Michigan Typochondriacs Last Gathering for 2019

If you are in the area, please join us 14 December at 11:00 a.m. until noon or maybe later.

Don"t have a typewriter? No problem.  We'll have plenty.

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.

R.C.Allen Gets A New Ribbon

Empty spool showing uniqueness of the design.

I don't know what R.C. Allen calls the tabs so I used my own names.  When the ribbon runs out on the feed spool the reverse tab extends toward the circumference to activate the automatic ribbon reverse.

Spindle showing the drive and reverse tabs.  The drive tab on the right does not extend.  When the ribbon spool is installed onto the spindle the smaller cut out the spool goes over the drive tab and the larger one over the ribbon reverse tab.  The spool must be aligned to fit over both tabs.  Takes a little wiggling to properly align the ribbon reverse side. REVISION:  From the R.C.Allen repair manual the spring on the left (above) Drive Tab is called the Ribbon Spool Catch Spring, and the tab on the right Ribbon Reverse Tab is called the Reverse Trigger.

another view showing how the tab extends.  This is a completely empty spool before I attached the new ribbon.

Left spool showing the ribbon path.  Ribbon spools around the arc of the spool facing the key board. Ribbon winds CW on this spindle.

Ribbon threaded through the ribbon vibrator or lifter.

Right spool showing the ribbon path.  Ribbon feeds around the spool facing the key board.  Ribbon winds CCW on this spindle.

I could not find a manual on line.  In order to maybe help someone who may not know about the spools I wanted to show the ribbon spools, and the ribbon path.

First of all do not throw out the original metal spools. Out of curiosity I looked on line and could not find any R.C. Allen pre-spooled ribbons. Nothing unusual as metal spools are not made any longer.  Well, they may  be because Tony Casillo sells new ribbons on new metal spools, but he had none listed for this typewriter or I missed them.

I respool ribbons out of habit. I respooled one of my spare silk ribbons onto the R.C. Allen spools.  I removed the old ribbon from the original spools.  This typewriter does not use eyelets in the ribbon.  I cut the eyelet end off of the ribbon.  I respooled the new ribbon onto the original spool.  I cut the other eyelet end off.  Then I attached the ribbon to the spool.

With the new ribbon on the typewriter I decided to record the ribbon path for reference.

My arsenal of snow moving tools minus my #10 scoop shovel.

Revised:

As of 1645 E.D.T. today.  There is just enough laying to cover the wood on the ramp as well as the house roofs.

Speaking of the time for those in the USA who are on Daylight Saving Time:
It ends Saturday night. Set your clocks back one hour to Standard Time.  Or stay awake until 0200 and change your clocks.....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!