I have a Baby

This is what happens when I do a typecast from the work bench

I also repeat myself

I use this on the chrome and other non painted metal and plating

Same as FinishLine, but from Lowe's it is $3.00 to $4.00 cheaper.

Not bad for $5.00, it works too, but smells like rotten tobacco smoke

Can you guess which is the Montana Luxe and which is teh Hermes Baby?

The Luxe, Skyriter, and Baby

Skyriter is a bit larger, taller and heavier than the Baby

A RockMite 40 (Thought notagain might enjoy)

More on the SM4 later.

Skyriter Weekend

The day ended with a Steampunked Skyriter

I sell and give away quite a few transmitter tubes throughout the year to Steampunk people who do everything from use them for decorations, lamps, and night lights.
I generally always have a few pulls and some duds on the workbench so I decided to be silly and rather than only use one small tube I would power a Skyriter by RCA and Sylvania.

The small tube on the left will do 250 watts easily it is a 4CX250B and used in many FM transmitters and many otherapplications.  The big one, a 5762 is nearly obsolete and used in old RCA and Gates AM 1000 watt and 5000 watt transmitters.  2 or 4 tubes are used.  The tube on the right is a 4X500A and will do 500 watts and was pulled from the exciter of an old RCA TV transmitter.  The miniature tube sitting on the heat sink of the big tube is an example of the many tubes used in portable gear used well into the 50s.  Many are still in use although they are obsolete.

Only 5 Days Left for ITAM 2013

Preview of the latest Skriter

My SM 7

I thought I may typecast a comparison of my Adler J4 and my Olympia SM 7 after I read Cameron's typecast about his Adler J4.  Both are fine typewriters.  I do find the Adler a bit smoother and I have yet to hit a returning type bar with an advancing one like happens quite often with the SM 7.  The SM 7 is not sticky in any way.  I am not a fast typist, but I can out type this machine.  In fact, I have yet to jam any of my typewriters, only the SM 7.

I hope to add an Olympia SM 9 to my collection.  I would like some others too, but for 2013 my priority is platens and getting a Mill, a Royal Signet Sr. and maybe an SM 9.  I want to be able to compare Olympia models.  Maybe I will find another SM 7 cheap. 

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.