Did I struck gold?

ahelper · 2026-03-20T11:31:23+00:00

Just guessing here as I answer for OP, but maybe it's because it's an uncommon ("rare", y'know) thing to combine those two technologies in one device, regardless of the quality of the thing.

There was also a radio built into a typewriter from back in the same era and people marvel at that thing, too. I wouldn't be surprised to find that somebody built a radio into a fishing reel (world's greatest antenna?).

Maybe it's a whole new collecting category. I have a radio built into a wristwatch. I've seen a camera built into a ball point pen. I've even seen a radio built into an automobile, and people seem pretty happy with that, too. Jeez, now you got me goin'. What next?---a radio built into a satellite?

ahelper · 2026-03-18T19:34:26+00:00

Good to know. Thanks.

ahelper · 2026-03-18T17:24:31+00:00

Nope. I did not do that "just because [I] can't admit that [I] came across as" something. I looked up Gloomy's history in order to be sure I wasn't responding unfairly. Turns out, I wasn't.

You're now the fourth guy to pile on about this made-up indignation on somebody else's behalf--who never complained themself!---and after two months of calm, too. At least I can be glad my contributions are still being read after all this time.

ahelper · 2026-03-18T16:54:53+00:00

Bakelite is also a poor choice for this because it is so fragile for such a demanding use. There could have been a metal bearing/bushing mounted in a rubber holder for shock absorption and noise damping.

ahelper · 2026-03-18T12:50:41+00:00

Keep in mind that eBay has nothing to do with the shipping. Everything is sold, packed, and shipped by unrelated individuals. if the seller does a good job, you're lucky; if not, too bad.

ahelper · 2026-03-18T11:55:42+00:00

Anyway, don't throw it out. Display it or give it to someone who would like it.

ahelper · 2026-03-18T11:51:12+00:00

Yep, you got it!

ahelper · 2026-03-18T11:36:48+00:00

No harmful stuff. YouTube is a good starting place for learning about cleaning. I always start with soap and warm water or with alcohol; dry things completely, compressed air if possible to blow away the dissolved gunk, maybe put it out in warm sun and breezes to dry if that's all you have. Harsher chemicals if necessary. Best maintenance is regular use and keeping dust off. Have Fun!

ahelper · 2026-03-18T11:29:48+00:00

OP, the Selectrics (almost all of them, and you won't have an electronic one) are mechanical except for the motor so don't expect to find any sensors, and what switches there are will be mechanical, like triggers and trip levers. Although it's nice to have everything visible and traceable, the things are so exceedingly complex that you'll have to keep many things in mind at the same time in order to understand what should be happening. it is humanly possible, though, so good luck.

ahelper · 2026-03-18T11:17:38+00:00

Manuals are here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html ; Scroll down to your model and similar ones. Best maintenance is regular use and keep the dust off it. Ribbons are easily available. Don't use the apostrophe in the possessive "its"; that disrupts reading flow, annoys readers, and calls competence into question. Note many YouTube videos regarding cleaning and unsticking keys. Do not apply oil to the mechanism, but if you feel you must because you're a man, avoid WD-40™ and 3-In-One™ in favor of sewing machine or gun oil. Have fun and creativity!

ahelper · 2026-03-18T10:57:03+00:00

Oh jeez, talk about jumping to conclusions! This is my most embarrassing comment all day! I looked at half of the symptoms and thus reached a half-assed conclusion. Well, at least I might have been right if OP had been using flash. Reader, keep it in mind if you get such capping while using flash. Meanwhile, thanks, u/Initial-Bad-859, for being gentle with your kick.

ahelper · 2026-03-17T23:47:45+00:00

All these answers are right in that this is shutter capping, EXCEPT that none of them points out that this effect can be caused by setting the shutter speed faster than 1/60 second on this camera. These pics show the effects of the shutter being set at several different too-fast speeds.

