Thursday, May 24, 2012

Before the Strip

As requested, some "before" pictures detailing the many reasons why I think a typewriter makeover is due for this machine:

Streaks of mystery

The clamshell-style case has brown streaks of... brownness on it. Keeping the hand sanitizer close by at all times.

Foot fossil
All the feet are completely shot. These have to come off for me to get access to the insides anyway.

Rough handling

The ribbon cover has some small dents in it: not from transit, though, as UPS packed this machine expertly.

Ribbon gone wrong

A fine layer of eraser dust covers all surfaces. Can you say "dip & dunk candidate?" I knew you could.

Lift before use

We've struck rust! At least a tiny bit of it, where the lever has banged against the sides or someone's finger has worn away the paint.

Creeping cruds

The whole machine has pockets of crud about it, including a grimy layer creeping up the fronts of all the keys. I suspect a past life as a smoker's writing machine, as these look nicotine-ish to me. The inner layer of sound insulation will be sure to go, too.

KMart 100 typewriter

Oh sure, it's cute, but I think we can do better than cute, don't you?

8 comments:

Ryan Adney said...

Nice project machine. The bones are great and you can do a lot with it. Wait until you see what I am working on. It'll knock your socks off!

Richard P said...

A prime candidate for an extreme makeover.

- a typebarhead said...

i had to relinquish one of these machines recently because I didn't think I would have the time to give it a proper make over. Very excited that you have a similar one and will embark on the task. I can't wait to see it!

Is it strange that I not only get excited in reviving or pimping out my own machins, but other's projects as well??

Bill M said...

I can't wait to see the finished project.

Scott K said...

Hand sanitiser.... Good move. I picked up another typewriter yesterday, and was informed 'Oh, that might be rat poo in there' (on the type bars)

Suffice to say, I washed my hands after handling the unit, and made sure it was scrubbed when put on the shelf.

Best of luck! Looking forward to seeing the end result.

notagain said...

You're going to remove the original patina?!? That's gonna cost you on "Antiques Roadshow".

Mike Speegle said...

Blerg. Smoker machines.

But yeah, I'm excited to see what you do with this one, too.

Duffy Moon said...

Yeah. It's time to pimp that mutha. Or whatever the kids say these days.
I think my Walter Drake is going to get that treatment. Because it's hideous in barely-off-white.