Fantastic Underwood Standard

I could not find the model name for this one.  It looks like several. Closest I can find is the Rhythm Touch.

I guess you can tell I get 2 sections of a typecast from one sheet.

I like the shift lock key on both sides.  The margin set on these is different than the ones on the rear. Left sets the right margin and right sets the left margin.  The setting is made by squeezing the indicator and sliding it into position.

Left Side.  Pressure rollers are still soft.  Platen is hard.  Feeds paper like a champ.  Straight and even from the start all through to the end.

Right Side.

I just noticed I typed one CR on the right and the one on the right.  It should be the one on the left is a carriage return and line feed while the one on the right is just a hook that can move the carriage.

Left end

Right end. Is this a right hand carriage return or is it used in conjunction with the carriage release to guide the carriage to position?  What is the purpose of the chrome piece under it? The tab beside the hook, when pressed, allows the left margin stop to be over-ridden.

The typewriter was quite dusty, but the bottom is near spotless.

Carriage return / line feed

Card guides in position

Card Guides retracted

I thought this was unique.  Nearly hidden is the ribbon guide where the ribbon comes off the spool.  There is a little lever on the spool holder that moves the guide out.  It is spring return. Sorry, I mis-spelled guide.

Halda - Facit,  Underwood had a round smooth easy (easier than my TP-1 actually) to slide carriage rail too.

The only thing on the back (sorry I did not take a photo) is Underwood Standard across the top and in the middle Product of Underwood Corporation.  I've always liked the scale and margin sets right on the front of the carriage.   

The only thing I find referencing 11 is in 1927.  This machine is newer than 1927.

  

I believe this is a Rhythm Touch, but I am not sure.  It matches the Underwood Standard from 1947 on Alan Seaver's site.  Mine is not as clean, yet.  The numbers past the 11 (which may indicate the platen or carriage length) put this machine in 1947.

The book I mentioned I found by a link Robert Messenger  posted on his blog, but I could not find it again to link to his post.  The book was written in 1917,
The Evolution of the Typewriter. 

So far the best 2 typers in my collection are my Underwood Standard Portable 4 Bank and this typewriter.  Nothing is as fast and easy to key as these two.  My Adler J4 comes close, but just does not quite make the fantastic Underwood feel.

Olympia SM4

This is what the machine looked like when it arrived. It's difficult to see the mildew on the keys from this view.

Mildew covered keys.

After cleaning, not perfect, but not filled with dirt.

This is explained in detail in my August 9, 2013 post

There are several cracks similar to this all over the platen

Olympia's unique method of keeping the key tops parallel to the desk while typing.

Rubber grommets and washer from Ace Hardware

These are the springs that adjust the shift tension.

I have these pulled quite taunt with a bit to spare

I used a dial calipers to set both sides the same.  Counting the exposed threads will work fine too.

The vinyl on the case was in bad shape and peeling.  I removed it and left the wood as it was found. I was going to sand and re-varnish it, but it looks fine as it is shown.

Hint. Look at the end of my workbench -- previous post.

Thanks to Nick Beland for the escapement rail information.
The post on his blog is here.

 I have many more photos taken while this machine was being repaired. I may post all of them directly to the typewriter repair site Nick is building or post them all here in a future post.

The Typewriter Behind the Logo

This typewriter was not all that dirty.

The type slugs were really filled with dirt, grime and old ink. The degree symbol must not have been used much as it was not filled with dirt.

pP, q, e, Dd, 9, g, etc. were especially filled.

The small keys on the very left and right of the top row are the TAB Clear and Set.

Margin settings are easily and clearly seen through the slots.  The left is not as visible in the photo as it is red.  I should have fill flashed it.

These are the margin stop setting buttons. They push in and slide.

With a bit more searching on line I found this page on Alan Seaver's Machines of Loving Grace.  It appears the Ace is a rebrand or different name for the same model.  I suspected Universal from looking at other typewriters and from what was on Will Davis's website and Alan's site I found a bit more information.

Scroll about half way down the page in the link to two newer brown and tan Underwood Ace typewriters.