1950 - 1951 Skyriter Elite 5 Days Later

Looks more gray than brown after a Scrubbing Bubbles bath.

Zep does a nice cleaning and leaves just a slight coating of rust preventative.  Supposedly neutrally polarized so it does not attract dust.

This one has a unique to me type bar rest pad.  It is a felt covered rubber.  I generally replace the pad, but I decided to leave this one.

No more bent or stuck together slugs.

After cleaning with a toothbrush and naptha.

S still gives a bit of a problem.  Not illegible or unuseable, just not perfect.  Any different alignment makes it worse.  As I was taught from my first mentor, 'let well enough alone.'

This post is an example of how my priorities get out of wack.  Plans were to do a detailed post on the Skyriter from Ledeaux then move on to one of my other machines.  Seems I get stuck on too many of the same machines.  Maybe I need to get back to pens.  I found a good fountain pen cheap pocket notebook combination too.  That post was going to be done over Thanksgiving.

How about input from you.  What should I post next?  The final on Ledeaux's (is that proper?) Skyriter? one of my Adler's? Classic-12 Script? Another cheap pen from China (I found several really nice ones -- why pay $50 for one when $10 or less gets a nice one into your hands and the postage is free -- Notebooks?  I guess subject matter is near endless.

Anyone what a Royal Crescent for the shipping?  Should I give it to Ryan?  WordPlay?

Corrected.  I wanted the Logo first, but one of Blogger's quirks is adding an image to where the blogger wants it after the post is already built & posted.

Skyriter Addiction

As it arrived via U.P.S.

Great packaging.  Gives mine a run for its money.

The typewriter.  And I have received most of mine in a large Priority Mail box.  In fact I have even told sellers to save money to put Skyriters in a Priority Mail box.

The case gives a hint to the condition of the machine.

The machine is a bit dirty.

My test page

Inside is not all that dirty.  Only stiff type bars and linkages.

My Skyriter shop. 

Missing the logo on the paper tray.  Any body have one they want to part with?

Correction:  It is a tie.  The number of Hermes 3000 machines is 5.  I forgot about the one I just returned to the shop to repair a sticky key.

Hermes 5

Skyriters 5

Too bad the Skyriters do not all have different typefaces like my Hermes'.

A New Arrival From Dante's Wardrobe

Last week on Dante's Wardrobe Ledeaux posted about Typospherian Miscellany

I commented about her Skyriter tag and Skyriters.  We had a few email conversations and I became the owner of one of her Skyriters in need of some care.

That machine arrived today while I was working on my car.  I took the time to test the machine and in doing so typed a short typecast about a machine that may spend the shortest time in my collection.  Since I now have it working and I will give it a tweak to get the right margin a bit smoother operating, make the needed repair to the platen, and clean the machine I have offered it back if she wants it.  Nothing like owning more than one Skyriter.

I like collecting, repairing and using these machines.  I find them about the easiest of all to work on.  That does not mean there are no problems.  I still have an escapement problem with my 1954 elite.  If I ever take time to work on it I may get it working correctly.  They are easy to take apart, but I do not have another escapement to put in it if that is the problem.  It also needs a few new shoulder screws which could be causing some of the problems.  

Before rethreading the ribbon the top half of the letters were cut off.

After rethreading the ribbon

This is the Skyriter after I unpacked it complete with the twisty tie margin bar repair.  It works.

It is difficult to see and I did not take any macro shots of the left end of the platen.  The platen needs undercut about 0.100 inch about 0.100 inch wide at the ratchet end of the platen.  I'll make that change next week when I can use a lathe.

As like all my Skyriters this machine is a fine typer.  When I get it clean and make the rest of the tweaks I'll install a new ribbon and it may be on its way back to Ledeaux.

It is such fun working on typewriters.  I do not know which is most fun -- working on a typewriter -- using a typewriter or passing one along to a new user or a fellow typospherian.

The box contains a modern Smith-Corona Sterling that will soon be making its way to a typospherian in Ohio.  I was still packing it when the Postman arrived to pick up the one I had ready for Richard P.  The Sterling is delayed a bit.

