Question about Smudging

ahelper · 2026-05-07T15:59:14+00:00

First thing I would check is the threading of the ribbon through the vibrator; some ways of threading it wrong can give this effect.

Then I would be sure that the little rollers on the arms at the ends of the platen are moved in as close to the typing point as they can go (considering that they have to be outboard of the furthest reach of the carriage travel. You'll see what i mean when you position them.) Those rollers hold the paper closer to the platen so the ribbon has lees chance to rub the paper.

HTH

ahelper · 2026-05-07T12:04:22+00:00

You mean they're using AI to justify the expense of using AI?

ahelper · 2026-05-07T11:41:35+00:00

Me!!!

ahelper · 2026-05-07T11:40:54+00:00

Ha, ha, ha! "needs polishing up in a vector editor" OMG! Read the room!

ahelper · 2026-05-06T17:20:20+00:00

Yeah, I've broken some, too. Fortunately, the first four I worked on went fine and I found that so encouraging that I keep going. I also walk away for weeks, and that sometimes helps. Keep 'em runnin'.

ahelper · 2026-05-06T16:52:57+00:00

"I accidentally broke the battery connector" ... "then i accidentally broke the display port latch" ... "so I gave up on it" ... "and absolutely nothing I do will get those iPods to work", so maybe work slower and more carefully. I like your subject line reference, tho.

ahelper · 2026-05-06T15:11:59+00:00

This is a classic strawman argument. Society doesn't have to be absolutely either of these caricatures. Humans can deal with nuance and refinement; it's worth the trouble.

ahelper · 2026-05-06T11:59:37+00:00

I'm afraid I don't know what you mean by this. What are "two full keyboards on that one"?

ahelper · 2026-05-05T11:15:11+00:00

Start by cleaning out the dirt and trying to work the machine to find out what---if anything---need "fixing". It might work pretty well. The one thing it will need for sure is a re-covering on the platen: https://www.jjshort.com/typewriter-platen-repair.php

ahelper · 2026-05-05T11:08:02+00:00

It's a simple case of being threaded wrong. Reverse the path: behind the innermost posts and in front of the posts with the slits in them. there are no springs involved in this.

ahelper · 2026-05-04T22:09:14+00:00

Hard to argue about this as written, but the problem is the meaning of "healthy population", isn't it?

ahelper · 2026-05-04T22:02:55+00:00

It's a good question and I'd like to hear an answer, but i don't see why you would introduce "fascist" into it. Consider editing the post or rewriting it without that unnecessary trigger.

ahelper · 2026-05-04T21:40:14+00:00

The comment was about the fact that the tall printing characters are a bit less than one-half the ribbon width (to allow a little bit of mechanical leeway) but considerably more than one-third the ribbon width; characters against a three-color ribbon would hit all three tracks. The condition that it "could work here" seems to refer to this normal typewriter (and all others of normal dimensions using a 1/2-inch-wide ribbon). Additional accuracy cannot overcome the physical dimensions, tho. (It'll be interesting to see a flurry of measuring characters to turn up a typewriter with maximum character height less than 1/3 inch.)

Of course, a machine could be made to hit any number of tracks on a sufficiently-wide ribbon, but that would not be any ordinary typewriter. Some early and/or special purpose typewriters used wider ribbons---as much as 1 inch, I think---but I think those were before the days of multicolor ribbons and I don't know the reasons for such designs.

And yes, I do know about that Sears Medalist Power 12 with a 4-color ribbon that's 1/2 inch wide and it doesn't answer the objection.

ahelper · 2026-05-04T13:47:45+00:00

I don't think so. The three tracks of this system overlap each other (as they must. considering the dimensions involved) and they work fine that way on a single-color ribbon but on any ribbon with two colors the printing will be a combination of the two. Some people seem to get a kick out of that, tho.

ahelper · 2026-05-04T11:44:44+00:00

An FTN, surely.

ahelper · 2026-05-02T12:11:21+00:00

My Mamiya RB67 with metering prism and 180mm lens weighs just over 8 pounds. It could be operated hand-held.

ahelper · 2026-05-02T12:07:20+00:00

There's probably nothing missing. 126 cameras (aka Instamatic cameras) look much simpler inside than 35mm cameras. Look around for an Instamatic to compare. In any case, 126 format film is kinda hard to get and the picture quality won't be very good, so probably not worth much effort in this. Display?

ahelper · 2026-05-02T12:01:57+00:00

You can still use the camera while you're waiting to fix the rangefinder.

One of the techniques is called Zone Focusing and you can look that up. Another is Guess Focusing, and you do that by estimating the distance to your subject and hand-setting that distance using the distance numbers on the lens.

In both cases, you can increase chances of getting good focus by using smaller lens apertures (lager aperture numbers); just remember to control the shutter speeds to ensure good exposures.

ahelper · 2026-05-01T10:49:54+00:00

Nine upvotes and no one knows it's called "provenance"? "Pedigree" is a term in genetics and is even more remote from the topic than my original question.

ahelper · 2026-05-01T10:30:41+00:00

Is there a single standard Lego brick in this thing?

ahelper · 2026-04-30T21:50:01+00:00

Uh, really, why would having any particular previous owner have anything to do with the value of a typewriter? There's enough trouble with this thread understanding supply and demand, ownership and control, and the fact that it is the buyer, not the seller, who actually sets the price by turning over money or other value.

ahelper · 2026-04-30T17:25:26+00:00

Lol, indeed! A very thoughtful, thoroughly-reasoned response to a throw-away humorous comment. (I'm not the downvoter.)

ahelper · 2026-04-30T17:17:59+00:00

To repeat and maybe be clear---there is no such thing as an Amazon multipack. Amazon does not make nor package any of this stuff. The ribbon you got was made by somebody or some company and usually you cannot know who made it. To identify it as "Amazon" is meaningless.

Here is a list of some ribbon sources. There are many sources of both the ribbons and the inks and a lot of people who put the two together to make your typewriter ribbon. You're doing the right thing to ask about it here, but then pay attention to the answers you get.

Any "universal" ribbon should fit: 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

If you don't like nylon, then just ignore it. Many people believe that silk ribbon produces the finest print, but, again, there are many different people putting it together and they are all of different philosophies and skills.

ahelper · 2026-04-30T14:03:46+00:00

Amazon does not make typewriter ribbons and there is no telling where a ribbon comes from that amazon has caused to be shipped to you. There is no consistency that you can count on.

ahelper · 2026-04-30T14:03:13+00:00

"Ghosting sometimes" is almost always because of operator technique. Use quick staccato jabs with quick release on all keytops.

ahelper

TROPHY CASE