Imperial restoration

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Posted by HannahViolet
08-11-2024 05:47:39 		#1

Hello, I’m new here and looking for some advice. I have an imperial 65 (not the machine I intended to buy but that’s another story).
Its in pretty bad shape and will need a full restoration, all keys are jammed, the space bar does nothing and it is covered in rust patches and in places the paint has flaked off down to the bare metal. The only part that’s actually in decent condition are the decals. 
Up until this point I’ve only restored antique sewing machines and a couple of looms so this is all new to me. Any and all advice is welcome as I would really love to get this machine looking good again even if I can’t get it working. 

There's nothing I love more than restoring neglected machines to their former glory. 
Until now I have only restored sewing machines and looms, typewriters are my next challenge.
 
Posted by Pete E.
08-11-2024 12:32:44 		#2

Hi Hanna,

Welcome to the Forum !

1.  You might want to let our Members know, generally, where you call home.  You might be lucky to have a more-local Member reach out to you to offer help and advice possibly in person.

2.  On YouTube, look for "Phoenix Typewriter".  Duane Jensen, there, has posted up hundreds and hundreds of really good cleaning and repair videos...that may not be specific to an Imperial 65...but generally can give you lots of tips to get you on your way to cleaning and even repairs.

https://www.youtube.com/@phoenixtypewriter2136
.

 
Posted by Pete E.
09-11-2024 12:41:51 		#3

And if you are in need of a User Manual, here is a free pdf-file for the Imperial 66...not sure if much different than your Imperial 65...

https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/Imperial66.pdf
.

 
Posted by HannahViolet
09-11-2024 12:52:36 		#4

Thank you, I will check YouTube and hopefully it will help me get started. I’m sure once I get acquainted with all the parts it will be much easier. 

There's nothing I love more than restoring neglected machines to their former glory. 
Until now I have only restored sewing machines and looms, typewriters are my next challenge.
 
Posted by Pete E.
09-11-2024 17:18:40 		#5

Hannah,

Sorry I misspelled your first name in my 1st. reply.  See you use the Palindrone version.

BTW...After working on many dozen typewriters as DIY projects, I got my wife of 42 years interested in vintage sewing machines...as she was having quality-issues with her modern-day plastic sewing machines.

Skills I learned (and tools I use) on my typewriters came in real handy on the vintage sewing machine projects we took on. 

Here are some of our sewing machines...good-to-go for another 30-40 years, easy.

And my wife made me some very nice dust covers for typewriters...
.
 

 
Posted by skywatcher
10-11-2024 17:39:23 		#6

Hi Pete

Those sewing machines are beautiful, evidently built when manufacturers cared about the quality of their product. I had the pleasure of working on a late 1950's Singer portable 185J a few years ago (please excuse the clutter on the table). Having typewriter covers made for servicing and reconditioning those sewing machines sounds like an excellent trade. That's what I would call complimenting each other's skill sets.

We humans go through many computers in our lives, but in their lives, typewriters go through many of us.
In that way, they’re like violins, like ancestral swords. So I use mine with honor and treat them with respect.
I try to leave them in better condition than I met them. I am not their first user, nor will I be their last.
Frederic S. Durbin. (Typewriter mania and the modern writer)
 
Posted by Pete E.
14-11-2024 18:40:45 		#7

Hi Sky,

You are correct about the build-quality of these sewing machines from the 1950's through 1960's.

All metal construction were it counts.

They normally get a deep cleaning and their gear-boxes (if they have them) get their wax-like old grease removed and replaced with new lithium grease.  They also have 1-2 dozen oiling-points that get some synthetic oil and then just hum after that.  A new drive belt is also in order.

The electrical wiring harness to the motor, power on-off switch, and to the task light are usually frayed so I pull out all the wiring and start anew.  Induction motors get new brushes (still available) and if a motor is shot, new replacement motors are available and I will re-paint the new motor (they only come in black) to match the colours on the machines.

Sewing attachments may come with the machines, but my wife will spend time hunting them down if some are missing.

The wooden travel cases for these heavy machines were a light-weight build and are usually missing or ready for the trash-heap when they arrive in our home.

My wife has her machines pre-set for specific work tasks and when she sews, she moves from one machine to the next to get her project finished and is not slowed down by changing a sole machine from one task to the next.

I even found a "serger" machine from the same time period as her sewing machines.
.

 

 


 
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