Hammond Multiplex Shuttles Typing Samples

10 C.P.I.

10 C.P.I.

170, 10 C.P.I.

10 C.P.I.

This may also be 170, 10 C.P.I.

10 C.P.I.

10 C.P.I.

170

10 C.P.I.

10 C.P.I.

10 C.P.I.

170

Shuttle positioner

shuttle positioner showing all the dirt I need to remove.

Shuttle holder in loading position. It sits on the two pins shown on the positioner.

Top view

Shuttles loaded

Shuttles in position

Everything is in its home positon and ready to type.  Shuttle to be used is at the top of the photo and the one that can be moved into position by lifiting up on the knob and turning the whole assembly 180 degrees is in the bottom of the photo.

Testing the shuttles turned out to be quite a challenge.  Most do not have numbers on them to verify the typeface.  All are 10 c.p.i. even though the characters differ in size.  Several of the shuttles did not get tested as they do not freely slide around the holder.  By hand I cannot feel any sticking, but the mechanism will jam when they are used. Several others are duplicate typefaces.

This took most of the day.  I tried to get the shuttles that would not slide easily to slide.  This was taking too long so they are tagged and repairs may happen later.
In doing the work I forgot to scale each sample with a one inch line and mark the name and number of the shuttle if I could cross reference it to my previous post.

Now if I can only complete the final challenge; finding the date of manufacture.  It may be 1915, 1916, or maybe even 1918.  The serial number and cast machined aluminum frame and the Typewriter Database places it in 1915 as a Multiplex portable with a different case.  This one is portable and has the square case like the folding model (not the neat curved case as the older models). On line I have not found a Hammond Multiplex verses a Hammond Multiplex portable.  They all look the same size.  I've a tremendous amout of learning to do with the history of these machines if I choose to dig into it.

This is a fun typewriter to use once I mastered the unique touch.  Not a hard touch, a unique one.  Not very fast though.  If I were to compare the speed of this one to a modern one I would say it is about as fast as my SM3, SM7 & SM9 Olympia typewriters.  However the touch may be more like my Remington Noiseless Model 7.

Now to get a purple ribbon for it.  I may never use the black one I ordered.