, until the whole ribbon around the spool has received a drop or two of ink.

The stamp-pad ink will soak through the entire spool, recharging the entire length of ribbon with fresh ink. No need to unwind anything. No need to make a mess.

5. Rethread ribbon onto typewriter. Set the ribbon-reverser. Type.

No more than a DROP or two of ink for each unsaturated part of the ribbon. Or else you'll get into real strife.

 

[CSG]

I probably won't bother as I have no interest in using it nor any real purpose for it other than as a thing to look at and remind me of earlier times. I much prefer a computer.

 

[fashion frank]

I was reading an article a while back and they stated in the article that certain types of typewriters were making a "comeback" ( not sure what they meant by that ) and that people were collecting and using them.

I am wondering if anyone read that article or knows what I am refering to ?

I can't see how it would be making a comeback since the personal computer has pretty much "killed" the typewriter along with the U.S. Post office and a few other things along the way.

I have to admit that I like the way a letter looks when its written on a typewriter ,how some letters "jump" and others will be darker than others and how the letters do not look uniform like on a computer written letter ,not to mention the way it sounds, especially when you get to the end of a line and you hear the ding of the bell and the noise it makes when you push the lever and send it back to the start ,way too cool.

All the Best, Fashion Frank

 

[CSG]

I'd happily get rid of mine to a *collector* willing to buy such a rare and fine piece of Americana.

 

[fashion frank]

I'd happily get rid of mine to a *collector* willing to buy such a rare and fine piece of Americana.

Hey dont laugh I would be willing to bet that to the right person you could get a pretty penny for it .

All the Best, Fashion Frank

 

[St. Louis]

I finally bought a Smith Corona Silent portable typewriter that I've been coveting for a long time. The shop had a 30% off sale so I treated myself. It's exactly like this one or this one. This site also seems to sell ribbons for it. The machine appears to be almost unused. It's in fantastic condition, just needs a little cleaning. I practiced typing on it -- very enjoyable, but boy do I ever make a lot of mistakes! Computers have made me lazy.

Slightly off topic, but this is one of the things I particularly like about old tools and machines: you feel like you're actually doing something. I grind my coffee on an old wooden grinder and dial my telephone when I'm making a call. Such a satisfying feeling.

I checked the serial number. My Smith Corona was apparently made between 1941 and 1944.

 

[Shangas]

Most likely 1941. Most typewriter manufacturers stopped making machines during WWII, and converted over to arms manufacture. I know that Royal did this, and Remington. Smith-Corona I'm not sure.

It's a very beautiful typewriter, St. L., and you're in good company. Fellow typewriter collector Tom Hanks has one

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Is it really as "SILENT" as it's claimed? I know some typewriters sound like machine-guns when you start using them.

 

[St. Louis]

Oh, really? I'm so pleased to know that Mr. Hanks likes this machine! I've seen the SC Silent typewriters from the mid-fifties and find them very attractive too, but I was delighted to find an earlier model. I'm really enjoying typing on it and want to practice to become better.

To answer your question, it's not silent, exactly, but it doesn't sound like a herd of flamenco-dancing elephants, either. It doesn't sound clackety-clack -- more like thunkety-thunk, if you know what I mean.

I took it out of its case earlier today and found a card from mytypewriter.com inside, with information about the type of ribbon it takes. This means that someone obviously bought this machine from that site (which sells this model for nearly $600) and donated it to the charity shop where I found it for less than a sixth of that price.

It really is beautiful & in perfect condition.

 

[Shangas]

A typewriter like that should take universal-spool, 1/2-inch ribbons. You can buy them online, or even at specialist print-shops.

Picking that up for less than 100 bucks is a good buy. I bet it'll type really smooth.

If you want to try and muffle the sound a bit, what you can do is put a towel (like a hand-towel folded in half) underneath the typewriter. That absorbs some of the shock, and noise from the keys.

I must say...

It's a very attractive machine. Very sleek. And I like the black-white keys. They're not glass, just plastic, which is a pity, but they're still very nice. I hate it that people smash up these old machines just to get the keys.

 

[rjb1]

Correct that the typewriter companies were among the first to stop civilian production and switch to firearms production during WWII. They had some of the highest capability in making high-precision metal products.
Smith-Corona made 1903A3 rifles, IBM made M1 carbines, Remington-Rand made .45 autos, etc.

 

[Shangas]

Royal also stopped typewriter manufacture. But I forget what their contribution to the war effort was.

I know the Singer Manufacturing Co. (who made sewing machines) started producing sidearms during the War.

Companies like Singer, Royal, Underwood, S-C, and Remington were used to making high-precision machines that needed to work flawlessly. So I suppose that they were the logical ones to start producing rifles and ammunition.

 

[White_feather]

I have two Royal KMM's from the '40s, a KHM from the '40s, a '36 Royal Standard Portable Type O, a '56 Royal Quiet De Luxe, a Smith Corona Clipper, a Smith Corona Coronet, Royal Apollo 10 and I think that's it. I have a few bankers lamps as well. I also have some weird staplers as ephemera.

 

[White_feather]

You can buy ribbons at Office Max.

 

[Shangas]

Ray Noble and the New Mayfair Orchestra - "Put That Down in Writing" (1932).

Complete with typewriter-sounds.

[video=youtube;pEr_TVo5p_0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEr_TVo5p_0[/video]

Oh, and thanks to LizzieMaine for guiding me through pulling apart and reassembling the carriage on my typewriter, so that I could clean it up and examine the condition of the feed-rollers in greater detail. Here's a few photos of my adventure...

All the gunk I had to clean out.

Successfully put everything back together, and the typewriter's working wonderfully.

 

[tomfrankjon]

I have just taken the old type writer of my grand father and started learning that how to type. Tips from your years of experience are always welcome.
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typewritter ribbons

 

[Shangas]

What does your grandfather's typewriter look like? They're pretty easy to use. But if you have any questions, you're always welcome to ask. There's plenty of people on this forum who can help you

 

[tomfrankjon]

From the figure itself it is quite clear that the typewriter belongs to olden days. These type of typewriters were being used by old age people. The Ribbon also looks unique in several aspects. Thanks for sharing the clear images of the typewriters.

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manual typewriters

 

[jerryleetypes]

I have a small collection of antique typewriters, mostly pre-1920.

 

[St. Louis]

Wow, that's impressive! Would you be willing to share a few close-up photos?

 

[Shangas]

I see...three, maybe four Olivers...one L.C. Smith & Bros., one Remington Portable, at least two Coronas, maybe two or three Smith-Premiers...Not sure about the rest.