Teaser

Maybe someone can guess what make of typewriter I'm silversurferizing based on this photo from the original eBay listing, showing a flaw in the paint. The "flaw" has now spread over the whole body. The project is proceeding swiftly.

Better red than dead

PS: Another hot rod project is already in the works. Hint: Which aluminum-bodied typewriter, other than the Hermes 3000, might look great with the Silver Surfer treatment?

In Vogue

PS: The material used to mask off the bottom strip on the top body piece is that wonderful all-purpose invention, duct tape.

Welcome to the colorbox

 











I'm painting the carriage ends by hand. Too much trouble to disassemble them!

Seinsmaschine store now online

From the Shameless Commerce Division of Writing Ball, it's the Seinsmaschine Store. Everyone needs a Seinsmaschine baby bib, or beer stein, or blanket ... right? And the image has even been tweaked in Photoshop for new, improved perspective.

Don't blame me, this shop was created by popular request (from, er, one reader).

Here are a few of the many can't-live-without-it gewgaws available at the store.

Reanimated

Before and after:

Rust Never Sleeps

What's in the case?



It's an Optima!



Let's look under the hood ...



Uh-oh!



Help!!



Disassembly:



Even the logo gets removed:



Ready for an overnight Evapo-Rust bath:



Here's a surprise. I tried soaking these two body parts in nail polish remover (which did wonders on aluminum parts of my Hermes 3000). The paint got soggy, and I used a stiff brush to remove it efficiently ... revealing more paint! Under the thick coat of textured tan paint, I found this smooth khaki and grey paint which isn't fazed by the polish remover.



Tune in next time to see the effects of the Evapo-Rust. What color do you think I should paint this machine?

Seinsmaschine

PS: Among Rocky Jones' revelations: That device on the lower right corner of the Royal HH is properly known as a Palm Tabulator; the '50s Godrej was a clone of the R.C. Allen 600; and R.C. Allen revived the old Woodstock Electrite, putting out the R.C. Allen Electrite, with a "fluted metal shaft" mechanism different from the other electric typewriters on the market.

The Zeitgeist is ours

A-Line Magazine

The HH

PS: The color in the first photo is more accurate: brown gravy, not gray flannel. I just learned from tw-db.com that this model was made only 1954-56. Mine dates from 1955. Anyone know what the "E" in the serial means?

Smug in a blackout

(Obviously, power was restored, so I could scan and upload this.)

Hot rod Tower typewriter

The Tower as found:

In process:

I also removed the paint from the spacebar (that was easy):

I finally got a lazy susan for my workshop. It doesn't make much difference with a little typewriter like this, but when you're working on a 40-pound machine, the lazy susan comes in very handy and can help you avoid throwing out your back.

One of several mechanical problems was that the right ribbon advance wasn't working.

I traced the problem to a defective finger -- that's what I call it, at least -- which wasn't advancing the gear. Fortunately, I have a completely disassembled '60s Smith-Corona Corsair which has been very useful for parts, and it provided an intact finger (right). That's why you should never turn down a free or cheap typewriter, even if it's hopeless; the parts can be great!

Voila, the completed hot rod:

Before and after:

The model name plate on the back is missing (I believe it's a Chieftain). I'm going to wait until I find the perfect emblem or logo to glue on here.

And finally, in honor of the late Big Daddy Roth and with a tip of the fedora to notagain...