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Type Talk » Typewriter Prices for my insurance claim » 09-6-2023 21:15:29

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 10

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For insurance purposes, you're probably going to want to get to a typewriter shop with an experienced tech. Take them your list and all the photos you have, then have them come up with fair values for working machines.

Typewriters - Private Sellers Only » WTB: Vietnamese typewriter » 17-4-2023 20:40:37

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 5

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As the topic states, I'm looking for a typewriter with a Vietnamese keyboard. It's very close to the French AZERTY, but has a few small variations. 
Also still looking for a typewriter with an Icelandic keyboard.
Thanks all!
Phil

Regional Events » Philly Type-In on 3/18 » 17-3-2023 23:55:25

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 2

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There is a Type-In here in Philadelphia at Philly Typewriter down on East Passyunk Ave. (pronounced: pa shunk, like pass skunk). They advertised on the local NPR station and all the regional affiliates, so who knows how much of a big deal this will be. Starts at 10:00am and goes until I'm not sure when. I'm hoping to make it and will be bringing the Facit TP1, possibly the Remington-Rand Model 7, oooh, there's also the restored Corona Four to show off...
I'll definitely have to take the car, not the bike, if I'm bringing more than one typewriter.

Portable Typewriters » Color match for SC Desert Sand? » 31-1-2023 19:19:03

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 14

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Make sure you do a really good scrubbing cleaning of the textured paint before trying to match it. You might find that the machine is quite noticeably lighter in color when it is cleaned really well. I swear I must have taken off a pound or two of dirt and tobacco tar from the machines I've cleaned in the past few years. 
Pete, thanks for the tip on the latex caulk undercoating! Interestingly, the Raleigh bicycle company used to spray a coating of vulcanized rubber on their steel frames, then would prime and paint with several layers. Our his and hers set of Rudge bicycles from 1956 and 1958 have incredible black paint because of this process of rubber undercoating; it seems to create a resiliency to the paint to prevent chipping and spread of rust. 
Phil Forrest

Maintenance & Repairs » How do "you" get chemical and other nasty smells out of a typewriter? » 02-1-2023 14:16:02

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 10

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One thing you may need to do is get rid of any porous items that are in the typewriter. The typebar rest and the key bar rest come to mind. Typebar rests are easy to replace with new material (felt, leather, rubber, etc.) The material where the key bars come to rest is far more difficult to remove and replace usually, but as it is very close to the hands, may pose a significant source of smell from old perfume, cologne, cigars, or whatever grime may have been on the hands of the user. 
I've used scrubby solutions of baking soda and water, baking soda and vinegar, baking soda and dish detergent, all sorts of stuff. I have caked on baking soda and water paste as well. I had a similar problem with an 8mm motion picture camera I was restoring for use a few years ago. It was so pungent with bad cologne that it couldn't be brought to one's face. I had to remove the leatherette from the camera, soak it in Bronner's liquid soap and eventually the smell left it. Basically, if the scent is suspended in oil like most perfumes, an oil, surfactant, or solvent is necessary to remove the offending odor. 
Don't forget to soak the keys in whatever you're using to remove smell, those are also often a source.
Phil Forrest
 

Maintenance & Repairs » The letter "a" uneven on three of my typewriters...Solutions? » 18-12-2022 13:15:58

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 1

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Typebar alignment is like adjusting camber, caster, and toe-in on a car, changing one affects one or both of the others.
You can very gently bend (almost imperceptibly) to affect the angle of the letter, but since the A key is so far left, that bend is going to affect the vertical position as well, so you'd have to compensate by just giving the long stem  of the typebar a little flex in the direction to move the letter. You may want to try this out on a machine that you don't care as much for. Regarding your E key, it sounds like it's worn at the pivot point. More correctly, the heavy pivot wire has a groove in it most likely since the typebars are made of harder steel. You can adjust this by moving the wire about the width of one typebar in the segment but beware, you may find that all your type is out of alignment once this is done.
Regardless, don't fret, just have fun.

Portable Typewriters » Mystery Typewriter in locked case - who bought it » 17-12-2022 11:23:56

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 17

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A couple years ago, I took a chance on a locked S-C Holiday case that was listed at 12lb in weight. It cost me $6 + minimal shipping from Delaware. Turned out to be a very nice Tower President.

Type Talk » Cars & Typewriters... » 15-11-2022 19:04:52

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 1

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Officially the most gorgeous car ever made in the past and in the future.
I know a collector/mechanic who has an SL of every decent generation, including several variants of the W198 (300 Gullwing, 190SL.) All of them are working cars, not fully restored, so they show some of the grit of the streets of Hudson and Bergen counties. My favorites are the Paul Bracq designed W113 SLs, which are the sportscar versions of my 1972 220D. 
Phil Forrest

Maintenance & Repairs » Smith Corona Silent, stud from the paper feed came off. » 13-11-2022 20:46:05

Phil_F_NM
Replies: 5

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If you can find the threaded stud that came off, you could use some JB Weld and put it right back on. This is not a stressed part, but needs to be able to move vertically in the slot in the carriage to allow the paper feed to release.
Phil Forrest

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