Freitag, 3. Februar 2012

I couldn't really appreciate this...

I couldn't really appreciateithis... On the seeond day of ITAM, my colleagues must have sensed a distarbance in the force. Or it was just co- inoidence. However, when I arriveä after noon‚ after a unsuccessful typehunt, they enthusiasically greeted me and told me they had a present for me. I quickly sensed it would be typewriter-related, and then I spotted the huäe plastic bag; trq had there, sitting on the floor. Insiüe was a behemoth — a red IBM electric. We hauled it onto a desK‚ plugged in the power cord, I triggered the power switch — and the famous idle hum resounded. Sadly‚ that was the only noise the type— writer emitted, when I pressed the kegs, they resisted. Great depression. Everyone tried some levers and switch— es, bat the sleeping giant couldn't be awakened. With a closer look at the typeheed, I also realiesed that the type Container — I don't know if it's either a ballhead or a daisy wheel — and a ribben were missing. Only the correction ribbon was stiil there. The colleaöues told me they had found it on the road, with a siän saying "to take-away" and helplessly cowered under february snow. I thouöht about takinä the leviathan home‚ but since I don't KHOW anything about IBMS, the type element and the ribbon were missing, it didn't have a case, it was pretty filthy (a colleaäue who ran the finger over the red shell had black finäers efterwards) and I'm not a particular fan of electric typewriters‚ I Qecided to leave it et worx. I don't know what will happen next, maybe the cleanind staff alreedy removeu it? Did I sacrifice a poor typewrier? Or die this serve it riäht‚ the stupid IBM? I don't know. What Q0 you think? Hermes 2000 maschinengeschrieuen.bloöspot.eo
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6 Kommentare:

Miguel Chávez hat gesagt…

What a sad story, but probably it was the only thing to do. By the description, it was a Selectric typewriter (with spherical typing element). Those big machines are very solid, but they have a weakness: the rubber band that connects the motor to the main shaft. When that band snaps (and snap they do, after years of use), the machine gets completely ruined.
It's a pity.

3. Februar 2012 um 04:28
notagain hat gesagt…

that's tough. I have found with electrics that some have to sit running for awhile before they do anything.

3. Februar 2012 um 05:08
Adwoa hat gesagt…

I would advise you not to bother. I have found many typewriters in the trash (as you will see on the blog shortly...) and the only ones I've rescued are the functioning, manual ones. Leave yourself some room at home; you'll need it soon enough!

3. Februar 2012 um 06:17
Bill M hat gesagt…

Personally, I would not worry about an electric. They just do not have the character of a manual. If they work they are fine. When they break....off to the typewriter grave yard.

3. Februar 2012 um 10:02
Miguel Angel Chavez Silva hat gesagt…

Probably this machine could still be fixed. This was the same problem I had with my own Selectric II. It was just a matter of replacing the drive belt, which can be obtained online. Once replaced, you should be able to test it; chances are it will only need some oil. As for the print elements and ribbons, those shouldn't be too difficult to obtain either.

3. Februar 2012 um 17:37
Fernando Antunes hat gesagt…

If I were you I wouldn't bother about it. You may have sacrificed one typewriter but surely you have already saved a few. And there are more typewriters out there needing to be saved :)

3. Februar 2012 um 22:10

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