1 of 1- reakeener1970
- Novice Typer
Offline - Registered: 17-2-2016
- Posts: 28
What brand's platen tend to stand the test of time best?
Generally speaking, because I know storage conditions, etc. can affect this, has anyone noticed a trend in which brand's platens tend to last the best.
For instance, it seems to be a common observation that Hermes platens tend to be hard as rocks at this point in time, but a Remington Noiseless portable I just got has a platen that, while pretty hard, actually still has a little give to it to my amazement. Of course, for all I know the platen was replaced 20 years ago or something, but I digress.
Thoughts?
- Uwe
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- Registered: 12-3-2013
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Re: What brand's platen tend to stand the test of time best?
I've not spotted a trend at all, and one reason for this is that the rubber material used to cover the platen was probably outsourced, and because of that many different manufacturers might have been using the same material. Also, as you alluded to, platen replacement - or recovering - was not an uncommon maintenance practice, so it's difficult to determine how many machines that we come across still have their original platen rubber.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- thetypewriterman
- Key Master
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Re: What brand's platen tend to stand the test of time best?
There is a bit of a trend here. Some makes have platens that survive better than others. If we are talking flat portables for instance, Olympias almost always have good platens, even at 50 years old. Brothers are pretty good too in this respect. Hermes always have hard platens, so do Silver-Reeds made in Japan - although late Silver-Reeds made in Korea usually have good ones ! Smith-Corona Corsairs usually have very soft platens, although they are not good machines in other respects.
- KatLondon
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Re: What brand's platen tend to stand the test of time best?
That's a waste, isn't it.
- reakeener1970
- Novice Typer
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Re: What brand's platen tend to stand the test of time best?
thetypewriterman wrote:
There is a bit of a trend here. Some makes have platens that survive better than others. If we are talking flat portables for instance, Olympias almost always have good platens, even at 50 years old. Brothers are pretty good too in this respect. Hermes always have hard platens, so do Silver-Reeds made in Japan - although late Silver-Reeds made in Korea usually have good ones ! Smith-Corona Corsairs usually have very soft platens, although they are not good machines in other respects.
Thanks for letting me know! I only have one Olympia (SM3 DeLuxe) so hardly much of a data point, but would like to try out some of the others (SM9, and the ultraportable one SL(?)(name eluding me right now).
Of all the typewriters in my collection (about a dozen), it is in great shape but I have never really used it for whatever random reason. It is maroon color, which may be part of it as I am not really much into maroon. I love my Hermeses but not into the green either, so whatever... More partial to my Black Remington Noiselesses (1930s/40s) and Royal Quiet DeLuxe (circa 1940s).
Have been contemplating an SM9 or a Brother (I hear they are well-built) or Olivetti (hey, who doesn't want something Italian-made!) for a out and about typewriter.
Anyways, just wondering before I buy another which brand may be more viable without having to go through a platen replacement (and assoc $$$). So Olympia and Brother up a notch on the decision tree then!
Anyone else out there have any input?
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