Finally, I forget who asked me for a backspace key for a Corona 3.  I lied and said I did not have one.  That was because I really thought I did not have the carriage for the one I have for parts.  Well, while cleaning the garage and restacking my pile of parts machines I found the carriage.  I have the backspace key.  Scott K.  for some reason I think it was you.  If you still need it please contact me and I will get it in the mail Monday or Tuesday.

Sorry for my impromptu sloppy typing.

Extra Typewriter

This was my first Hermes 3000 Techno Pica typewriter

After I posted this I see I scanned the typecast in B & W.  Sorry

Left replacement knob

Right replacement knob

Ribbon selector detent assembly

Ribbon color selector linkage

The Hermes could use a cleaning.  It works fine without the card guide, but without the guard it is impossible to align a line of type to correct.  It is also difficult to correctly align the paper, but can be done by aligning the ends.


The SCM below never really made it into my collection.  It is a fine typer and fairly clean.  The left carriage release plastic lever is missing.  Other than that it is complete and works fine.  I like this machine, but it is one too many so it goes to ????  I want to make room for older typewriters and those that are on my wish list like a Mill.

This SCM Sterling is presently on its way to a typosphereian

 The photo was taken in my garage so the machine looks more blue than its true grey color.

and this one is the next one I am thinking of passing on.

1954 Elite Skyriter Comes to Life, Almost

 As you can see my problem is not completely solved.  I think a complete dis-assembly and a good polishing of all the parts of the pivot assembly may help.  I'm open to suggestions.

The pivot joint and adjusting screws.  The right one after I adjusted it and the left as both were found.

 This is the lever that moves up and down into the escapement ratchet gear to hold the carriage as it moves only one space.

This is the pivot joint engaged to hold the platen after one letter is typed.

What I found is that this would stick engaged to the tooth or it would be in the middle of 2 teeth when the machine would skip or not feed to the next space.

First repair was to replace the original screw.  This screw has 2 shoulders. One fit into the slide and the bigger one held out with a small washer.  Without the washer there is too much slop in this joint.

More of the machine.  I stopped typing to take this one.

My Bunnell Spark Gap key. 

My Vibroplex Brass Racer Iambic Paddles.

Bugs
Even more Bugs

If you'd like to see more keys Google Morse Code Key and look at the images.

Many ham radio operators collect keys.  At one time code use is what separated hams from the other radio folks.  That is not so true any longer as the code is not required for a license.  One can have a lot of fun and never use the code.  I discovered that I can use the code and have even more fun.

I was one that did not like the code when it was required to go to the F.C.C. field office and prove you could send and receive the code.  I forget the requirement for the Novice class I think that was either 2 or 5 words per minute and was administered by a local ham operator with a General or higher class license.

To get a General required 13 words per minute.  I do not remember what the Advanced class required.  Extra required 20 or 25 words per minute.

I looked at it as a way to keep people out of the hobby.  After I got my Technician class I decided to at least get a General class license.  Anyone can learn 5 words per minute!  I found that to be true with all of the modern computer code programs available.

To make a short story and not bore you; After I got my General and got on the air I soon found CW or the Morse Code to be much more enjoyable than the phone bands.  I was soon building QRP (low power)  transmitters and doing mostly code no matter what power I used.

I encourage anyone interested in building or using radios to get their license and get on the air, learn the code and have fun.  Amateur radio encompasses much more than merely radio and the code.  There really is something for everyone.  One day I may make a USB typewriter to send code.  Then there is always RTTY (radio telegraph)  Many use a keyboard now, but the many teletype people still have the old typewriter keyboard teletype machines.

73 de Bill

Adler Vs. Smith-Corona Script Typeface

Adler.  Ransmayer Slugs.

Smith Corona Artisan 75 Slugs

These are slightly cleaner Adler slugs.

Smith Corona slugs.

They both are quite similar.  I do not know if Smith-Corona made their own slugs or used slugs made by an outside company.  The trademarks are not the same.
Both are elite.  Wish one was pica

Mark, Thanks for pointing out the similarity.