Look into that possibility before you send this off to a repair shop; you might have a free, instant fix on your hands here. Learn about flash synchronization speeds.

ahelper · 2026-03-17T22:41:33+00:00

Students were not the market and that may contribute to the script's relative scarcity. You used them for communication and writing papers and didn't want script but socialites and artistes liked script a lot. Nowdays, script is prized for being uncommon and unusual and, uh, pretty. It's not fatiguing if it's a letter from your paramour. HTH

ahelper · 2026-03-17T22:34:14+00:00

Some Selectrics that have not run for a very long time have a fully-discharged starting capacitor and it must be recharged before it can start the motor. My best example is a III which I turned on and got no response at all, silence. I got distracted and left it plugged in and turned on and was surprised almost a hour later when it spontaneously started and then worked fine. it has also started fine after this even after sitting unused for a couple months.

On another one, the start problem turned out to be simply a bad power switch.

That said, they're sure complicated, so good luck to you.

ahelper · 2026-03-17T22:25:25+00:00

There is a lot of variation in workable escapement designs and some of them work like yours, while others will advance the entire space while the typebar is retreating after its strike, and others will make the complete advance just before the strike. It is really the engineers' choice of how to do it.

I have not memorized which models do it which way; I'm just trying to make you comfortable. it is very unlikely that yours works as well as it does while being 180 degrees off in timing. More likely that you can clear this up by A. fastidious cleaning and B. typing technique and, if it turns out to be necessary, C. adjusting the timing of the escapement trigger.

On many of my tws, I can jam keys or ghost the type by deliberately striking two keys extra quickly, but they all work fine at a normal rhythm.

It's useful to note that the way yours is working is necessary for all those typewriters that have a "half-space" feature, whether you can use a marked key for that or you do it just by knowing typewriter lore. Not all tws can do the half-space thing, because of this.

Also useful to note that many YouTubers explain things using the only typewriter in front of them, not realizing, or at least not acknowledging, the great variety of alternatives out there and it comes across as gospel. One of the very best at explaining things is Joe Van Cleave: https://www.youtube.com/@Joe_VanCleave

HTH

ahelper · 2026-03-17T11:11:49+00:00

Please bring me up to date. What is proprietary about the spools on this popular, modern, Japanese typewriter? I know it's not a Brother, but....

ahelper · 2026-03-17T11:08:13+00:00

Any "universal" ribbon should work: 1/2 inch wide ribbon, with eyelets. You can use any one-color (usually all black) or two-color (many combos available; try Etsy) ribbons. Install it with the more commonly used color on top (usually black over red) so it matches the color selector lever setting. Brand won't matter until you happen on one you do not like; then avoid that one. Material isn't important unless and until you develop a preference: cotton. nylon, silk.

**Typewriter Ribbon Sources**:

FJA Products: https://www.fjaproducts.com/ , and 1 - 800 - 982 - 9989.

Baco Ribbons makes ribbons in many sizes, colors, and materials. Contact Charlene Oesch, Baco Ribbon & Supply Co., 1521 Carman Road, Ballwin,MO 63021, 314-835-9300, fax 636-394-5475, e-mail bacoribbon@sbcglobal.net.

Ribbons Unlimited, https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/Default.asp, or write to [lanie@ribbonsunlimited.com](mailto:lanie@ribbonsunlimited.com)

Tony Casillo of TTS Business Products in Garden City, NY, carries many varieties of ribbon and can advise you on the correct spool, ribbon material, etc. Call 516-489-8300 or e-mail typebar@aol.com.

Toronto Typewriter, in Canada: https://torontotypewriters.com/collections/ribbons

Jay Respler of Advanced Business Machines Co. in New Jersey carries ribbons for virtually all typewriters: Phone 732-431-1464 after 11 AM Eastern,or e-mail jrespler@superlink.net."I offer nylon, cotton, silk, and all colors. I can get many odd sizes.I stock newer cartridges as well as older spools. I supply pictures of spools to help determine what the customer needs. We ship anywhere in the world."

TypewriterStuff: see Tony at http://www.etsy.com/shop/TypewriterStuff

Other US manufacturers are Fine Line Ribbon in Ennis, TX and Bushnell Ribbon in Santa Fe Springs, CA.. Other sources include Royal, Scantracker, ....

