1 of 1- xntryk1
- New Member
Offline - Registered: 01-8-2016
- Posts: 15
Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
Hi there. Just picked up one of these portable electric typewriters with the cartridge-type ink ribbon (and correction cartridge). Everything seems to work OK, except the ink ribbon does not advance. I've pulled the cartridge out and looked inside. The little gear that's supposed to drive the ribbon cartridge also does not advance when you hit keys. I don't have a manual for this typewriter, so I'm not sure if there's some switch somewhere that needs to be set differently. Or if something is wrong. Anybody have any experience with these? Any assistance greatly appreciated.
- Fleetwing
- Typewriter Talk Vet
Offline
- From: Hartford, CT USA
- Registered: 30-6-2015
- Posts: 1,006
Re: Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
I do not have any such experience, so consider this as just a couple of suggestions. Is it possible the ink cartridge has run all the way through? That is, you maybe need a new one. As for the gear that drives the cartridge not moving, it may be (again, I do not know) that it only moves when the cartridge is inserted.
Absent others weighing in with more knowledgeable advice, maybe the first thing to do is get a new cartridge (they are available) and see what happens.
- xntryk1
- New Member
Offline
- Registered: 01-8-2016
- Posts: 15
Re: Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
Thanks for responding, Fleetwing. Yes, I actually did check the cartridge and it still has a good supply of unused ribbon inside (there's a little window where you can see). And the ribbon does seem to move freely in the cartridge when you turn the gear manually. So I don't think the cartridge is the problem. And I also suspected there might be some kind of little switch that only activates the drive gear when the cartridge is inserted. There's one thing that seems like that, but moving it around with my finger (while the cartridge was out) doesn't seem to make any difference. :-(
- •
Thread Starter- Fleetwing
- Typewriter Talk Vet
Offline
- From: Hartford, CT USA
- Registered: 30-6-2015
- Posts: 1,006
Re: Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
OK, I realize those were kind of obvious questions, but I had to ask. So now I think you need to focus on the gear in the typewriter that drives the cartridge -- see if you can find whether something has become disconnected or has broken.
- xntryk1
- New Member
Offline
- Registered: 01-8-2016
- Posts: 15
Re: Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
I was afraid you were going to say that. It doesn't look easy to get to. :-(
- •
Thread Starter- Fleetwing
- Typewriter Talk Vet
Offline
- From: Hartford, CT USA
- Registered: 30-6-2015
- Posts: 1,006
Re: Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
Where are you located? Maybe there's a repair guy near you. But as you might imagine, it'll probably cost more than you paid for the typewriter.
- skywatcher
- Moderator
Offline
- From: The Prairies of Alberta
- Registered: 14-3-2013
- Posts: 712
Re: Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
Hi XNT
Just looking at my Coronet Cartridge 12 electric unit, there is a narrow cog belt on the right side of the machine that runs from the drive roller clutch back to the ribbon capstan drive shaft. The capstan is then driven via a 90º bevel gear and the take-up gear is driven from the capstan by an expandable metal coil belt. With the cartridge removed, the cog belt can just be seen in the gap between the cartridge tray and the keyboard bezel. Load a sheet of card into the unit to protect the platen, turn the power on and press the dash key all the way down. The type bar will strike the platen repeatedly and you can watch to see if the cog belt is moving. Hope this points you in the right direction,
Sky
We humans go through many computers in our lives, but in their lives, typewriters go through many of us.
In that way, they’re like violins, like ancestral swords. So I use mine with honor and treat them with respect.
I try to leave them in better condition than I met them. I am not their first user, nor will I be their last.
Frederic S. Durbin. (Typewriter mania and the modern writer)
- xntryk1
- New Member
Offline
- Registered: 01-8-2016
- Posts: 15
Re: Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
Thanks, skywatcher! I'll investigate and report back.
- •
Thread Starter- xntryk1
- New Member
Offline
- Registered: 01-8-2016
- Posts: 15
Re: Smith-Corona 2200 Coronamatic Ribbon Won't Advance!
OK, finally got a chance to take another look at it. I found what I think is the 'cog belt' - a thin metal spring-like belt. At first, when I tried to type while looking inside, the gear still didn't move. But then, I lifted the typewriter up on the right side, so I could get a better look and all of a sudden the little gear started to click around with every keystroke. I put the ribbon cartridge back in and it too advanced like it's supposed to. So I don't know if something got loosened up when I tilted the typewriter up or something else magically came un-stuck. But it seems to be working great now. Thanks for bearing with me, once again! 
- •
Thread Starter