Comments on Strikethru: Spray-painting holy on the grail (or Pink Typewrit...

I love it! Who wouldn't want to type on that ...

2010-09-27T18:16:52.466-07:00

I love it! Who wouldn't want to type on that cute machine!

What kind of paint did you use? I want to paint my...

2010-06-19T11:45:16.577-07:00

What kind of paint did you use? I want to paint my typewriter too since it's a dull beige color, what kind of paint did you use and get it from?

Dang me, the first comment has reappeared. I gotta...

2010-05-21T19:38:02.250-07:00

Dang me, the first comment has reappeared. I gotta stop smokin' this stuff.

The first comment posted on this board - by the in...

2010-03-06T15:38:47.514-08:00

The first comment posted on this board - by the indefatigable bikethru - has mysteriously vanished, nullifying the bottom post's claim (also by bikethru) that it takes the total number of messages to 30. I suspect the surreal hand of the creator of tinydog.
This post redresses the mysterious disappearance, taking the total back up to 30. I'll be watching what happens next with some interest.

Under the guise of imparting potentially useful in...

2010-01-10T09:32:06.781-08:00

Under the guise of imparting potentially useful information, but really because having helped to get this board to 29 comments, I can't resist taking it to 30, I first encountered the term "on feet" in typewriter maintenance manuals bought from Office Machines Americana, prop Ernie Jorgenson. A useful resource for those so far from the few remaining repair shops that DIY is the only option. Ernie has servicing manuals for a huge range of machines, and in my experience is a good guy to do business with. When we had a snafu on a shipment he fixed it without a murmur.

Your best author photo by far is the one on tinydog where you're holding two babies. I don't know how many times I passed that pic before realising that one of the babies was not a baby. It cracked me up. Why posing for a photograph holding a baby and a not-baby is so funny, I can't explain, but it is. It's making me smile even now. Inspired.

'On feet,' I like that expression. Oh, a...

2010-01-10T00:28:52.850-08:00

'On feet,' I like that expression.

Oh, all the pictures are me, all right. The former photo contained no snowballs (that was perhaps a wave, or a cloud) and was taken at a friend's wedding last August.

I know I'm banging on about this, but could I ...

2010-01-08T04:22:05.321-08:00

I know I'm banging on about this, but could I request a formal Strikethru technical report (family, work and grad school permitting) on whether typing on backing sheets does anything to reduce the platen problem on your Rocket? I stumbled on the technique when I had to take the carriage off an Aristocrat to fix a broken mainspring, then couldn't get the on-feet adjustment quite right when I reassembled it. If the type were ok at the lefthand end of the line, they were fractionally top-heavy at the right, and correcting that threw them bottom-heavy at the left. They were almost right, but not perfect. Then I tried typing on three sheets of paper, and instantly the type were on feet across the full line. Presumably the extra thickness of paper added just enough elasticity to disguise the fact that some of the type were not absolutely on feet. That same cushioning effect might help with the problem on your Rocket. Just to shut me up about it, could you try it and let us know?

As for your author photographs, they all look like different people to me. I have often wondered how you maintain the quality and quantity of your Strikethru output while dealing with the aforesaid family, work and grad school, and I suspect it is because there are at least four of you. I also wanted to ask about the photograph before this one - it looked as if you were being hit in the face by a very small snowball while wearing a summer dress. Can you reveal what was going on?

Right, that's my entry for longest and most obsessive comment on Strikethru in 2010. You have almost twelve months in which to outdo me, people.

It never occurs to me to consider the age of ribbo...

2010-01-07T09:21:13.268-08:00

It never occurs to me to consider the age of ribbons. Hmm

There has been controversy over my profile pictures in the past, see the foxygate incident. Actually not many full-face pics out there in the typosphere, are there?

A painting post is forthcoming although I attribute my results with the rocket to luck.

One more addition to my monomania about mitigating...

2010-01-07T08:05:12.829-08:00

One more addition to my monomania about mitigating the age-related hardening of Rocket/Aristocrat platens - make sure you use fresh ribbon. Typing on dried-up ribbon, there's an insidious temptation to hit the keys harder and harder to make an impression, thereby punching those points o'lite in the typescript. (Who would be so stupid? Well, me last night, for a start.)

Wait, so now not only are full-face pics suddenly ...

2010-01-06T09:01:14.127-08:00

Wait, so now not only are full-face pics suddenly acceptable in the typosphere (and btw, you're looking rather - ah - 'fey' in your shot, strikethru), but now suddenly manicured-hands-on-typewriter pr0n is fine, too? Not sure that'll make it past my filter.

Dear Strikethru, For those of us who are painting...

2010-01-02T16:31:30.418-08:00

Dear Strikethru,

For those of us who are painting-challenged, would you say a bit about how you did the painting. Me, I can write like a wolverine, but I have messed up every single thing I have ever tried to paint. And, now, seeing yr jewel of a pink typer, I gotta make me a lemony one. So, if you have time some time, maybe a post, a really simple post with no big words, on how to paint yr typewriter?

