- Spazmelda
- Key Master
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- From: Ohio
- Registered: 25-2-2015
- Posts: 830
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
I've used my cordless drill as a paper rest before, lol. It was right there, and it would stand up on its own and keep the paper from flopping over. I'm sure yours will be much more... Elegant.
- beak
- Key Master
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- From: Qld Australia
- Registered: 24-3-2013
- Posts: 912
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
Well! That was embarrassingly easy....
The 'paper support' is one of those telescopic things with a magnet on the end that are handy for picking (typewriter) screws up from the floor. It snapped instantly and firmly into place, moves with the carriage, and is fully adjustable!
Shall make something better one day, but for now; problem scotched.
Last edited by beak (22-7-2015 06:08:49)
Sincerely,
beak.
- •
Thread Starter- Spazmelda
- Key Master
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- From: Ohio
- Registered: 25-2-2015
- Posts: 830
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
Ah, you are so clever! A magnetic paper support would work for so many typewriters. Pondering the possibilities... If only I knew how to do metal fabrication and had all the tools. But that is pretty darn perfect.
Last edited by Spazmelda (22-7-2015 07:07:25)
- beak
- Key Master
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- From: Qld Australia
- Registered: 24-3-2013
- Posts: 912
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
Doesn't have to be metal - how about wood (ebony, beech, many beautiful timbers) or plastic? Some old plastics such as Vulcanite and Bakelite have rather a classy look. Even laminated card can be quite strong.
Sincerely,
beak.
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Thread Starter- Spazmelda
- Key Master
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- From: Ohio
- Registered: 25-2-2015
- Posts: 830
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
True, I was thinking of the bottom parts that hold the magnet, but you are right. I don't have the tools to do woodworking either, lol. Polymer clay would not look super classy, or maybe it could... I just ordered one of those telescoping magnet doohickeys.
- beak
- Key Master
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- From: Qld Australia
- Registered: 24-3-2013
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Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
The more I think of it, the more I like the idea of wood. A magnet might easily be inserted into the base, and the stem easily be formed into a graceful curve to guide the paper perfectly. Small contrasting inlays might be used to indicate remaining space on the sheet.
When houseguests leave, I shall have a play and see what happens.
Last edited by beak (22-7-2015 09:58:06)
Sincerely,
beak.
- •
Thread Starter- Spazmelda
- Key Master
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- From: Ohio
- Registered: 25-2-2015
- Posts: 830
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
I can't wait to see what you come up with 
can I place an order now, or should I wait?
- malole
- Inactive Account
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- From: East Anglia, UK
- Registered: 02-6-2014
- Posts: 330
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
I didn't even know those magnetic radio aerial things existed! I will have to get one. My radio is safe
- beak
- Key Master
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- From: Qld Australia
- Registered: 24-3-2013
- Posts: 912
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
Preliminary (personal) conclusions following a week or so's use of the Royal HH.
Firstly, you have to say that this is a very well made machine; the parts and features that are present seem well engineered and the machine performs well overall.
But I'm not so happy about what's not there...
1. No paper support.
2. No half-spacing feature. Other machines offer half-spacing (for corrections etc) by holding down the space bar. Not this one.
3. Line spacing too basic. Single, double or tripple spacing only. I should have expected 1 1/2 line spacing as an option on an office standard.
I like the machine, and am very glad to have it, but was surprised at these omissions.
I have very few American machines, but begin to get the feeling that post-war American designs were a little conservative. I'm reminded of leica Cameras; what they do, they do very well, but they don't do as much as some other makes. Anyone else noticed this tendency, or is this a false idea based on too small a sampling?
ETA - reminded here that the HH also lacks -
4. A pencil-notch for drawing grids and lines.
Last edited by beak (29-7-2015 00:37:40)
Sincerely,
beak.
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Thread Starter- ztyper
- Key Master
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
- Posts: 773
Re: The Royal HH - am I missing something?
This tendency is (from what I have experienced) very true. American made machines are very basic in engineering compared to other companies. Let's compare the Olympia SM-4 and the Remington Letter-Riter. They're both from the same era of typewriter but very different machines. The Letter-Riter lacks a paper rest, half spacing, obvious ratchet release ,1 1/2 line spacing, and a sufficient touch-control while the Olympia has all that including a way to see how much lines you have left on the paper rest, a way to align your text, and a line drawer. There's nothing wrong with the Letter-Riter, it just feels a bit underwhelming. I suppose this was done on purpose with the no-frills way of American engineering. In the end though, it's all about the preformance of the machine and if you like it, that's all that really matters.
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
