Michigan Typochondriacs at Kazoo Books in November

1922 Corona 3 that spent its life in the NYPD

Brother Charger 11 from 1973 that recently became part of my collection

Adler J4 from 1966. This is one of the best typers in my collection.  Typing action is super nice and the carriage return quite light and very silky smooth. 

Recently restored Hermes 3000 from 1967.  Like all the square body Hermes 3000 neat looking, but nothing to brag about for typing.  It was also missing both platen knobs.

Olympia SM8 from 1966.  This one is quite nice to use. It is not as stiff as most of the Olympia typewriters I've used.

This SM9 was made in 1969.  It is nice to use, but not as fast as an H3k.  Typing action is much like the rest of the Olympia SM9 models.  This one has Professional Elite typeface.

Neat thing about typewriters is that each of them have their little quirks.  Each typist has their favorite, even among similar models of the same brand.

The little Corona 3 is fun to use, but not a typewriter I'd like to use if I had several pages to type.

The Brother line of typewriters always seems to be satisfactory for almost any typing. I like the small machines like this Charger 11 (along with Smith-Corona Skyriters, Hermes Rockets (Baby), and a few other small portables) for travel.  The snap-on cover or case makes these typewriters nicely suited for travel.  The typing action of the Charger 11 is not quite as nice as a Skyriter, but overall not a typewriter to be left behind for a trip or a bit of bicycle typing or typing in the park.  I prefer the integral case/cover to the luggage style zipper case of the Valiant or the Olivetti Letter 22 or Lettera 32 although I like that the Lettera models have tabulators.

The Adler J4 seems to be one of the models that does not get much mention on line.  I really like this one.  I should use it more often.  Touch is really nice, and carriage return is almost effortless.  The carriage is also very easy to remove and reinstall.

Hermes 3000 typewriters are what they are, mostly over rated.  Seems people either love them or dislike them.  I've never been impressed by the square body models even though I have 7 of them with various typefaces. 

The round body ones seem to be the nicest typers with a nicer action than the square body ones.  Both styles seem to be quieter than other typewriters.

There are references on line that the mechanics are the same between the round and square body ones.  Well, if that were true shouldn't all the parts (but the covers) should be interchangeable? They're not.  The basic design may be very similar, but not fully parts interchageable.

I do like the sleek style of the square ones and the close tolerances of everything from how the ribbon cover fits to the just enough clearance for the carriage return arm to travel above it to the quietness of its action, and it also has an integral lid/cover which makes it a nice full featured portable that is quite near an office machine.

The SM8 is one of my favorite Olympia typewriters.  This one has a very nice action.  It is noisier than either the J4 or H3k, and about the same as the SM9.

The SM9 is a nice typewriter also, but not as fast as an H3k or the many other typewriters.  I like the typeface on this one, but not the zipper case.  Zipper cases are one of my pet peves of poor excuses for a typewriter case.

Both, like most Olympia typewriters I've used, are nice to use, but easily out typed.  I prefer the SM3 and SM4.

We meet again in December.  If you are local stop by and try the machines. You may be surprised as which ones you prefer over others. They are all nice, and all have similarities and differences. Each gathering also has a gathering of different makes and models of typewriters.

Fourteen Years and 364 Days

This is really a two day typecast.  Mrs. and I spent yesterday together for one of our special days together.  I started it last night.  Got tired and quit.  Finished it today.

We are parked beside the dune to watch the ocean. I decided to take a photo looking North toward Flagler Beach

A perfect day to be on the beach.  Not many people at some areas.  Many of these areas are sparsely used in the summer also.  At about 80 to 81 degrees F and a breeze being on the beach yesterday was great.  Going into the water...probably not that great.  Then I have gone into the ocean in February already and the water is quite fine.

The ocean was quite inviting yesterday.  I was too cheap to rent a boat.  Maybe next time the water is this calm.

The greenery is not green yet even though some of the flowers are blooming.

Birds!

We stopped North of Flagler Beach to watch the ocean and some trawlers that were out. I decided to show how crowded it gets.  At least until summer when the road is really crowded.

This was my first project typewriter. It arrived with a bent frame, damaged platen, and a few other things that needed repaired.  This one was made in 1966.

