Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 22, 2022 17:27:18 GMT -8
I got the red ink working again. There is some play in that transparent paper guard/guide. And if it isn't centered just right, it will prevent the ink head raising up enough to use the red ink. I hadn't noticed this before when I had taken it off to clean it. But I disassembled it again and upon reassembly saw what the problem was. I took a good, long look at the possibility of fixing the "Magic Columns." But I don't understand the mechanism (let alone why it isn't working). And the mechanism is buried so deep within, it would take a lot of disassembly to get at it. I think at this point, even for just practice, it's not worth it.
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Here's a less expensive and easier way to get into typewriters.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 22, 2022 17:52:43 GMT -8
It does look better. I think you can say more than "incrementally," since such small improvements have more than an incremental effect when dealing with such small print.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 23, 2022 14:13:41 GMT -8
Thanks! I also incrementally improved the physical appearance. I went to Lowe's today and had them make some sample yellow paint based upon one of the removable panels from the typewriter (the panel that covers the strikers that is missing in the photo below because it is still drying). I also bought a set of small brushes for fine work. I touched it up this morning. Although the samples they give you come only in a satin finish, it worked fine for touch-up work on the high-gloss existing mustard yellow paint. Most of the larger areas that needed work were on the back. I used some primer paint on any areas larger than about a BB. If you look close, you can see the touch-up work. But it looks pretty good in an overall view. The four outer quarters of the back had been rubbed down pretty good to the metal. The machine must have been resting against a wall while being used. Larger View"Computers may rule today’s communication channels, but it does so without that soundtrack that signals creativity in progress." An interesting quote I found on the web.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 23, 2022 15:17:23 GMT -8
I can't see the touch-up work, but my eyes are not those of a youngster any more.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 23, 2022 15:37:23 GMT -8
Ha! Maybe Lowe's just did a good job of matching the color. And I think they did. Research shows that the font used on this typewriter is a very common and typical 10 character-per-inch Pica font. A lot of classic writers used typewriters, including Hemingway and Bradbury. Here's a couple splendid paragraphs from someone at random:
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 26, 2022 15:49:07 GMT -8
The final step (is a project such as this ever truly over?) in the refurb was cleaning the painted areas with some Meguiar's Cleaner Wax. A typewriter refurber online recommend it. It cleans and polishes, although there really wasn't much, if any, dirt to remove. But it did polish it up a bit, including (but not as much) the areas that were repainted with the satin-finish paint. Larger View
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 26, 2022 17:54:27 GMT -8
Wow! That looks like a new typewriter. Who knew that there were so many specialist items available to burnish an old Royal/Remington/Smith Corona?
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 11,047
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 26, 2022 18:46:59 GMT -8
Thanks. It did turn out pretty well. And it was nice that this old typewriter was more or less quite mechanically sound. It was a nice find by my brother.
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Post by kungfuzu on Oct 27, 2022 8:42:19 GMT -8
It seems you have something in common with this guy. The Hunter
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 11,047
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 27, 2022 8:58:29 GMT -8
I think I watched that one last year. Not sure.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 11,047
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Post by Brad Nelson on Oct 29, 2022 15:47:58 GMT -8
I still think they typewriter is a tad stiff in terms of the pressure needed to move the keys. I did a bit more oiling and I think I improved it a little.
Also, the type is not as solid black as it should be. It could be that the ribbon I bought is a cheap one and is started to run out. I found one online from a specialty shop that claims there's are of high quality. They are kept in a bag so they don't dry out. And the ribbon even comes in a metal reel instead of a plastic one. So for $20.00 (including shipping) I'll take a chance and see if this does any good.
But I can't complain about the clarity of the type. This machine has not been abused. All of the letters are clear and without damage. It's just that if you want a really dark imprint, you have to press very hard on the keyboard...unnaturally hard.
Of course, part of this is just the nature of these old mechanical typewriters. And part of it is my girly-fingers. Yes, they are getting a little stronger from having used the machine. But they are still nowhere near in fighting shape.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 11,047
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Post by Brad Nelson on Nov 2, 2022 9:34:32 GMT -8
The typewriter ribbon that I bought for $20 (including shipping) from Jot & Tittle arrived this morning. I put it in the refurbished Royal Safari and it was definitely and demonstrably producing darker and more solid type than the cheap-ass one I got off of Amazon. So I would say the typewriter is outputting the type as it should. There's still no substitute, of course, for striking the keys correctly. I'm still working on strengthening my girly-fingers.
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