UnderwoodStd wrote:

I'm going to say a German keyboard SM-9. Intrinsically quiet, likely to have fewer age related problems, and of course an abundance of them with German keyboards, albeit mostly in Germany!

Hi UnderwoodStd, I'm not sure if you were replying to me, but if you were, then thank you for the suggestion.

I have an Olympia SM-9, but it's the massive one from the late 70's (with wide carriage) and it's very loud. It is lovely to type with, though, and returning the carriage is so effortless. It's a quality machine.
Is there a specific decade/year of SM-9 you would recommend? Perhaps an older one?

Thanks.

A related question, if I may:

I'm on the lookout for, not necessarily the quietest machine, but a 'low' sounding typer.

I have a sixties Consul which I love and use a lot, but typing longer than maybe 15 minutes at a good pace starts to hurt my ears. It has a high-pitched typing noise (the type slugs hitting the platen), and my ears have always been sensitive so the clack clack clack causes actual pain eventually, like they're hitting my eardrums. The platen is not terrible, and I always use a backing paper or watercolour paper (light card stock, basically), but it doesn't make the noise any less tolerable. I have to use earphones and put on music as I type, and that interferes with my concentration.

So, a typewriter, no matter if portable or standard, that has a pleasantly 'low register' typing sound, is what I'm after. The quietness itself is not the main issue, but would be, of course, welcome.
Oh, and in case it makes a difference, I require scandi letters on the layout, Ö and Ä specifically.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.




 

Hi, it's me again with my 99 problems.

Do you have any idea why my Olivetti Lettera 32 draw band slips from around the main spring and winds underneath it instead of around it? I was typing and wondered why the carriage felt so 'grindy', then it halted completely, and after a look under the bonnet I noticed the draw band had wound itself tightly under the main spring, around the bolt. It was a bit of a chore to undo it and put it back where it was supposed to be.

The tension on the band seems decent, and as far as I know everything is in its correct place, so that can't be the reason, right? I haven't replaced or fixed anything on this machine, I just cleaned it back when I got it and installed a new ribbon.
I'm a bit nervous of typing with it for the fear it happens again.

Any suggestions?
Thank you kindly for reading.

 

Hello, I have a similar problem with an Olivetti Dora. I understand it is very much like the Valentine under the hood?

My tale of woe as briefly as possible: I acquired an Olivetti Dora (free of charge), and while it was otherwise rather clean and neat, it had a rust problem on the left hand side of the carriage. The carriage itself moved to the right without problems, but basically refused to move back to the left.
I figured the underside of the carriage had enough rust to hinder it from sliding smoothly, and after cleaning everything I could without disassembling the carriage, I applied oil and managed to get it moving normally.

Now, the real woe: As I was turning the machine this way and that, I accidentally flicked the draw band off the hook with my thumb and it got snagged under the carriage. Oh I wanted to kick myself. When I finally coaxed it free, the ball bearings rolled out and... well, the carriage is, needless to say, not moving anywhere right now.
I have both of the retainers and all four of the ball bearings, just no knowledge what to do with them.

Kind sirs and ladies, is there any way a beginner like me could, with patience and a few tools, remove the carriage and put the ball bearings back where they belong? I understand it is something even professionals aren't looking forward to. Otherwise I wouldn't even consider it, but there are no repairmen around where I am, and poor Dora is already broken, so it's not a terrible loss if I fail. At least I can try.

Is there a visual aid of some sort that I could use to make sure everything is put in place correctly? Manuals or photographs, anything at all? I know it's unlikely, but I have to ask.

Thank you!

 

RobMacKillop wrote:

The Remington Ghost strikes again (and again!).

:D
What are the odds that these machines are haunted?