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Type Talk » Are prices going up? » 23-3-2018 06:10:13

Ct92404
Replies: 39

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I think you're definitely right about eBay also having an effect on prices. What I'm wondering though is wouldn't the shipping be insanely expensive for a typewriter?  I never even considered buying a typewriter from the internet, since I just figured shipping something that heavy would be prohibitive. At least for me. Has anyone here actually bought one online? I'm just curious.

I've only ever bought them in person - usually in antique stores and thrift shops. I sometimes look on Craigslist and Letgo too.

Maintenance & Repairs » Royal Standard 5 - carriage problems » 23-3-2018 05:48:34

Ct92404
Replies: 3

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Success! I got the carriage working!

Thank you for suggesting I contact Paul. I emailed him and explained what was happening. It turns out that there are a couple of small spockets with ball bearings that are supposed to go in the track. When I first started working on the typewriter and tried to get the carriage to move, I did find a couple of sprockets that fell out. At the time, I had no idea where they went but I knew they had to be important and I saved them. After I wrote to Paul and he explained where the sprockets are supposed to go, I managed to get the them back in. It was frustrating and I almost gave up, but I did it. The carriage is working much smoother and advances the way it's supposed to now whenever I press a key or the space bar.

Type Talk » Are prices going up? » 20-3-2018 07:01:11

Ct92404
Replies: 39

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I'm new here, but I've been into collecting typewriters, and other antiques for a while now 

I would say that it depends on what your frame of reference is. I first became interested in typewriters around the early 2000's, and prices have definitely gone up a lot since then. It also seems a lot harder to find them now. Back in the early 2000's, I remember practically tripping over old manual typewriters every time I went into a thrift shop or antique store. There were always a few of them sitting on the floor or in a corner somewhere. They were pretty much dirt cheap - around $20 or $30 was typical, and that was for one that was in good condition with some minor issues (sticking keys, just needing cleaning). But now a typewriter in the same condition will sell for around $60 at least. For $20-30 now, you'll often find a grimey rust bucket that will need a lot of thorough cleaning to get it working and decent looking. For a fully working typewriter in nice cosmetic condition, they sell for more like $80 now. At least that's been my experience where I live in California. Antique typewriters are getting harder to find, and are more expensive.

It does kind of go up and down, of course. There have been times where I come across a lot of them or get lucky and find one for cheap. But it's still nothing like it was 10-15 years ago.

I think there definitely is a "hipster pricing" thing going on too though. Whenever hipsters discover something antique that they were never interested in before, they buy and sell them at insane prices for bragging rights. I remember when prices for vintage cameras suddenly skyrocketed because people who had no interest in film photography before suddenly decided that now they HAD to have an Argus to sit on a shelf and look cool and "retro." 

Maintenance & Repairs » Royal Standard 5 - carriage problems » 20-3-2018 06:20:02

Ct92404
Replies: 3

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Hi,
I just joined this forum. I've been collecting antique typewriters as a hobby off and on for several years, but I'm still kind of inexperienced with actually fixing them. I recently bought a Royal Standard 5 from a thrift shop. I looked up the serial number (106941-5) and it's from 1912! It was in really bad shape when I got it...everything was grimey and filthy, and the keys and carriage were completely jammed up. It was a little rusty in some spots, but not too bad. I was able to clean it up pretty well and now all the keys are free and working. I had to make a new drawband (with shoelace ha ha!) to reconnect the spring motor to the carriage. The carriage does move now, but I'm still having a problem with it. It's really wobbly and doesn't move on the track quite right. It definitely seems like something is missing.

Are there supposed to be ball bearings or something inside the track for the carriage to move smoother and be held in place?

If anyone is familiar with this particular typewriter, I'd really appreciate any help. I've almost got it working again, if I can just figure out what's wrong with the carriage!

- Chris

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