Some typewriters have factory-set tabs that cannot be changed, hence no Set and Clear keys. Preset tabs are often every ten spaces or 1 inch or some regular distance. Set your margins to their full outside settings and then tab across the line and notice whether the carriage stops every X spaces, possibly on each 10, 20, 30, etc. mark on the bail index. 

Hey guys thanks for the reply

M Höhne:
I have moved around the stops to the four edges of both sides and when I press the tab key, it will move the entire length of the carriage if I let it, nothing stops it.

Skywatcher:
You are correct, you can press down slightly and move them around the notches but I can't help but wonder if they were installed backwards, there is a little tooth  that sticks out at an angle but it faces away from the carriage railing and I wonder if it shouldn't be turned around. Of course I'm not sure if that's doable but now I will have to look and see.

Hi Again

​It is possible that the entire tab rail has been installed upside down. With this cover off, hold the carriage somewhere close to center and while looking at the back of the machine, see if a metal stop under the tab rail moves when you press the tabulator key. Now that I can see what is currently the bottom of the tab stops, it would make far more sense to have the single point indicating the tab position as opposed to the V-notch. As for trying to mount the tab stops on the margin rail, you'd simply jam the whole machine up.

I would suggest start by removing the two screws on the tab rail and rotating the whole rail assembly 180º keeping the side that's presently facing out still facing out. This will put the single points over the tab scale on the cover you just removed. I feel that as long as you don't force anything, you're not going to hurt or damage anything by trying the tab rail in different positions. I would suggest controlling the carriage movement with your hand when you try each position, you don't want the carriage to fly across and damage anything. Let us know what you find out. All the best,

​Sky

I think they are likely in the correct direction. Unless I am misreading the picture/angle; it looks like they would catch on the margin stops if reversed. The V shape is probably facing outward to make it easier to move and set. If it is not catching, I would check the mechanism that is suppose to catch the tab stops. I think it is more likely there is a problem with that than someone installing the tabulator bar backwards. I'd recommend looking at the back of the machine and pressing the tab button and looking for the part that catches and releases the stops. It may be sticking/misaligned/missing/disconnected/etc. I would check that first, before turning anything around or taking anything apart.

Man, that Contessa  just can not take a bad picture !