Sunday, October 14, 2012

Favorite Typewriter Function Keys Location



I really like this key arrangement and I find it most handy.

Addressing an envelope on a Skyriter.  Bet you can't do this with a Facit!
Fact is that the more I use the TP-1 the less I like it.  The touch is nice, but more like that of the square body Hermes 3000. The carriage suspension is unique, but not as frictionless as the Adler/Gabriel machines.  I like the carriage lock/release location and the Tap, Back Space and Margin Release key locations.  The machine is probably most closely related to my first typewriter, an Olympia Praxis 48 for some really nice design points and then really lacking in others. The reason I replaced my Praxis with a Selectric in short order is because I could not use certain paper or file folders in it because of the poor platen design.

15 comments:

  1. I just noticed my normal bad typos and terrible spelling mistakes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's odd that the Facit platen can't accommodate a letter envelope.
    I got the chance to type on a TP1 and found it to be good but not great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Similar to the Praxis 48, the Facit has a shorter than most typewriters platen. A Hermes 3000 has a 25cm long platen and the Facit TP1 only has a 24 cm platen, 2mm too small to fit an envelope. The inside of the paper tray is a bit narrower than 24 cm compared to a Hermes which is a bit wider than 25 cm. The width of the paper tray is less and then add to that the even smaller dimension inside the mounting arms for the paper bail and #10 envelope will not fit. The Skyriter is actually wider, and an envelope just fits. I'm more inclined to prefer my Adlers for good feel and over all functionality over the Facit or square body Hermes 3000s. My round body Hermes 3000s are great typers.

      Delete
  3. I like the keys in those positions as well, though the tab on the left or in the middle is ok.
    That is odd about the width of platens. I have a standard somewhere around here with the same problem - now which one was that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Olivetti Praxis-48 is also a standard (electric) office machine that many things did not fit.

      Delete
  4. I was just using a Smith Corona Galaxie yesterday and I really did not like that they have their backspace key on the left! It is quite unnatural compared to computer keyboards (and most of my other typewriters); I found myself hitting TAB way too many times (a function I never use normally).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Smith-Corona is notorious for doing that and I really never liked it.

      Delete
  5. I never reflected much on the location of these function keys, but it's interesting, there never seems to have been a standard adopted by all makes.

    I find my TP1 to be incredibly smooth in its carriage and considerably snappier than a Hermes 3000. Is it the best typewriter on earth? Probably not, but I think I like it better than you do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wonder if there is a difference in the TP1 & TP2 machines with round letters on the back and the ones with square letters. There are many features I like about the TP1, but after using the round body Hermes I find the typing of the TP1 not as likeable as before. I really like the font and the keys lay out. I want to get another one to compare to this one because I have not heard really good things about the Adler J4 & J5 and I find mine very nice to use and the carriages are much smoother and have much less friction than the TP1. I have typed a few pages at one sitting with the TP1 and the action is not fatiguing in any way.

      Delete
  6. I learned to type on a grand Royal Empress desktop (having spent part of my childhood puttering on my Dad's old Underwood tabletop). I seem to recall the back space being on the left, so for me, seeing it on the right -- even after years of having the delete key on the right of my computer keyboard -- just seems weird and hard to adjust to!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got into the habit of a right back space with computer keyboards I now find the backspace on the left is bothersome. I too learned with a left backspace key on an office machine.

      Delete
  7. Bill - why what strange things we wonder about with our machines.
    i somewhat like discovering a new layout, my fingers navigating clumsily. and the mastering with time.
    i tried typing on my hermes 3000 this past weekend for the first time. what an adventure and how fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find all vary a bit. I like both styles of Hermes 3000s I have, but I prefer the round ones. Typing action is much nicer than the square body ones (not nearly as mushy). I never used one of the newer plastic body ones.

      Delete
  8. Bill, what the FACIT lacks in function, it sure makes up for in 'cool'. Believe it or not, I actually find the random positioning of some fairly important function keys - between one machine and another - quite entertaining.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I now often find myself looking for that exclamation point on typewriters. All of these German machines have them, even pre-war, but we don't?

    ReplyDelete