I remain hopeful that someone can fabricate a piece out of hardened steel! If it works out, I will post again to the group. On the up side, no machines would be cannibalized in the process.

TypewriterKing wrote:

Oh, there is nothing wrong with the cannibalization of a machine. In fact, most typewriter repairmen have done so more often than not--unless they had a new part available in a little baggie or box or something. I've done that too.

I disagree. It was an understandable and more excusable practice when typewriters were still being manufactured and replacement parts could still be obtained - eventually, but I think that far too machines are being needlessly parted out now. Often this is because those performing the repair work don't know any better, or they're only interested in taking the easiest, least expensive route. Some people (especially on eBay) are parting out fully working machines because they've figured out that they are worth more in parts than as a whole machine. The technology that allows for custom part fabrication has been advancing in leaps and bounds, and most importantly, it's becoming more cost effective (for example, companies like these are popping up everywhere). How many typewriters will be lost in the future because of some simple part that could have easily been reproduced for a few bucks? And only because they took the advice to steal that part off another machine instead of possibly having a new one made?

TypewriterKing wrote:

I know that Rheinmetalls are probably exceedingly rare (I haven't seen one in these hy'ar parts of Texas),

Thinking that Rheinmetall typewriters are rare because you haven't seen one where you live is no different than a Bavarian farmer thinking that 1950s Smith-Corona portables are rare because he's never seen one of those either.