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- Platen Punisher
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- From: Perth Western Australia
- Registered: 14-7-2020
- Posts: 99
timing release of the capture
Recently I was most fortunate to purchase a pristine 1956 Olivetti Lettera 22, made in Great Britain. The type action was noticeably heavy, and after a short while, I altered the the release of the capture, so that the release occurred when the type slug was closer to the platen, which significantly lightened the type action
I had previously adjusted my Hermes Ambassadors similarly, in order to correct character skipping.
Curious, I examined both machines, only to discover that the rel;ease was happening exactly when the slug hit the platen.
My question for all that may know: is it imperative to have an early release of the capture? Perhaps with the heavier more powerful machines the carriage is so prompt early release is not necessary?
'Paraiso' Gerry Mulligan with Jane Duboc 1993
- skywatcher
- Moderator
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- From: The Prairies of Alberta
- Registered: 14-3-2013
- Posts: 712
Re: timing release of the capture
Hi Zoom
Just checked through a few different service manuals for both portable and standard typewriters. Ames manuals refer to this as the Master Trip Point, the point where the escapement is triggered by the motion of the type bars. Generally the escapement should trip when the type slug is 3/16" (4.5 mm) to 3/8" (9.5 mm) from the platen.
I bought a Remington Quiet-Riter from a local antiques shop a few years ago and gave it my usual chemical deep cleaning and careful lubing, but the machine just felt dead. The escapement wasn't tripping or triggering until the type bars were actually contacting the platen. Adjusted the trip or trigger point to 1/4" (6.4 mm) and it was as though the machine came to life. That machine is now one of my core group of 6 regular typers. Hope this gives you something to work with,
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)
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- Platen Punisher
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- From: Perth Western Australia
- Registered: 14-7-2020
- Posts: 99
Re: timing release of the capture
Yes indeed, you have given me the technical information I need. Thank you most kindly skywatcher.
'Paraiso' Gerry Mulligan with Jane Duboc 1993
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