tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post1221151915615760114..comments2024-03-26T16:00:23.608-04:00Comments on The Typewriter Revolution blog: Erika 20: the perfect typewriter?Richard Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232053429935587826noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-35198406100785913682023-07-27T10:33:43.821-04:002023-07-27T10:33:43.821-04:00You're so lucky! Enjoy it.You're so lucky! Enjoy it.Richard Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232053429935587826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-56415953548282252412023-07-27T05:25:24.557-04:002023-07-27T05:25:24.557-04:00I did get one for free, an Erika 20 with wide carr...I did get one for free, an Erika 20 with wide carriage.Lovely machine with only the luggage case has problems closing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-25005816898926395972022-01-22T23:02:36.222-05:002022-01-22T23:02:36.222-05:00Thanks for this thorough analysis of the features ...Thanks for this thorough analysis of the features of your Humber 99. <br /><br />I found a Humber 88 with a QWERTY French Canadian keyboard, here in Canada. The Humber 88 (with regular QWERTY) listed on the TWDB all seem to originate from Canada.<br /><br />DanielIxzed23https://www.blogger.com/profile/11558892989971335157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-64404125372200759082020-10-26T23:39:57.695-04:002020-10-26T23:39:57.695-04:00Stumbled across your post here. My father in law ...Stumbled across your post here. My father in law has an Erika Optima Humber 99 with QWERTY board. He was thinking of selling it but maybe not now!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121529747174263843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-52155875359571182232016-09-19T19:42:13.566-04:002016-09-19T19:42:13.566-04:00When I got mine, the carriage return was also nois...When I got mine, the carriage return was also noisy like you're describing, but as I've been using it, it's slowly getting smoother and quieter. I think the escapement in your could be a bit gunked up with grease and it just needs to break free.x over ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15734152691021327395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-38966720953339798082016-08-24T12:28:35.888-04:002016-08-24T12:28:35.888-04:00Ah OK, I only know this feature from the IBM selec...Ah OK, I only know this feature from the IBM selectrics, where you had a half-backspace lever that was used by secretaries to squeeze a letter in between another two, so I thought you meant a button or lever that specifically only advances the carriage by half a stop. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824453289463172532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-60826320175056797802016-08-24T12:15:42.582-04:002016-08-24T12:15:42.582-04:00The half-spacing feature simply means that when yo...The half-spacing feature simply means that when you push the spacebar down, the carriage advances half a space; when the bar comes back up, it advances another half space. On some other typewriters, the carriage advances a full space as soon as you depress the spacebar. Half-spacing is useful for inserting a missing letter.Richard Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232053429935587826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-14841051021485395902016-08-24T10:24:07.143-04:002016-08-24T10:24:07.143-04:00OH yes! Indeed it also servers as a typebar disent...OH yes! Indeed it also servers as a typebar disentangler! My machines didn't come with a manual (and there is not much information about Erika 20s) so I looked for a lever like on the 10 or a separate button, but I've never tested the margin release. That's similar to how the Gossen Tippa's did it. Didn't think about that, so you are indeed right. Still no half-spacing tho, just double and single spaced so far as I can see. Is there is something else (like another combo-button) I am missing feel free to correct me. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824453289463172532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-56446083112189202692016-08-23T18:41:01.100-04:002016-08-23T18:41:01.100-04:00On mine, the margin release also works as a typeba...On mine, the margin release also works as a typebar disentangler.Richard Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232053429935587826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-3654315343775642422016-08-23T18:37:58.235-04:002016-08-23T18:37:58.235-04:00Interesting! Thanks for sharing the details of you...Interesting! Thanks for sharing the details of your machine.Richard Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232053429935587826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-20715042493856808962016-08-23T18:10:35.996-04:002016-08-23T18:10:35.996-04:00I have this machine, branded ERIKA, with a German ...I have this machine, branded ERIKA, with a German keyboard (I am German). This machine does not feature a typebar disentangler like the ERIKA 10 does (none of the 20s does), and mine certainly also doesn't have a silent carriage return, the mechanism works correctly, I checked. Nothing is broken, this machine is pretty much unused. There is also no half spacing. This machine does not have these features like mentioned here. It is the same machine, no other version or model. Erika 20Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824453289463172532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-80933424218660891612016-06-17T18:39:49.336-04:002016-06-17T18:39:49.336-04:00Yes, they did offer long carriages, which could ea...Yes, they did offer long carriages, which could easily be switched with the shorter ones.<br /><br />Maybe you'll like it better when it's clean. I'm curious and would love to see a photo (polt@xavier.edu).Richard Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232053429935587826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-52499555880699456592016-06-17T17:50:44.090-04:002016-06-17T17:50:44.090-04:00Find one at 50€ Near Paris , but i need to clean i...Find one at 50€ Near Paris , but i need to clean it. The carriage is Much more bigger. I am disappoint it 's Not the best typewriter mayby the worst for me.Gukimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240090247310399276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-60070389091899349772016-06-07T17:09:26.803-04:002016-06-07T17:09:26.803-04:00And there are lots more good German machines, East...And there are lots more good German machines, East (Rheinmetall) and West (Torpedo). The Torpedo 18 is one model you must try.Richard Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232053429935587826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-6755090756113932672016-06-07T16:18:21.087-04:002016-06-07T16:18:21.087-04:00I've been exploring Optimas, Ericas and Olympi...I've been exploring Optimas, Ericas and Olympias for the last few months in the attempt to find that "perfect" typewriter for my daily correspondence and writing. This post is apropos. Now... let the hunting begin.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00082528850974764897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-25119104382292321842016-06-05T13:43:45.865-04:002016-06-05T13:43:45.865-04:00Interesting...Interesting...Robin Heilschild 【蓋面】https://www.blogger.com/profile/03429820251341371094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-17546938904762746692016-06-05T08:29:58.671-04:002016-06-05T08:29:58.671-04:00It would take a heck of a machine to make me part ...It would take a heck of a machine to make me part with my SG1. But you're right about one thing, that Optima looks good! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-35465004379223654232016-06-05T00:25:47.930-04:002016-06-05T00:25:47.930-04:00thanks...now the price on these is going to go up ...thanks...now the price on these is going to go up and make everyone go crazy trying to find one...forgetting all about their perfectly working typewriters at home...all those poor orphans will be shelved while their owners travel the world in search of this "holy grail"...yeah, thanks a lot....great information...but next time you get a hunch do us a favor and keep it to yourself....I can't keep adding typewriters to my list and draining my bank account...I have future children to put through college. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05336141098889115326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-24199228259074485112016-06-04T19:54:24.841-04:002016-06-04T19:54:24.841-04:00Thanks for the great photos and detailed post! I&#...Thanks for the great photos and detailed post! I've been looking for one of these for the past 2 years! I found the sales brochure, but not the actual machine yet! Based on my love for all the other Erika models, and how this one combines the best of everything, I really think it could be the perfect machine for me.x over ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15734152691021327395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655653784122131754.post-34930510908538847742016-06-04T16:56:55.135-04:002016-06-04T16:56:55.135-04:00Certainly a strong contender. Many, many nice feat...Certainly a strong contender. Many, many nice features (:Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774432656602082311noreply@blogger.com