Magic Margin

If anything I am haunted by the blog post "Is the Adler J5 Junk?" That post is the third most-often looked at post I have ever written. How could it be then that another Adler J5 has come into my life? Goodwill.

We were cleaning out some things and I said that I would take all the donations over to the local Goodwill. I haven't had any luck at the local GW since I passed up an IBM Selectric in light blue.  (The same machine pays a part in Catch Me If You Can.) I walked over to the electronics department and I did not see the tell-tale typewriter case. Scattering the shelves was the usual bevy of printers, odd remotes to long dead televisions, and cheap 35mm cameras. I walked by without even noticing the black plastic case. Rummaging around another section, I found a nice old Polaroid Land Camera 600 (you can still get 600 film from the Impossible project) and not much else. On the way to the check-out lane the black case caught my eye. Every thought turned to it being an …

When Eduardo authored this typecast he was using a less-than-svelte Remington Performer. When he was working on the second draft I pulled out the "retired" Hermes 3000 and suggested that he try using it for the second draft. His experience was far better when he used the Hermes. On reflection, Eduardo said that if the Hermes was the one he started with his opinion would be much different. I think that goes to show that perceptions of the typewriter can be informed by the machine that had been used. If your typewriter was really nice you would have fond memories of the experience. If it was a terrible, clangy, Adler J5-like machine you might have a totally different response.

This is Raquel's first summer-school typecast. Raquel is a bright young lady who has really taken an interest in the typewriter. Her favorite is a mid-century Quiet De Luxe.

By any measure you can imagine, the Phoenix Typewriter Round-Up II: The Temple of Typers was a success. Attendance was around 20 (more than 3 times as many attended the first Phoenix Type-In) and judging from the smiles and happy faces everyone had a good time. There was a good selection of typewriters to look at. I brought my Royal HH, Silver-Surfer Lettera 22, Blick 7, and a very nice Royal Model O.


There were Hermes galore, Remingtons, and Coronas. However, typewriters were not the only excitement. Gary Nicholson (of the LA Type-In fame) was there with to colleagues. They are starting work on a documentary on the typewriter in the 21st century. The project is just getting off the ground and they have a large project in mind, but from what I have seen, they are really getting into the heart of the movement.


Compared to the last PT-I there were many more women in attendance. It's a refreshing thing to see that typewriter love knows no gender line.

Doubtless, you will hear much ab…

The 2nd Phoenix Typewriter Round-Up (Type-In) is today at Monti's La Casa Vieja in Tempe. If you are going to be in the Tempe area today, consider dropping by. We already have quite a few local typewriter favorites attending. Grab that typewriter and head down to:



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The Typewriter Round-Up is scheduled from 1 to 3, so stop by and cool down for the afternoon. See some really interesting typewriters. Meet some interesting people. We'll see you there!

If you were to read any instruction manual from the golden age of the typewriter you would find many references to the importance of covering your typewriter. This started me thinking. I have some typewriters that sit out and are completely unprotected. Sure, I want people to see them, but I also want to be able to use them without having to dust them off first.
Covers were once ubiquitous typewriter accessories. Now, they are nearly impossible to find in good condition and made of a material of which my wife would approve. That's why my wife and I made this:


When I say I helped, I measured machines and cut out the fabric. The actual sewing was done by the missus., but it looked easy enough to do.  I am currently working on a pattern that you can download and make your own. We also have been toying with the idea of selling them, but look for the pattern in the next few days.
In case there were any doubts in your mind as to the importance of covering your machine read this excerpt fr…

Now, the only problem is that I think that the ratchet wheel for the line advancement is worn unevenly. I think it's making some odd line spacing happen. I'll post about that later.

Just a preview, but it is about 80% done. Huge project that I am unlikely to do again. Now I know why people have buffing wheels in shops. Doing this by hand has been a labor of love. So, enjoy the photo. I need to go and try to get this aluminum dust out of my hands.

After the baby was put to bed, I retired to the back patio to continue sanding the body of the Lettera. It is far from done. I still have the 150, 250, 400, 600, and 1500 grit papers to go, but 400 and higher is wet paper. Wet paper lets me sit inside and work on while watching television.




I need to start looking for a buffing wheel that can fit in the chuck on my cordless drill. I think that Auto Zone or O'Riley might have something like that. The buff is the last step on this "little" project. I am hoping that by the end of the week I'll have a complete machine to show off. In fact, it might make it's way to the type-in on June 18th.

So I don't know if I have the most horrible luck or what, but my Silver Surfer project is taking a long time. So far I have completed...nothing. Well, nothing isn't quite true. The cover of the old Lettera is coming along nicely. The body still needs the paint sanded off. Initially, I tried using acetone and it worked to some degree. The paint didn't peel off in one sheet. It just became soft enough to scrape off with an old paint stirrer.

After the paint was scraped and the surface cleaned, the aluminum looked heavily scratched and pitted.. It was probably made that way to give the paint an excellent key. That would be great for old paint that looked wonderful, but the putty color on the Olivetti was really unpleasant. I needed to sand a lot.

Starting with a 65 grit block I was able to get the paint off. It worked, but the work was slow. I might try to find one of those sanding disks that mount into a portable drill. Speed might get that ugly paint to vanish. 150 followed…

Summer school is in full swing and the students are already using the machines. We are just about 1-to-1 in student-to-typewriter ratio. This allows the kids to choose a typewriter and keep it at their desk. This one ,complete with a story about a first football game, was left mid-word. The author will return to the story on Monday.

Silver Surferizing is all the rage. I've been sucked in with a Lettera that needed a little attention. All I am willing to show, yet, is an uncovered typewriter, but soon it will be ready to share.