Saturday, August 15, 2009

Typecast: Standard-bearer




Links:
* The Royal
* The Remington Rand KMC
* Previous post about standard typewriters




Posted by Strikethru
Labels: , , ,

14 comments:

Julia Eff said...

Oh god, those keys. They intrigue me but at the same time I feel unclean just looking at them. Who knows where that's been.

August 16, 2009 at 6:34 AM
Monda said...

I had a feeling about that old Royal. Still do.

Word verification: rathole.

I swear.

August 16, 2009 at 8:05 AM
typograph said...

You can definitely tell a difference between a portable and a standard machine's action. In designing a machine for compactness, there are things that had to be compromised (ease of maintenance, feel, etc.) so I share your sentiments. If my Smith Corona Librarian restoration turns out as good as I hope it does, I think I will have a new everyday machine. A solid workhorse.

August 16, 2009 at 9:50 AM
James Watterson said...

Great post stirkethru! I am so glad you did a follow up on those two. I look forward to hearing more good news.

August 16, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Olivander said...

I'll bet if you dab that KMC's keys with a Q-Tip soaked in cleaner the lettering will turn white as the day she was new.

In case you didn't see my comments on your Flickr photos, the grey Royal is an FP. The serial number should be on the lefthand side of the frame underneath the ribbon cover. My two are both from the early '60s; likely, yours is, too.

Once you go standard, you may never go back.

August 16, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Joe V said...

Great post, and I love the photos. It's interesting that "work horse" machines, though not as sexy as portables, seem to get the job done.

~Joe

WV: "inotyk". i not yk. I not yack? Hmm...

August 16, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Little Flower Petals said...

Yay for the grey giant!

And we have a banker in the mix too, huh? I wonder where the rest came from? What kind of stories must they be telling one another out there in the garage? I'm picturing the Royal as a rough n' tough and streetwise guy, who is sometimes irritated by the banker's naivete. And the banker may find him a bit uncouth.

Looking forward to hearing more chapters on these!

August 16, 2009 at 8:27 PM
rad-tastic said...

Oh you lucky lucky lady. I must say I am very jealous.

But I still love my Underwood more.

I should get back to my typecast huh? Yea...

August 17, 2009 at 8:31 AM
mpclemens said...

There's a reason I used The Beast for NaNo 2008, even with delightful portables available at my fingertips. Once you get a standard rolling, it's like a freight-train of words, barreling downhill.

August 17, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Duffy Moon said...

So, which machine produced this particular typecast? Since it doesn't appear to have been typed side-wise, I assume this isn't the *test* paper you put in the Royal, right?

You gotta tell us these things.

August 18, 2009 at 6:48 AM
Strikethru said...

Well, sadly all the ribbons in these typewriters are either bone dry or nonexistent, although some of the dry ribbons still amazingly can make faint marks.

Boy am I glum about the future of typewriter ribbons. Aren't you?

August 18, 2009 at 7:53 AM
deek said...

Typewriter ribbons...yeah, I spent several days running around town looking for one.

I found an Okidata 2" spooled printer ribbon that works perfectly in the three typewriters I have (found it at a Staples, none of the other stores carried it).

I was told (by the retired typewriter repair guy I found locally) that the business machine store he retired from has them, but if not in stock, could get them within a couple days.

And finally, my college girlfriend's dad (who I am still in touch with) runs his own printer supply shop and has offered to cut me new nylon as long as I supply the spool.

Now, when those run out, I will be saddened!

August 18, 2009 at 9:50 AM
SRF said...

Old Royals are beautiful looking machiens, quasi-steak punk. I feel like Phillip Marlowe when I use mine.

The best solution for acquiring ribbons is to get a bunch together on ebay, you can get them for less than the coast of a steak.

August 24, 2009 at 1:10 AM
Strikethru said...

SRF, I hadn't considered ebay for ribbons. Interesting.

August 31, 2009 at 8:33 AM

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