Hey Sky -- thanks for the tip! I can see the need for light touch, but clearly mine needs more tuning because it needs way more a "hot stove" strong jab.  Good news is I figured out the platen issue wasn't the platen; one of the long skinny tiny rollers down deep in the paper feed had torn its rubber and was jamming it up. I am not competent / experienced enough to dis-assemble that deeply yet so went at it with a sharp tiny screwdriver; half the rubber came off, et voila now it feeds and grips again. I am sure not the most elegant solution but gotta break things to learn sometime. Anyway now it is a competent typer; I cleaned the slugs and it looks halfway decent. though aligment still wacky. I'll post pics! It's serial # YP129743 unless another digit is hidden back in there behind, says its a "Skyriter Deluxe" on the front right below ribbon cover.