Thanks,
Joe in Austin

Quite correct, indeed. And, indeed, a friend in de...

2009-12-30T10:45:01.693-08:00

Quite correct, indeed. And, indeed, a friend in deed is, indeed, a friend indeed.

That was one too many indeeds.

2009-12-29T21:46:23.246-08:00

That was one too many indeeds.

Indeed that particular carnation pink is my favori...

2009-12-29T21:46:02.511-08:00

Indeed that particular carnation pink is my favorite, I did a happy dance at the hardware store when I found it amid the grays and blues.

Indeed, time for a manicure, if only to look stylish typing on this Rocket.

Your next photo of this machine should include you...

2009-12-28T18:38:36.088-08:00

Your next photo of this machine should include your typing hands with matching nail-polish. With a green backdrop!

Joe - agreed, pink would be seen as a very "a...

2009-12-28T17:19:38.256-08:00

Joe - agreed, pink would be seen as a very "anti-business" colour for a typewriter. But it would be interesting to know where in our culture such decisions (black, drab green = sober, businesslike; pink = frivolous) came from. It's kind of colour linguistics.
Snoho - useful to know that Ames does a good job.
Strike - have you seen the platen-rejuvenation suggestions on Richard Polt's Basic Typewriter Restoration page? But before anything else I'd try typing on three or even four sheets of paper. It will be cheaper for sure than restoring the platen, and might be just as effective. It worked for me on three Empire Aristocrats (the licensed British version of the Hermes Rocket).

Jae Leslie; I just looked at that on your tip, a...

2009-12-28T13:01:25.904-08:00

Jae Leslie;

I just looked at that on your tip, and it seems like it might be a good investment if you're doing a whole car or motorcycle restoration by yourself, but not really so much if you just want the occasional typewriter done. The guys we take our stuff to are much more economical than trying to DIY something like that--I got it quoted and it's going to be $30 and the results are guaranteed. In cases like this, I'd say just leave it up to the professionals.

I have always wanted to spruce up my dull yellow R...

2009-12-28T12:46:13.249-08:00

I have always wanted to spruce up my dull yellow Royalite but have never had the courage or know how. Maybe I'll give it a go soon. A great post, hope the new paint job inspires you

Strikethru- You take off the platen and ship it t...

2009-12-28T08:29:22.843-08:00

Strikethru-

You take off the platen and ship it to Ames. They'll put on new rubber to the correct original specs depending on the manufacturer. (They can do the feed rollers too but mine are okay.) Once they get it they call you with a price and a timeline. When I did it it cost $4 or $5 to ship it to them, $12 for the recovering, and $10 to have it shipped back. I use my SM-3 so much that it was worth the near $30 but you'll have to decide how much using the Hermes means to you. It took about two weeks from when I shipped it to when I got it back.

Here's their contact information:

http://www.amessupply.com/contact.asp

You can get powder-coating kits off the Eastwood c...

2009-12-28T08:20:22.246-08:00

You can get powder-coating kits off the Eastwood catalog and online thingy, and Mr S (my parts manager and informant) sez an oven is hot enuf to melt it on. Also I gather they will sell you the equipment... Just FYI.

SnoWri-- where is Ames Supply? I haven't heard...

2009-12-28T08:01:23.720-08:00

SnoWri-- where is Ames Supply? I haven't heard of it.

This may be an unnecessary question, as I'm su...

2009-12-28T06:45:50.357-08:00

This may be an unnecessary question, as I'm sure you know about this, but are you aware of a place called Ames Supply that will put new rubber on old platens? I had it done with my SM-3 and it was a great investment.

Julia - thanks so much. It is a metal one, but it&...

2009-12-27T23:57:52.621-08:00

Julia - thanks so much. It is a metal one, but it's got that noise-padding fabric on the inside which can be replaced with felt. I've already sussed out a few local coaters in brisbane. Am sure all the prep can be handled by them.

Wonder if a Remington can fudge that classic Royal crinkle finish... ;-)

Rino, It's gotta be a metal case, not plastic...

2009-12-27T22:30:20.719-08:00

Rino,

It's gotta be a metal case, not plastic. You take the body panels off and take them to a powder-coating place, where they use a form of high-powered sheep dip to take all the finish and gunk off and then blast it with the powder and bake it for a few hours. Then you pick it up, all pretty and shiny and new, and reinstall it on your typer. My dad and I go to Exotic Coatings in Romulus, MI. They're affordable, the guys are great, and they've done absolutely ace work for us. I'm sure if you google "powder coating *your major city center*" you'll be able to find a place. Unless you're in Southeast Michigan, in which case just go to Exotic and don't waste your time anywhere else.

Hey, pink typewriters rule! When my mom died, I in...

2009-12-27T22:02:15.125-08:00

Hey, pink typewriters rule! When my mom died, I inherited the baby-girl-pink (production color!) Royal that she used as a high school guidance office secretary from 1963-75 and took with her when she got fired. I've been wanting to paint my computer pink but my wife keeps objecting... wonder why...