I spent some free time this weekend browsing the Ames service manual on these noiseless machines. And they are completely different than anything else I've seen. It would be almost like a sub-specialty in the typewriter repair field to really get comfortable fixing these things. Nothing you learned from other typers would help you with one of these.
     Still, I've got an itch to go and offer the guy $25 for this one just so I could get it home and start tracing out how the keypress is translated into that "thrust" motion. I'd love to get it working, just to hear if it really is quieter than a regular typer. And getting it working would be the only goal since it will never be a display model (the cover is missing and the decals are so worn they are barely readable)

I found an early 1930's Underwood Noiseless desk model at the local ReStore here in The Dalles, Oregon this morning with a price tag of $35 on it. It is pretty rough and is missing the main art-deco mechanicals cover which gives it so much character. It's also been sitting in a barn so things are very stiff and grungy, but I don't see much rust. This is the model with the "thrust action" mechanicals so it's kind of interesting to me.
   I think I'm going back there this afternoon with my camera to take some pics to post on the TW data base site and I'll see if I can get a serial number. The carriage might be frozen so I might not be able to get that, however.
   I don't know how long it'll last there. I doubt it'll move very quickly because I don't think there are very many typer collectors in this town. The ReStore guy knows me by sight and he's never mentioned anyone else coming by specifically asking about old typers like I do.
    I'm not interested in it for myself; I'm a "user" of typers, and I don't really need a display shelf typer, but maybe someone else has interest in preserving the antique rarities and might find a use for some parts. If you are interested in it let me know and I can go make the guy an offer and then I can box it up and ship it.
   I'll post some pics when I get back later this afternoon.

I've changed typers again, folks. I decided that, since I'm not anywhere near reaching my daily quota of words, I ought to type on a machine that I want to give a workout to. (you should never end a sentence with a preposition, I have learned)   So here is my 1946 Royal KMM, which I purchased at a yard sale this past August. I have oiled it up but it still seems a bit "tight", so I wanted to give it a good workout, and NaNo seems like a good opportunity.


   Therefore I am now pounding the keys on this lovely old pica sized newsroom typer which I call the "Headbanger" since it puts up so much vibration in my typing table when I use it. But it is certainly a fast typer! And I love the speed bursts I can put on it without jamming the typebars.
   Cheers to all at the halfway point...

I changed typewriters -- I switched from the SC Sterling to the 1966 Underwood Five desk machine. I had to roll a new ribbon onto those spools, but I absolutely love the way the printing looks with a fresh ribbon and the Touch-Master Five allows me to get "bursty" with my typing.

For Fleetwing: here's a pic of the right side platen knob, in case it didn't come through in the message.