I wish I knew what it sounded like in use. The type cylinder moves very stiffly on its shaft (metal swollen a bit?) and there are various other problems I won't bore you with. So it's probably a museum piece, although I am getting to understand it better and cleaning it up, so it's not impossible that I will get it to work.
The design is very awkward -- all elbows. The big "elbows" that stand up on either side are the hinges for the carriage -- a very strange arrangement. The ribbon spools are in front of the type cylinder, as you see, and the ribbon is supposed to run diagonally behind the cylinder. I have a feeling that even when this machine was fresh the factory, it would have been a finicky and unsatisfying typewriter. The market passed a negative judgment on it.
The ribbons are supposed to sit on top of each other. I'm missing one spool and the nut that holds the spools down, but I've found that an Olivetti spool and a modern nut create a pretty good illusion of authenticity. I'll post more pics eventually.
It isn't especially clear how the type actually gets as far as the platen without hiting the gubbins in the imddle. So looking forward to post elbow-grease pics! Lovely poem.
Well done, Richard - both machine and verse. It's looking more splendid than I had imagined it could. My Corona 3 isn't half bad, either (thanks), if not in the same rarity league. Wonder what happened to the poor old unwanted Royal?
W-O-W O-M-G F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C !
ReplyDeleteStunning!
ReplyDeleteI can understand completely how this beauty sent you waxing poetic ( :
I'm really curious how a machine like this sounds; hope you can upload an mpeg when you get the chance.
Woswer. That machine looks fabulously impractical to actually type with :D
ReplyDelete(but it is as pretty as you are poetic)
So, not so pretty in your opinion, Ted, eh? :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew what it sounded like in use. The type cylinder moves very stiffly on its shaft (metal swollen a bit?) and there are various other problems I won't bore you with. So it's probably a museum piece, although I am getting to understand it better and cleaning it up, so it's not impossible that I will get it to work.
The design is very awkward -- all elbows. The big "elbows" that stand up on either side are the hinges for the carriage -- a very strange arrangement. The ribbon spools are in front of the type cylinder, as you see, and the ribbon is supposed to run diagonally behind the cylinder. I have a feeling that even when this machine was fresh the factory, it would have been a finicky and unsatisfying typewriter. The market passed a negative judgment on it.
So exquisite ,so skeletal, so neat! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHoly dreaming demons, Batman! What a wacky device! You can exult, Mr. Polt.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I see only one ribbon spool. Do both sit on the same spindle?
Oh, and thanks for the untiring inspiring versifiring.
The ribbons are supposed to sit on top of each other. I'm missing one spool and the nut that holds the spools down, but I've found that an Olivetti spool and a modern nut create a pretty good illusion of authenticity. I'll post more pics eventually.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't especially clear how the type actually gets as far as the platen without hiting the gubbins in the imddle. So looking forward to post elbow-grease pics! Lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteWait... why is my name in there? I sue for copyright! My name is copyrighted!
ReplyDeleteThat is one special typewriter! I don't recall seeing any photos of Moyas other than in the books.
That ribbon does look pretty crazy.
You're in there, Nick, because I couldn't think of anything else that rhymes with Zealand. :)
ReplyDeleteWell done on the verse. Even the bad pun title!
ReplyDelete"The type cylinder moves very stiffly on its shaft (metal swollen a bit?)"
ReplyDeleteIt's probably the Coriolis effect. It's used to working in the Southern Hemisphere. ;-)
That was a nice chuckle on a trying morning but I couldn't post from work. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Richard - both machine and verse. It's looking more splendid than I had imagined it could. My Corona 3 isn't half bad, either (thanks), if not in the same rarity league. Wonder what happened to the poor old unwanted Royal?
ReplyDeleteLeicester definitely wasn't very squat when I last visited...
ReplyDeleteNice find!