A Question about Typewriter Ribbons

[Shangas]

Hi guys,

I'm pretty set, I reckon, in what I need to know about typewriters...of course if anyone else has any information or advice to give, please, dump it on in. I'll be happy to read it.

But I'm still wondering about ribbons.

I know that you can still buy typewriter ribbons. But I am wondering if there is a way to...hear me out here...make your own ribbons?

By this I mean, is it possible to go out, buy some ribbon of the appropriate width and length, and then saturate it with ink, wind it up on a spool, and then type with it for long periods of time? From what I understand, it is possible to re-saturate original typewriter ribbons through various methods. But I'm wondering if it's possible to make your own "home-made" typewriter ribbons, as it were...

[Shangas]

*DOUBLE POST*

Sorry about that, folks...

[roadierfl]

Good Morning, Lizzy, do you know what a ballpark value would be for a 1917 Corona folding in perfect working order? I have the chance to buy one, but don't want to over-pay if possible. Thanks

[LizzieMaine]

You ought to be able to get a good, clean Corona No. 3 for $50 or so if you look hard enough. They were the most popular portable of their era, many thousands were sold, and a substantial number of these still survive.

[roadierfl]

You ought to be able to get a good, clean Corona No. 3 for $50 or so if you look hard enough. They were the most popular portable of their era, many thousands were sold, and a substantial number of these still survive.

Thanks! I knew you'd be "in the know". I saw one recently for $150, and one online http://mytypewriter.com/coronano31906.aspx for $650 and all kinds of prices on that auction website. I'll offer the seller $75 and start there, since it's pristine, and the blue color matches my cobalt table

[Shangas]

Hey everyone, me again...

I have the opportunity to buy one of these:



It's an Imperial Good Companion, from the 1930s. A neat little portable typewriter in reasonable condition. It certainly works, although it could probably do with a clean.

The price that's being wanted for this machine is 125 pounds, sterling (I'm in London at the moment).

I'd appreciate any input on this machine. Is it worth buying it at *any* price? Is it worth buying at ALL? Is that price reasonable? If not, what kind of price should I offer?

Is this something I should consider buying? Or something that I should pass on?

[Shangas]

Guys and gals,

A question about restoration here...

Say I find a typewriter that I really want. It's in relatively good condition and at a price I can afford.

If I were to buy it, but needed to replace the rubber on the platen and/or roller-thingies (forgive me, I forget what those things are called), would this be something that I could do with stuff that I could buy at the local hardware shop?

For example, if I could remove the platen from the carriage assembly, could I soak it in a solution to soften and/or break down the rubber, remove it from the platen, polish or sand the platen smooth, slather it in rubber glue or cement, and then roll on a new sheet of rubber to act as new rubber platen?

Is that something I can do at home with stuff I could buy at a hardware shop?

[LizzieMaine]

Sheet rubber wouldn't work, but you might get good results from rubber hose of the correct inner and outer diameter. Measure the diameter of the metal core and the outer diameter of the rubber covering and take those to an auto parts store and see if they have something that'd match.

Another option for platens -- one I've used for repairing bad washing machine wringer rolls -- is to get a bicycle inner tube, cut a length to match the length of the piece you need to cover and attach it with plumbers' rubber cement. Do *not* remove the old platen -- just stretch the inner tube to fit. I haven't used this on a typewriter, and it wouldn't be very elegant, but I don't know why it wouldn't work. Be sure to turn the inner tube inside out before applying so you have a smooth surface, and rough up the old platen surface before applying the cement.

[Shangas]

Thanks for the advice, Lizzie! It all sounds very sound and reasonable.

But I must ask, because I was considering this option...why is sheet-rubber not suitable? I can kinda guess, but I'd like to understand completely.

[LizzieMaine]

There'd be a seam line where the edges met, and that'd cause a bump/ridge/irregularity. Typewriter rollers have to be completely smooth for the paper to feed properly.