This is my first Hermes 3000.  When did Hermes change from the round body typewriter that typed really nice to a square body that is not that great of a typewriter?  1966!  This one is from 1966 too.

Here is how the round body Hermes started out.

I did not get any photos at the Preserve.  Since Mrs. is handicapped and the preserve is not handicap accessible we stayed near the parking lot and the hard surfaces behind the Environmental Center and Library.  I could have taken photos of scrub palms, scrub oaks, and very tiny birds.  I use a pocket camera that is not good enough to photograph birds.  I did take my 35mm to use if I got close enough to use a 500mm lens.  Even 500mm is not long enough.  To properly photograph birds I need a good 1000mm to 1500mm f1.7 or better lens. Good lenses like that are out of my budget.  I miss working for the company where I had access to all kinds of great photography gear.

I thought about taking some photos in Flagler Beach and of the damage to the dunes.  All of that can be found on line already.  If I had before and after photos of the damaged dunes I would have posted them. 

The grassy dunes and the cactus all got washed away during Hurricane Matthew.  Most of the little picnic pavilions along the road and many of the pedestrian cross-overs all got washed away. 

We miss the little picnic areas. They were only large enough for one or two tables and over the winter they are great little places to go and have a picnic lunch.

I mis-spelled Lyonia Preserve in the typecast. Here is a link to the website.

Typing and Typewriters

Note on scanning.  These scanned straight and I was able to edit to size and they were straight.  Does Blogger shift images?

Here is the link to the original post on the square body and round body H3k from 1966:

I.T.A.M. 2015

Photo from ad.  Is this thing damaged or will it be fine?  Turns out it was and is fine.

Hermes 3000.8

I hope to post more on my adventures with the Oliver typewriters as well as some of our week end getaways.  Plenty of photos and enough to type for a few posts if I take the time to do them.

We've been back out to the local parks and wildlife preserves enjoing summer weather while most of the rest of North America is burried in snow or shivering from sub-zero temperatures.  Know what?  I miss both (except on the firegound or responding to emergencies on ice-covered roads).

Summer here is worse than the times where the tempereature was below zero F for a month or more and we got dumping after dumping after dumping of snow in accumulations of 12 or more inches at a time.  I'd take off with my backpack, tent, and snow shoes and go camping.  More work than in the summer, but no bugs.

Really, I do like the spring-time weather the best.  Shirt and shorts weather, no bugs, and Mrs. M can go along.  If we were still in the North she'd be pretty much stuck indoors.  I guess there are advantages and disadvantages to almost any locality.

More Typewriters - Including another Hermes 3000

On my desk, but I forgot to take down the white background I used for the close-ups. The can with the wires on it behing my mug is one of the capacitors we make.

Tthis machine looked new except for a few scratches on the back.

The usual missing platen knobs.

The right knob from a first generation works fine.

The only ink is from me using the typewriter.  This is what the slugs looked like when I opened the cover!

I did a quick typecast after I took the photos.  It is a very good typer for a square body H3k.  I like the action of the round ones better, but this one is not as mushy as my other square ones.

Plenty of room to store the typewriter.

Christmas present to myself.  Works fine and looks great. SN 863309, 1955?

Top view of my Oliver no. 5. SN341590, 1912?

Hermes 3000 Director Elite and A Happy New Year

I'm awash in H3k machines.  The latest addition makes 7 in my collection surpassing my Skyriters!

This shows the one and only small blemish on the entire machine.  Can you find it?

Before cleaning.

After cleaning

It even came with both brushes

Taken before cleaning.  Dates the typewriter to 1964

This is where I work.  My new job came complete with my own lab.

 It's fun enjoying a job.  I do not think any are as rewarding as when I was a firefighter.  Lowe's was a fun place, and I had another job or two in retail I liked, but none come close to broadcasting or teaching.  Sears service department was nice too.  What I like about my present job; it is quite a bit like working at a radio station.  I've got some cool projects I'm working on including new products and machines as well as adding a few more engineers and technicians.  I have music in the lab too, and one day I plan on installing a nice stereo and a typewriter.  I need a typewriter.  Perhaps one of my Royal HHs.

Here's a link to a tour.