DIY Underwood Decal

My favorite typer at this moment, maybe for a long time in future, is this 1958 Underwood Golden Touch.   There's a special connection between me and this well-engineered machine. 

It is arguably the BEST typewriter that has ever been made.  

But I think something is missing.  What is it? Maybe some decal on the paper support?  The only other Golden Touch I saw on typewriterdatabase.com doesn't have it either. Nor do Underwood typewriters of same model on ebay I saw from time to time.  

Still, nothing prevents me from doing something to demonstrate my love of it and my admiration for US engineering/design. 

I found a Canadian made Underwood online. And its decal design looks original. So I asked a friend, who is a graphic designer at L'OReal, for help. 

And the sticker came in earlier today. 

Now this great American typewriter seems COMPLETE to me. 

Need help with the platen removal of Continental Standard

Dear fellow typospherians, I'm  in need of help.

Pictured here is a Continental Standard typewriter.  This machine well-used, rusty but it is in perfect working order except that the feedroller has already melted and flattened so paper feeding is difficult, and paper cannot roll up properly whenever I pull the carriage return lever.  

This time-honored machine has a British keyboard with a Pica typeface, unlike most Continental typewriters that come with German keyboard. Also, it is very special to Shanghai as  evidently it was built for the Chinese market back in 1940s.  An important proof is that it has a TS symbol which is the Chinese currency "tael"  in early 20th century.  This machine most likely was used in offices in the former British concession at  that time and it has never left Shanghai, the famed port of the Far East. 

The TS symbol for taels, the erstwhile Chinese currency

I have an ambitious project-- to restore this old machine. But the first step is to replace platen which has hardened as rock and its feedroller has already melted down.  

I'd be very grateful if anyone of you could offer any advice on how to remove the platen.  I have googled.   Some says  "just unscrew the knobs".  I tried, but both of them are unscrewable. I cannot find any screws to untighten so it seems that you guys are the only one I can turn to for help.  Many thanks in advance. 

the right-hand knob

the left-hand knob

the right-hand knob from beneath

The Flying Fish family

Two years ago,I bought this Flying Fish Model PSQ from taobao, China's equivalent of ebay for RMB 220 ( approx. 32 US dollars)  According to the original receipt that comes with it, this ultraportable typewriter was produced in 1977.  The dimension is 29.5*29.5*7.8cm. 

This model was later rebranded as Hero model 110 or KOFA 100 (hence the mysterious 100). Design-wise, the machine is essentially an Adler tippa (1950s model) for its body and Olympia Splendid its carriage. So it's fair to say that these small-framed machines have German blood and, when being typed on, feels like one too. The green bilingual label on its back rail shows that this particular machine was built for export therefore its quality is guaranteed.  I won't say they are the best, alignment is not always desirable, but they are what China can offer to the typewriter world back at that time.  It's fair to say, they are not bad. 

Shanghai in 1980s

Unlike almost every typewriter made since mid-1980s in China, earlier portables are more likely have Elite typeface 12 inch.  Alignment on this machine isn't bad. Also worth-mentioning is that earlier models uses vinyl bags just like most of its western counterparts back at that time, such as Olympia splendid . However, portables made since early-mid 1980s come in plastic bags. Early models are greyish blue, red and white, but mostly red. 

The following is an ad for the Flying Fish series.  It is in English, another proof that these typewriters are built for the international market. 

The original manual of the typewriter. 

Just in case you don't know how to use this machine 😂😂

Thank you for reading.  Hope you enjoyed it. 

 

Unknown Model of Remington Standard

I saw this Remington desktop typewriter on ebay earlier this morning.   As I recollect, the very first typewriter I saw on an American TV soap opera as a kid back in 80s is very similar to this.  So to some extent, it is a perfect example of what an ideal typewriter should look like.    Unfortunately I cannot find any information about its exact model, either in the post or on typewriterdatabase.com.  Any fellow typospherians have any idea of what exact model it is? 

The seller asks for $99 which is a reasonable offer, but he also says that "the carriage needs a little help" as it cannot advance on its own. 😂😂   I'm not sure if the issue is only a broken drawband, which I can fix, but I'm afraid maybe that "little help" means something else is broken or missing. That is beyond me. 

Need Help! Spacebar issue with Underwood Golden Touch

Dear Fellow Typospherians, I need some help. 

Recently I bought this a great great Golden Touch--well-engineered, snappy and in rare turquoise. Another good reason to be a fan of American typewirter. My favorite typer now! Look how it nicely fit into my humble adobe. 

However, this great typer needs a bit TLC. To be more preice, the spacebar of this machine is not very responsive. When I hit it, I have to hit it very hard and even so, sometimes it doesn't work. 

I took off the back-side wall to check the escapement/carriage advancement mechanism, but seems everything is just fine. Nothing on the surface is broken or missing. I guess maybe some spring is missing because when I poke the escapement piece, it moves perfectly well. Or maybe the level beneath cannot hit hard/high enough to hit the advancement piece? I don't know. 

I need some help. I can't put up with something that is not perfect. Please help me preserving this great great American typer! 

Some more pic for your appreciation:

My very first Video-Blog