Hi Addisonian,

This sounds like an interesting project.  It shouldn't be too hard to find a clunker machine to modify.

1. Most machines are going to be similar as far as the typebars and the slugs.
2. The slugs are soldered onto the type bars.  They can be taken off easily with a torch.
3. Angle of attachment is very important.  As far as I know professional typewriter repair people used some sort of jig to get stuff aligned correctly.  It has to be at the right angle to strike the paper properly, and it has to be lined up so that it fits through the slot in the ribbon vibrator assembly (not sure what the proper name for this is).

I'd say, go find you a clunker machine and start examining it.  If you are mechanically minded you should be able to figure out all the variables to make this idea work.

Side note:  Would you be able to fabricate a typebar?  Curious!

It's an interesting project, and looking forward to hearing how it goes.
I think I can add to the complexities by passing on that (afaik) the face of the slug is also curved - to match the radius of the platen (big rubber roller).  For all the above, I think it is doable, given the will to do it.
Be sure to find a machine that is both common (so as not to fear destroying the last of its kind) and which has plenty of technical information available on it, and make sure that it is in good working order before you begin - no point doing all this on a 'junker', IMO.  I might look at an Adler Gabrielle (several types) or similar machine.

Are the slugs in fact soldered or perhaps brazed in place, rather than welded? - I think so.

Thanks for your replies! Super helpful! There are some typewriter repair shops near my in LA so I'm gonna go talk to those guys too and see if they have those jigs you were talking about or some other way to make this easier.

Definitely want to do this on a typewriter that I don't need to fix up first. Looking at some Adler Gabriels, got any other specific recommendations for a nice one with lots of resources and ribbons still available? Really like the look of the 60's-70's portables.

Spazmelda, not sure what I can do with the actual type bars yet, but I'll let you know once i have a typewriter in my possession and see how their made. But given that i find one one with no issues on the actual typebars, it should be somewhat easier to get the slug to line up properly since the type bar is in original orientation and only the slugs need to be soldered on correctly?

TypewriterGuy wrote:

I was thinking like a cap to be applied to the type slugs.

 A "cap" would dramatically change the clearance of the slug to the page, so it's not a good idea. Far easier to replace the slug if you know what you're doing. 

@addisonsan: Forget the Adler. Given your location you'll have better luck finding American-made machines. I'd suggest getting a 6-Series Smith-Corona such as the Classic 12. Not only are they pretty easy to find, but many came with the Smith-Corona "Changeable Type" system that allowed owners to quickly and easily replace one or two type slugs on their machines with optional slugs that they could buy from Smith-Corona - no soldering involved. Seems to me that this might be a good place for you to start, reproducing a "Changeable Type" slug with one using your own typeface to test how it all works. From there you could always move on to permanent slugs.

However, if you have a typewriter repair shop in your area it will be the best source of advice on this subject, and they'll probably be able to help you directly in realizing your project. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.





Comparison of a regular type slug (soldered) next to a Changeable Type slug:

malole wrote:

This is very like the project you propose... typewriter with Comic Sans typeface fixed to existing typeface

​Interesting, and fun, but also a good example of how not to do it. He glued "laser engraved letters made out of acrylic" to the existing slugs, and you can see how terrible the type quality is because of it. No doubt it was just meant as a quick experiment, so you can't argue with what he did, but I'd never consider it to be a permanent solution nor one that would last for very long. I was initially impressed that he had made new keys for the machine to match the typeface until I realized that they were just stickers on top of the original keys.