Ouch

I don't know if I have the luck of Adwoa or Robert but two typewriters crossed my path today: an unremarkable and very stinky SCM Galaxie that I left behind, and this lovely piece of keychop-bait sitting at a local antique shop:



Ted's database puts this in 1934, which is a fine year for typewriter style. The keys on this machine look brand-new, though there are a few issues below the dirt-and-grime layer. The drawband is snapped, as one would expect in a machine this age. The bell doesn't ring, though the mechanisms appear to be complete.

Being a little preoccupied today, I also failed to notice that the return lever is missing.



If I was earlier in my type-accumulating career, I might have thought this an impassable obstacle, but it looks more like a hassle than anything else. I can always advance the line by hand for now, and maybe I can take a page from the Filthy Platen Playbook and have my own replacement made. I'm shockingly unstressed about the whole thing.

UPDATE: Scott's machine was identical. Not only can I have a replacement made, but I can use his very design. This is where the Typosphere is a Huge Win, people -- collectors helping collectors, worldwide.

Besides, I'm a huge sucker for old repair shop labels, and I love this one, right on the front of the machine.



Wounded or not, it would have hurt to leave this one behind.

UPDATE: a few more macro shots showing the site of the broken lever. Click to empixelate.

Books of Glass and Other Evolutionary Mistakes

Typed on a 1958 italic-face Olympia SM3. Talk about single-purpose devices...

Hermes 3000/Hermes Media Manual Scan

Ephemera-heads gotta stick together! The manual for the Skyriter that I have posted still gets pretty frequent hits, so here's a greyscale scan of the manual that came with my wide-carriage, French made Hermes 3000. Based on the cover of the booklet, this also applies to the Hermes Media model.

Even though the styling changed, the layout of controls and their behavior appears to be the same as the curvy 1950s and boxy 1960s variations.

Typespotting: Olympia International Arabic Electric

Apologies for the atrocious photo quality, but spotted this monster today -- an electric Olympia standard model (SG... something?) with an Arabic keyboard. Very neat! Even has the dual cloth- and carbon-ribbon system inside.

Yes, Ted, I did get the serial number, too. :-) Don't know the age or model, but if I had to guess, I'd say a 1970's electrified SG3, just based on the body style, the logo, and the paper-injector lever (cut out of the bottom photo.)

Chin Up, Sadie

• You can read all the manufactured drama about "Starbucks Typewriter Guy" on Gizmodo

Typed on Sadie, a 1954 Underwood De Luxe Quiet Tab

Like a Lion

March is kicking my butt this year: I hope to check back in with the 'sphere soon. Enjoying your blogs, as always...