Great story. I made a comment similar to this on Adventures In Typewriterdom - it's amazing how a recovered platen, a new ribbon and a little cleaning will make these things last for another century. They really are quite remarkable.
Strikethru, do it! It's one of the best things you can do for your typewriter! I'm sure you know this, but a rock-hard platen can damage the typeface on a typewriter over time, and leaves a not-so-good impression. I've been lucky in the way that typewriters with like-new platens just fly to me (not literally, that would be dangerous), and until you do get the platens re-covered, the best thing to do is put in two or three sheets of paper at a time to give the same cushioning effect of a new platen! Hope this helps!
That looks like a QDL. My own identical (I think) machine has petrified rubber. Which made this particular story very poignant for yrstrly. Do you mind divulging what the current rate is for a platen recovering? I seem to recall it being rather on the spendy side a few years ago.
It's a KMM. They didn't include an invoice, and I gave them carte blanche in advance to charge me whatever it cost, so I don't know how much it was yet; they may mail the invoice in a separate envelope, or I'll wait for my credit card bill. I'll post the information here when I have it. If past experience is a guide, it will be about $20, which is twice what the typewriter itself cost me at the thrift store! But well worth it.
What a friggin deal!! Shame its gone the way of the mammoth. Newer places charge a helluva lot more if I remember others experiences right. If I ever get to travel back in time, id be sure to send all my platens to them for recovery... then again id prob go back in time and get a bunch of machines I want so id end up sending them 5000 platens and my bill would be $10K hahaha
Great story. I made a comment similar to this on Adventures In Typewriterdom - it's amazing how a recovered platen, a new ribbon and a little cleaning will make these things last for another century. They really are quite remarkable.
ReplyDeleteSome day, I'll have to send my platens out for some refurbishing. I could probably do a couple batches of 5 and get them all done...
ReplyDeleteI need to do this too. I only have one typewriter with a new platen, and it makes a HUGE difference.
ReplyDeleteStrikethru, do it! It's one of the best things you can do for your typewriter! I'm sure you know this, but a rock-hard platen can damage the typeface on a typewriter over time, and leaves a not-so-good impression. I've been lucky in the way that typewriters with like-new platens just fly to me (not literally, that would be dangerous), and until you do get the platens re-covered, the best thing to do is put in two or three sheets of paper at a time to give the same cushioning effect of a new platen! Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a QDL. My own identical (I think) machine has petrified rubber.
ReplyDeleteWhich made this particular story very poignant for yrstrly.
Do you mind divulging what the current rate is for a platen recovering? I seem to recall it being rather on the spendy side a few years ago.
It's a KMM. They didn't include an invoice, and I gave them carte blanche in advance to charge me whatever it cost, so I don't know how much it was yet; they may mail the invoice in a separate envelope, or I'll wait for my credit card bill. I'll post the information here when I have it. If past experience is a guide, it will be about $20, which is twice what the typewriter itself cost me at the thrift store! But well worth it.
ReplyDeleteThe invoice arrived today. They charged me $12.55 + $7.57 shipping. Total: $20.12, very consistent with my prediction.
ReplyDeleteWhat a friggin deal!! Shame its gone the way of the mammoth.
ReplyDeleteNewer places charge a helluva lot more if I remember others experiences right.
If I ever get to travel back in time, id be sure to send all my platens to them for recovery... then again id prob go back in time and get a bunch of machines I want so id end up sending them 5000 platens and my bill would be $10K hahaha