I can´t say much about the original Underwood 5 because the two I´ve owned never typed a single letter. The first one was an overoptimistic shot at repairing a rust-and-crust bucket and the second one went to my uncle´s house as a decoration piece because he didn´t need it operational. Nevertheless, I have a 1916 Underwood 3 which pretty much can give an idea on how the Underwood 5 is.



Before going into detail, could anyone explain what are the differences between the 3 and 5? Both machines seem to be pretty similar.

If I had to define the Underwood 3 in a single word it´d be "modern". It´s surprisingly advanced for its time, or at least it feels so. Everything seems to be "in place", I mean, as if the guys who designed it weren´t trying anything new, they just got it right. Return lever on the left, ribbon spools at the top, tabulator... "conventional" design, that is, a design which would become conventional after years of experimenting with weird stuff like spools at the sides, right-handed or even double return levers, bizarre typebar arrangements... But the Underwood 3 (or 5) is equally beautiful and proficient. The touch is "simple", I mean, you can get along well with it in no time. Maybe it´s not as responsive as later models, but it lets you type easily enough if you keep in mind you´re dealing with an old typewriter: they need adequate timing, not like a pitiful laptop keyboard (just like the one I´m using right now).

And then there comes the Touchmaster Five:



This is one of my first typewriters, and the first one that needed heavy repairs by my friend Pascual. Apart from the aesthetic differences, the Touchmaster 5 feels entirely different. The shorter keystroke and the "flat" feel allow to type faster. You don´t have to drive the keys that deep to type, and in addition keys are softer. Round glass keys are Beautiful in Capitals, but after a while your fingertips will think otherwise. The Touchmaster may have uglier keytops, but they work well. And that´s the general trend: the Touchmaster is not a beautiful typewriter, but it is good enough to compete against almost anything. In fact, the Touchmaster is one of my favourites typewriters to draft with. Sometimes I write just for the pleasure of typing, but when I´m working on my stories I want a typewriter which allows me to forget about the typewriter and just focus on the story. And the Touchmaster 5 has steadily allowed me to do so.

The Touchmaster 5 might be uglier, but if you need to type heavily I´d rely on it. It´s a pity that this model is considered "second tier junk", a "breadbasket" or "a sin", because it´s a good breadbasket. It suffers from the "lil´ brother syndrome", that is, always being compared to the older one and having the Underwood 5 in front of you puts you in a difficult position. On its own it´s still ugly, but good.

All in all, I wouldn´t know which one to choose. Performance-wise, the Touchmaster, but everything else-wise the classic 3 (or 5). I like to consider the Touchmaster as the last Underwood, and with that they´ve given us a prett decent typewriter. It´s not as bad as they say, but it isn´t an Olympia SG3 either.

Oh, that's easy.  All you have to do is to pop open the side panels on that baby, look for the "castle" nuts toward the top inside, and if, say, the caps are higher than the lower case, turn each castle nut counter clockwise.  If the caps are lower, turn them clockwise.  Be sure to turn each nut identically with the other so the segment basket of typebars will stay in balance.  Bear in mind these lower castle nuts adjust the lower case letters.  If the capitals are not printing properly (cutting off the tops, lower parts darker than the tops, et cetera), there is a topside adjustment you'll need to make.  They are under the ribbon panels which slide at the top.  This adjustment is held in place by a jam nut on both sides.  You'll have to loosen those jam nuts.  When you do, again, make sure that if you turn the right one a certain amount of turns or parts of turns, turn the other one identically.  When you get better looking capitals, you'll have to readjust your lower case.  Look at the above for how.

TypewriterKing wrote:

Oh, that's easy. All you have to do is to pop open the side panels on that baby, look for the "castle" nuts toward the top inside, and if, say, the caps are higher than the lower case, turn each castle nut counter clockwise. If the caps are lower, turn them clockwise. Be sure to turn each nut identically with the other so the segment basket of typebars will stay in balance. Bear in mind these lower castle nuts adjust the lower case letters. If the capitals are not printing properly (cutting off the tops, lower parts darker than the tops, et cetera), there is a topside adjustment you'll need to make. They are under the ribbon panels which slide at the top. This adjustment is held in place by a jam nut on both sides. You'll have to loosen those jam nuts. When you do, again, make sure that if you turn the right one a certain amount of turns or parts of turns, turn the other one identically. When you get better looking capitals, you'll have to readjust your lower case. Look at the above for how.

Thanks for this! I figured you would know how it's done. So how do I get the side panels off, and back on? I cleaned a fair amount of tape residue off the sides of the machine around the panels, which tells me they don't go back on so easily. And what sort of wrench or spanner can get at those castle nuts? Finally, if I have to make the additional adjustments you mention, I will likely be back to you about those jam nuts you mention and the adjustment they lock down.  I appreciate your help here very much.

Fleetwing wrote:

Uwe, I hope you don't mind this dialog in front of the whole forum...

Nope, that's what the forum is for. Those who find it of interest or help will read it. Anyone else can just skip the thread if need be.