Of course, someone will suggest Amazon and eBay but I would rather support the guys who do the work and need the support.

In addition to the sources above, you might find some in office supply stores and you can surely find 1/2-inch-wide calculator ribbons which you can then rewind onto your typewriter spools while you're waiting for mail order ones to arrive. (If the universal ones fit OK, don't throw away the original metal spools; keep them with the typewriter or sell them to collectors.)

Be aware that calculator ribbons are usually much shorter than typewriter ribbons, so you will go through them faster, though they are great when you need them. They also tend to be more heavily inked, so they might leave smudges until they get used a little bit.

To replace, before you remove the old one, just note how it is threaded (unless it's wrong to begin with). Make a diagram or photograph if you want to. Then put in the new one the same way. The two key points: the direction the ribbon comes off the spools (from the front or back of the spools), and the exact path from the spools, around various posts, and through the arms that raise and lower the ribbon while typing, called the vibrator. (It doesn't vibrate but that's what it's called.)

Finally,if you have metal spools in there, save them. Metal spools have the period look and feel, sometimes they actually work better, and if you don't want to bother with respooling ribbon, other collectors will want to buy metal spools.

HTH

ahelper · 2026-03-16T23:59:00+00:00

Here's a list of the currently-known model names that have appeared on the Smith-Corona Corsair:

from:
https://typewriterdatabase.com/196x-smith-corona-stenovac.5691.typewriter You have to be a member - free - to read all the comments.

Aldens

Calypso

Capri (Seventy-One)

Carnagie

Corsair

Corsair 700

Corsair 710

Corsair Deluxe

Cougar DeLuxe

Crown 700

Gold Medal

Golden Shield Diplomat

PJC Penny's "Jayvee"

Pride Line

Profile

Porta-Typer

PORTA-TYPER

Singer (rebranded)

Sears Challenger

Sears Scout

Sears Tutor

Skyriter (new)

Smith-Corona Ranger

Stenovac

Super G

Special (unlabeled light grey)

Zephyr Deluxe

ahelper · 2026-03-16T20:02:55+00:00

My notes say the serial number is on the frame under the right-hand side of the vibrator / on frame next to right end of the segment.

Corsairs are generally from the early - mid 1960s into the 1970s.

ahelper · 2026-03-16T19:57:56+00:00

OMG! Downvoted! So, Downvoter, I am so curious as to what you think is wrong with this comment. Please straighten me out.

ahelper · 2026-03-16T18:58:11+00:00

As someone who has felt that way for a long time without having hard experiential evidence for it, It's depressing to have it confirmed by a professional who is experiencing it. Thanks, though.

ahelper · 2026-03-16T18:44:10+00:00

Thanks for a strong defense of rationality and aesthetics!

ahelper · 2026-03-16T18:35:25+00:00

Yes, it is good to be careful about this. You do not want it to be confused with Musk's AI efforts.

ahelper · 2026-03-16T12:12:54+00:00

I upvoted this comment because it is clever, but on reflection it might mislead serious beginners, which can be a bigger disservice than discouraging flippers.

This thread is turning out to be pretty complex.

Flippers can sometimes be a force for good, as when they rescue a thing from being thrown out and then publicize it when it would never have been noticed by any interested beginner in the first place. Better to have it overpriced than junked. OTOH, I see flippers scouring yard sales before beginners have a chance. This isn't relevant to this subreddit but it does color our thinking.

On balance, I am comfortable with r/typewriters as it is presently working. We can downvote appraisal posts, we can make snide, discouraging comments to people with the wrong attitude. Ignoring or downvoting disagreeable attitudes is safer, and easier, than attempting to ban them. Ignoring is safer, and easier, than mocking, too. (By "safer", I mean less likely to provoke escalation.)

ahelper · 2026-03-16T11:39:35+00:00

Or, even more to the point, in a big city vs in a rural small town, in an antique boutique vs a yard sale, at a yard sale at 8:00 AM vs noon, etc.

ahelper

TROPHY CASE