You may know my theory that every typewriter model, no matter how sophisticated and wonderful, has an Achilles' heel.
This is certainly true of the Brother Electric 3000, a rather obscure little machine from the '70s (it's a Brother type JP-8, for those in the know).
As you can see, the carriage return is still manual on this little powered portable, but it does have a repeat spacer and a tabulator. It's a compact machine with a cover that fits neatly over it.
So what is its Achilles' heel?
Well, I found an Electric 3000 a couple of months ago for sale locally, offered for just $12.95 because it wasn't working. I figured it was worth it, if only to discover an unfamiliar typewriter model. It hummed as soon as you switched it on, but the keys were completely unresponsive.
When I unscrewed the top plate, I found the reason: it was missing the belt that connects the electric motor to the large wheel that turns the fluted shaft, which in turn activates the typebars.
More precisely, the belt was there, but it had crumbled into unrecognizable flakes of brittle material! You can see those flakes at the left bottom corner of this photo. The two parts that are supposed to be connected by a belt are circled in red.
A wide rubber band was a decent temporary fix, and proved that a lasting belt was just what I needed.
After some poking around on eBay, and with the help of an eBay seller who specializes in these things, I located a flat, 17-inch-circumference belt. I doubt that anyone sells belts like this especially for electric typewriters, but you can find various kinds of small belts made for turntables, film projectors, etc. They may be new old stock.
If you need one just like this, you can buy it here.
The belt slipped right on, and the typewriter was good as new. I put it up for sale at Urban Legend Typewriters and earned some good money for WordPlay Cincy.
But was this just a freak occurrence?
No! Just a few days ago, I got the following e-mail:
Sure enough, when the owner opened up her Brother, she found the same fragments of a crumbled belt:This is certainly true of the Brother Electric 3000, a rather obscure little machine from the '70s (it's a Brother type JP-8, for those in the know).
As you can see, the carriage return is still manual on this little powered portable, but it does have a repeat spacer and a tabulator. It's a compact machine with a cover that fits neatly over it.
So what is its Achilles' heel?
Well, I found an Electric 3000 a couple of months ago for sale locally, offered for just $12.95 because it wasn't working. I figured it was worth it, if only to discover an unfamiliar typewriter model. It hummed as soon as you switched it on, but the keys were completely unresponsive.
When I unscrewed the top plate, I found the reason: it was missing the belt that connects the electric motor to the large wheel that turns the fluted shaft, which in turn activates the typebars.
More precisely, the belt was there, but it had crumbled into unrecognizable flakes of brittle material! You can see those flakes at the left bottom corner of this photo. The two parts that are supposed to be connected by a belt are circled in red.
A wide rubber band was a decent temporary fix, and proved that a lasting belt was just what I needed.
After some poking around on eBay, and with the help of an eBay seller who specializes in these things, I located a flat, 17-inch-circumference belt. I doubt that anyone sells belts like this especially for electric typewriters, but you can find various kinds of small belts made for turntables, film projectors, etc. They may be new old stock.
If you need one just like this, you can buy it here.
The belt slipped right on, and the typewriter was good as new. I put it up for sale at Urban Legend Typewriters and earned some good money for WordPlay Cincy.
But was this just a freak occurrence?
No! Just a few days ago, I got the following e-mail:
I have a beautiful Brother Electric 3000 that has a working motor and carriage but the keys will not strike. Do you have any hints on what I can do to get it in working order or should I just trash it?
A fresh belt is on its way to her, and I hope it will do the trick.
Moral of the story: Hey typewriter manufacturers, use materials that will last for at least 100 years, OK? We're going to need these things when the Internet collapses!
That's good work you're doing for people, Richard!
ReplyDeleteheh, I dunno that even steel belts would last a century :D
ReplyDeleteWhy not? Smith Premiers from the late 19th century use a steel drawband to pull the carriage, and it usually works as good as new. Even some of the rubber on those early typewriters is surprisingly good.
DeletePRB was the brand we used for replacement VCR belts, back in the day. Hopefully, as long as belts are available, we can keep these machines humming.
ReplyDeleteNice rescue, and major karma points for helping out the other owner of a Brother Electric 3000.
ReplyDeleteNice repair.
ReplyDeleteA drive belt is an expected wear item. It is also decently standardized enough not to become unobtanium. Be Wile E. Coyote and have a few industrial supply catalogs around. McMaster-Carr sells flat rubber belts to custom lengths for minimal expense.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip. It is true that belts will inevitably wear down sooner or later, but these Brother belts seem really pathetic.
DeleteKinda like the chassis rubber grommets on Olympia SM3 and SM4.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. We should probably consider those the Achilles' heels of these otherwise fantastic typewriters.
DeleteWorth knowing. I wouldnt have thought it was that simple a fix.
ReplyDeleteGreat story. It's such a good feeling when you can put a typewriter back into service. You inspired me to pick up a very cute but very messed up Smith Corona electric at a thrift store today.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it!
DeleteI had the Brother 3800. I would like to know more about it.
ReplyDeleteOk... how about a power cord for this model 3000? Is it a common cord I could find? Or does it need to be ordered from someone and who??
ReplyDeleteSorry, I don't know.
DeleteRichard, here's another comment for the "long tail of the internet" file: I recently bid on a Brother 3000 because I was emboldened by this post. I unpacked it this morning and sure enough, the drive belt was shot. Happily, five years later, your link to the replacement still works! The new part is in the mail and soon one more disabled machine will be returned to the land of the living. Thanks so much for this.
ReplyDeleteMy mother just gifted me her Brother 3012, which was the typewriter I used for term papers back in the day. It sounds like the belt is gone. I can't for the life of me get the top cover off: removed the two obvious screws. There's a fair amount of horizontal play, but no vertical. Any tips? (I'm also trying to avoid too much force as this old plastic feels brittle).
ReplyDeleteHmm ... I don't remember having trouble opening up this 3000. Some plastic typewriter shells have tabs on one piece that stick into slots in another piece, and sometimes the fit can be very tight. As you say, the plastic can get brittle, and there is a risk of breakage. I hope you can figure it out!
Deletethanks
ReplyDeleteI won a brother electric 3000 on my local buy nothing page, so yes I got it for free! I was told the motor turns on but the keys won't strike. The day after I got it, I managed to pry it apart, it has 2 screws but has the tabs in front and back so I cautiously pried it apart. Surprisingly, the original belt was still intact on my machine, it was just a little stretched. I got it going with some nudging to the belt wheel. I ordered a new belt the fry 17.0, I did the belt swap, and now it works flawlessly!! I love it! I looked up the serial number and it seems to be a 1971 model, which is the same year I was born, lol. It was also in pretty great condition, the pervious owner definitely took great care of it. My son and grandkids had fun pushing the keys. My granddaughter wants to be an author, so she is now intrigued and wants a typewriter, haha I did fix the missing rubber pieces with rubber washers on the key striker cover and where the screws sat on rubber washers at one time but rotted away. I did notice though that the cover would not latch with the front rubber washers so I used the 2 original washers on the front of the typewriter. good as new!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a free typewriter, and bigger congratulations on getting it to work! Thanks for your comment.
Delete