beak wrote:

For instance, I'd start with the ridiculously inadequate paper support on the (otherwise excellent) Hermes 3000!

Exactly!

It's like their taped a couple of straws to the carriage that bend down at the weight of the first piece of paper and just stayed there. The paper support looks great folded down on the back, but first time I flipped them up I thought something was stuck:-)

Not to sound like an echo, but I have been a big fan of Olympia typewriters as well, especially the SM8/SM9 models. They are just efficient, straightforward, and high-quality typewriters. I am also a fan of many of the 1950s and 1960s Smith-Corona portable typewriters, and have been absolutely impressed with the tiny little Skyriter. They're a bit cheap in construction, but they work great. 

So far, I haven't found a typewriter I really disliked, but I generally only pick up typewriters from local sales and flea markets, so most of what I come across is from Royal, Smith-Corona,  Underwood, Remington, and the occasional Olympia or Hermes. Really, the only typewriters that I have consistently found that had issues have been the Hermes Rockets I've come across, though alot of others seem to like them quite a bit. Just seems to me that some of the European made ultra-portables from the 1950s and 1960s don't age very well if they are stored in less-than-ideal conditions. 

Last edited by Retro-Z (09-6-2015 20:13:55)

Royal is the king of typewriters. 

ztyper wrote:

Royal is the king of typewriters. 

Gotta say, they made some great stuff! I've been totally impressed with the beat-up old HH I just picked up. An HH or FP in one of their nifty green/blue colors is definitely on my wanted list!!!

Uwe wrote:

I'd have to pull one out, but I don't recall having any issues with the paper support on a 3000, so maybe it's something that could be adjusted? I'm overjoyed when a typewriter comes with any form of a paper support, so maybe I'm less fussy about them. It remains one of the biggest mysteries to me why so many machines did not have a paper support (standard and portable models) when it's consistently one of things that I use most. Being able to read what you've already typed is of course the primary benefit, but not having a sheet of paper drag along the desk is the bigger concern for me.

 
I am noticing that as you get closer to the bottom of the page, the paper may start to slide a bit under its own weight as I type.