Friday, August 27, 2010

The Batmobile of typewriters

9 comments:

  1. I've found carbon ribbons at really low prices (lowest that I have found) over at ANTOnline ( http://u.nu/64dye - a direct link to the carbon ribbons I have purchased and use).

    Shipping is high, but you can play around with quantities and figure out the shipping tiers (I think I found the best bet was to purchase at least 4 at a time). When you do a unit cost comparison, they are really inexpensive.

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  2. Ah, now I see what you mean about the carbon ribbon. I've spotted one on my favorite Swiss office supply site that is intended for the IBM 82C, so I shall put in an order for one at some point. I suppose you need to re-roll this on to regular spools to make it work?

    The Voss is one of many machines I have admired from far and will continue to do so for the time being - your black specimen is really quite unusual and very handsome. I have only seen these gull-wings in green. One of the bakelite models that broke your heart has made a surprise appearance on a Swiss auction site... hmm. *adds to watch list*

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  3. That picture of the VOSS might just be the sexiest typewriter picture I ever saw. Great stuff as always!

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  4. Will, it's thanks to you that I became aware of the Voss in the first place!

    Adwoa, I tried a carbon ribbon for a different IBM model and found that it was too delicate and too wide. I recommend the ribbons for the IBM Selectric I (also known as the model 71). Deek has identified the right ones. And yes, you need to wind the ribbon onto regular spools. Some spools are a little too narrow and the ribbon will bunch up; others will handle it without any problem. Experimenting is part of the fun!

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  5. Bruce Wayne uses a Royal, but Batman uses the Voss.

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  6. Richard, is that a paper insert advance lever I see on the right side...similar to the SG-1's?

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  7. No, Mike, that's the paper feed release lever. I've never encountered a portable typewriter that has a "paper injector" à la SG1 and other big machines.

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  8. Richard - I had forgotten that I'd brought my (identical, excepting condition...) Voss to the typewriter meetup, in hopes that I could compare ours (and in so doing diagnose the demons that are plaguing my own machine). Perhaps another time...
    I also have tried the carbon IBM ribbon in a few machines, with little success. I know you've done it in an Olympia SM, because I typed on it myself. On my own SM-4 th ribbon advances too slowly, it seems. I'll have to give it another try on the Voss.
    Thanks for the idea and the typewriterly eye candy.

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  9. Still the most striking voss out there.

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