Burrowing into Burroughs typewriters

Rear view showing part of escapement mechanism, mainspring, and wheel that turns the ribbon shaft 

Ribbon reverse mechanism (left side of typewriter, currently taking up ribbon from right to left). The gears are currently engaged on this side. When the gears are disengaged the mechanism is higher up and the ribbon is moving from left to right. In theory, when the ribbon runs low, the hook will fall down, get caught by the toothed wheel shown here, and drag the mechanism downwards so the gears engage on this side, and the mechanism starts taking up the ribbon. In fact, aside from various particular things that can go wrong, there may not be enough time for this sequence of events to happen before your ribbon runs out completely and the mechanism jams.

Burroughs spool

Woodstock spool

Wide-carriage Burroughs on the operating table. The side and back panels of the typewriter lift off once you remove lots of screws, providing pretty good access to the mechanisms.

Warped and worn-out soft rubber platen knobs. I didn't throw them out -- you never know what might come in handy.

Nice decal on the wide-carriage machine.

Note the subtle difference between earlier and later Burroughs logos: 

The legend on the back panel also evolved to add "Made in the United States of America."

Maybe Burroughs was anticipating exports.

Will Davis on Burroughs typewriters
Will's article on Burroughs in ETCetera no. 76

PS: If you want a service manual for Burroughs, check my collection on The Classic Typewriter Page (service manuals are at the bottom of the page). Alan kindly provided it. The manual takes a lot of things for granted and I did not find that it solved all my problems, but it includes helpful diagrams and some very useful tips.