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Type Talk » What Are You Typing On Today...? » 03-4-2022 09:35:32

robmck
Replies: 184

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Nice! I think the QDL would look great with the green platen knobs.
 

Type Talk » What Are You Typing On Today...? » 03-4-2022 09:22:52

robmck
Replies: 184

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On the road with my '41 Royal QDL (12CPI) that I acquired a few months ago. Getting to know it before I take it apart to do a deep clean. It's turning out to be in great functional shape; it just needs a bath. It's case, however, has a broken clasp and is filthy (so I'm borrowing the '47 QDL's case for travel).

Standard Typewriters » Someone Wamted a SG1...Desperately... » 28-3-2022 19:43:31

robmck
Replies: 7

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I wonder if that was what was going on with this one: Vintage Facit Cursive Letter Typewriter - shopgoodwill.com 

The bidding history shows it chugging along as might be expected through $300-ish. (I don't know the Facit market, but it is cursive...). Then suddenly a tripling of the price to $977, and one more bidder on top of that?

Which is not unlike this one Vintage 50'S Royal Quiet Deluxe Portable Typewriter - shopgoodwill.com, though that's an unusual QDL color (was it even stock?), and it has a 1 key, so perhaps it, too, was cursive / script?

Maintenance & Repairs » Brush for cleaning typeslugs » 26-3-2022 19:59:32

robmck
Replies: 2

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I've been using these nylon gun cleaning brushes. I like the little brush on the other end for getting into smaller spaces in the typewriter. Amazon.com : Otis Technology Blue Nylon All Purpose Gun Cleaning Brush (10 Pack) : Sports & Outdoors

I also use these plastic dental picks in the type slugs and elsewhere in the typewriter. Being plastic (and inexpensive), I don't worry about getting aggressive with them. Amazon.com: Tipton Firearm Cleaning Pick Set with 4 Picks for Gun Cleaning and Maintenance : Everything Else
 

Type Talk » Your Ebay watch list » 26-3-2022 10:43:16

robmck
Replies: 309

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Looks like one of those cases with the fold-out tripod is up on ebay. Includes an Underwood typewriter, too.

Vintage UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER Champion w/ Case/Flip Out Portable desk | eBay

 

Portable Typewriters » Facit TP-2 » 25-3-2022 08:44:36

robmck
Replies: 24

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Thanks for reporting your findings. Good to know they work well.

I like that pad, too. Will have to hunt around. 

Portable Typewriters » Facit TP-2 » 25-3-2022 00:10:06

robmck
Replies: 24

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Sky, do you have access to a 3D printer? Biermeister (Scott Bierly) has put some his 3D models for typewriter feet (and a few other typewriter parts) on Thingiverse: Designs - Thingiverse.

Pete, I'd love to know how you find these work in a good typewriting session. Do they grip reasonably well so the typewriter doesn't drift? Do they dampen well? I wonder how they rate vs feet on Etsy (TypewriterStuff | Etsy)

I've been thinking of getting some TPU filament to print new feet for various machines - at least for the ones in direst need - but I need to upgrade the hot-end of my 3D printer first... 

Come to think of it, RobertG of the "Backspace does not erase" blog puts his 3D models up on Thingiverse, too: Designs - Thingiverse
 

Maintenance & Repairs » Qdl » 24-3-2022 14:00:41

robmck
Replies: 47

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I happened to have torn down and rebuilt my '47 QDL this weekend. Haven't got the body panels back on yet, so it's easy to look around. 

One thing I'd suggest: strip the carriage down to essentials (i.e. pull out the platen, all the rollers, and the paper tray) so that you can see through the carriage. I found it really helped me on my 40s vintage QDLs understand what was going on and how the carriage worked. 

Also, Lucas Dul's video on installing the carriage is good for seeing what tall the moving parts are and how they fit together. (Though he starts the video with a model P, he switches to a QDL around 1:30). His skeleton carriages gave me the idea for stripping mine down for debugging. Type Shop, Ep. 2: HOW TO INSTALL A CARRIAGE ON A ROYAL TYPEWRITER - YouTube

On my vintage machine, the carriage rails sit on 4 ball bearings, each with a little orbital gear. Those plus the pinion gear that meshed with the carriage rack were the only points of contact with the base. I could imagine that those bearings being gummed up could slow things down. I took my carriage completely off, which I think is overkill. I wouldn't recommend it except as a last resort as it's pretty hard to get back on with the bearings in exactly the same place (impossible without Lucas' video, above). When I go after my '41 QDL next, I'm going to leave the carriage on, but strip the rollers and paper path out so I can go through the carriage to access stuff below. Then perhaps spray solvent through a straw down the rails to clear out any gunk. 

If you do take off the carriage, I recommend putting the typewriter in an old cookie sheet with sides before you start - that way when the bearings and gears fall out, they won't go anywhere. (I always use a cookie sheet when working on typewriters, carburators, or anything with small parts for that reason).

Big caveat: I'm still a beginner in the art of typewriter repair. Take everything I've

Electric Typewriters » Smith-Corona Electric » 23-3-2022 12:50:27

robmck
Replies: 25

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Mechanically sound and double-gothic is pretty cool!

Thanks you both for your thoughts! Looks like I'm adding this to my hunt list. Too bad I missed that one on goodwill - I don't have a blue 5 series, so it would have been a really good addition.
 

Electric Typewriters » Smith-Corona Electric » 22-3-2022 19:47:20

robmck
Replies: 25

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A few weeks ago, I stumbled on this Smith-Corona Electric on shopgoodwill, seconds before the auction closed. I'd not seen this model before and am a sucker for the 5 Series look.

Vintage Smith-Corona Electric Portable Typewriter - shopgoodwill.com

I know nothing of this model (or of electrics in general). What are people's thoughts on the writing experience of this machine? 

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