Hi Jeff

​It would help if we know which series or how old your Sterling is. Smith-Corona used the name Sterling from the 1930's right through to the late 1970's, from the flat top models all the way through to the Galaxie Class typewriters. Finding the serial number will go a long way to figuring out the age of the unit. (H65432L is not the serial number)

All the best

Sky

skywatcher wrote:

Hi Jeff

​It would help if we know which series or how old your Sterling is. Smith-Corona used the name Sterling from the 1930's right through to the late 1970's, from the flat top models all the way through to the Galaxie Class typewriters. Finding the serial number will go a long way to figuring out the age of the unit. (H65432L is not the serial number)

Sky

That H65432L looks like a Smith-Corona Date Code; it's on a metallic sticker, right? Ted is collecting a list of them over at the Typewriter Database http://typewriterdatabase.com/twdb_rfi001.php so log in there and add to the list. It will help us nail down S-C dates, which are not yet complete.

Re those disconnected links, I have re-connected many of them and never had to take off any body panels except sometimes the bottom one. The screwdriver tool is necessary even when they are not bent. To reshape bent ones, sometimes you can work one or even two thin needle-nose pliers in there; if you can't, then try a pair or even three screwdrivers manipulated in various ways from various positions levered against what ever works. Need anything more specific, let us know. It's worth doing. Good Luck.

JeffMo74 wrote:

Thanks! Off shoot question: Clean the machine first or repair first?

Basically, clean first because cleaning will often obviate the need for repair. OTOH, sometimes you have to fix something in order to assess whether any further work is worth it. In practice, for me, I go back and forth throughout the project---get stumped on a repair so take a break by cleaning or during the cleaning, I figure out a mechanical problem.

For cleaning, I have a definite workflow: vacuum first (if there's enough dust and cat hair that I don't want to risk blowing it in deeper), then blow out with compressed air, then assess things and use solvent(s) on hardened lubrication and swab up the loosened gunk, then clean off any rust that hinders movement. I don't apply any solvent until the dust is gone or it will make a mud. All that is cleaning, and then I address mechanical problems like bent parts and disconnected springs and worn parts, etc. Sometimes I save the final polishing for my reward and other times I have to spiffy up the looks in order to keep up the interest in fixing a problem.

tldr: Ha! it depends...
 

skywatcher wrote:

Hi M. Höhne

​The H65432L of which I speak is the setting scale for the touch selector ​. You'd be surprised at how many eBay sellers think this, or the 43B casting number on the main frame is the serial number for the typewriter . All the best,

​Sky

Gah! How clumsy of me! Should have recognized that. It did seem odd to have five consecutive numerals, even in a part number. What are the odds, eh? I'm sure someone here will tell us but I can never remember the distinction between combinations and permutations.
 

Lucas Dul wrote:

... snip ...l, not sure why they come apart in the first place. ... snip ...

I think often they come apart under the force of clashed and stuck typebars when kids are pounding on them and build up a great mass of typebars and then keep pounding. Whether the design is designed by S-C to prevent bent links or to speed up factory assembly, I don't know. They really committed to it, though, I like the design.