Wow. It's stunning. The black-and-aluminum combo works so well, character and gravitas to spare. And it even sounds amazing. Congratulations for this awesome restoration. This should have a place in your library typewriter exhibit at XU if you ever get that chance again.
That machine means business! Looks great and seems to be working very nicely. Congratulations!
How does it compare with the IBM Executive, for instance? Both are big desktop machines with plenty of mass and automatic return keys. And but hum nicely when they're on. Which one would you use if you had to do some serious typing?
Will you give the Underwood the carbon-ribbon treatment, too?
Both the Underwood and the IBM are heavy, powerful machines that paradoxically have a finger-light touch. For serious typing, I would definitely pick the Underwood, because the proportional spacing on the IBM Executive requires very accurate typing -- otherwise, fixing the errors will drive you crazy.
I hadn't thought about a carbon ribbon. I should post a typing sample from the Retro-Lectric. To be honest, its print quality is not fantastic, as there are some alignment issues.
Very nice restoration, Industrial chic? Would make a great movie prop - in movies along the lines of, say, Terry Gilliam's Brazil, or Richard Ayoade's The Double.
Beautiful, and so much more striking than the original designers could ever have hoped.... or maybe bare metal was the plan and the marketing chaps said "No, paint it grey."
Richard that is a really neat machine. It the body made out of aluminum?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is. Click on the label "Underwood Electric" at the end of the story to see the phases of its restoration/modification.
DeleteThis is the coolest electric typewriter I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteWow. It's stunning. The black-and-aluminum combo works so well, character and gravitas to spare. And it even sounds amazing. Congratulations for this awesome restoration. This should have a place in your library typewriter exhibit at XU if you ever get that chance again.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, are you now calling your blog "The Typewriter Revolution"? Good move. I'd say!
ReplyDeleteFab. What an amazing restoration, and second life for that old grungy beast - now a shiny, super duper THING! What a thing. Uniquely charming.
ReplyDeleteThat machine means business! Looks great and seems to be working very nicely. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHow does it compare with the IBM Executive, for instance? Both are big desktop machines with plenty of mass and automatic return keys. And but hum nicely when they're on. Which one would you use if you had to do some serious typing?
Will you give the Underwood the carbon-ribbon treatment, too?
Both the Underwood and the IBM are heavy, powerful machines that paradoxically have a finger-light touch. For serious typing, I would definitely pick the Underwood, because the proportional spacing on the IBM Executive requires very accurate typing -- otherwise, fixing the errors will drive you crazy.
DeleteI hadn't thought about a carbon ribbon. I should post a typing sample from the Retro-Lectric. To be honest, its print quality is not fantastic, as there are some alignment issues.
Looks great, you did a stellar job!
ReplyDeleteVery nice work Richard.
ReplyDeleteVery nice restoration, Industrial chic? Would make a great movie prop - in movies along the lines of, say, Terry Gilliam's Brazil, or Richard Ayoade's The Double.
ReplyDeleteNice restoration! I think "industrial chic" describes it well. Great show piece :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic! Finally, all together again, and so much more awesome than stock :D
ReplyDeleteAwesome work! Very steam-punk.
ReplyDeleteFabu! All it needs is a heat element to make it the world's first crossover typewriter/toaster.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, and so much more striking than the original designers could ever have hoped.... or maybe bare metal was the plan and the marketing chaps said "No, paint it grey."
ReplyDeleteMuch power of the horse under that hood!
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty awesome, for sure.
ReplyDelete