1 of 1- colrehogan
- Key Master
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- From: Granite City, IL
- Registered: 05-2-2015
- Posts: 612
Typing Technique
As I was typing today on my Remington 5, it occurred to me (once again) to wonder how much of typing is technique. What I mean is when I remove my backing sheet, I assume that the ideal result would be to not have holes in either my document or the backing sheet (or sheets).
Is this a function of:
1. Needing a new platen.
2. Using too much force on the keys while typing in the quest to get really black print (this reminds me of having the blackest black ink for fountain pens - another discussion on another forum)
3. Not using the appropriate type or amount of extra sheets of paper
4. Never being taught proper typing technique.
5. Variation between different makes/manufacturers and how they feel to you as the typist
6. Some combination of all of the above.
I am hoping to get to the point where I don't have holes in my pages when I pull them from the typewriter - whichever typewriter it is.
Smith Premier typewriters are cool!
- Fleetwing
- Typewriter Talk Vet
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- From: Hartford, CT USA
- Registered: 30-6-2015
- Posts: 1,011
Re: Typing Technique
It's probably #6, but I do think that some machines will dent or punch a hole in the paper (period, comma, dash especially) regardless of how lightly you're typing, and I think that's mainly a function of a hardened platen. However, I just got from friends a 1952 QDL that seems to like to push dents in the paper when typing the aforementioned characters, even if the other characters don't do this. The platen feels like it's still got some softness to it (typical of Royals, it seems), so I am wondering whether some type slug castings just are sharper than others, so they bite into the paper more. Each of my Olympias, even those with harder platens, do not dent the paper at all.
- TypewriterKing
- Inactive Account
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- From: DeepInTheHeartO', Texas
- Registered: 17-2-2016
- Posts: 1,011
Re: Typing Technique
This is something that also happens with electric typewriters--sometimes especially. It is here where technique isn't nearly as involved, since the firmness of how you press the keys in no way affects the impression on the paper, since pressing the keys only moves the cams to the power roller or fluted shaft, and the rest is done purely by machine. For this, you could add a #7: Impression control set too strongly; or a #8: Individual cam in need of adjustment. Maybe several, but not all, may need adjusting. But electric typewriters do get hardness of the platen as well as manual typewriters. Royal RE electrics are about the worst offenders I've run into--these babies CHEW UP paper by the ream. I've rolled out sheets of paper you could read the back of like braille.
Underwood--Speeds the World's Bidness
- Uwe
- Moderator
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- From: Toronto, Canada
- Registered: 12-3-2013
- Posts: 4,410
Re: Typing Technique
Agree with Fleetwing that it's most likely a combination of things, but more so involving items 1, 2, and 5.
One factor in the equation that can't be overstated is the role the ribbon plays in it. When a ribbon is failing, a subconscious compensation takes place to type harder than you should to maintain a decent type quality. This of course is harder on everything involved, the typewriter and its components, and the typist too. Most are not aware this is happening, but it's easy to prove; just swap an old ribbon for a fresh one and note how different the machine suddenly feels. Because of this I never assess the performance of a typewriter, especially not its type action and feel, until I have a new ribbon installed.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
