New Selectric Type Elements by [[Joe Van Cleave]]

JVC tries out a new 3D printed type element in an IBM Selectric he got from David Hayden

David Hayden <br /> Austin Selectric Rescue<br /> https://selectricrescue.org/

Custom type elements for the IBM Selectric

ᔥ[[Joe Van Cleave]] in New Selectric Type Elements<br /> (accessed:: 2024-10-19 11:42:15)

Custom 3D Printed Selectric Elements are HERE! (Vogue! Papyrus!) by [[Theodore Munk]]

I love how this blogpost creates a highlighted link to the original post which they're quoting along with the commanding words "View in context at www.fromjason.xyz".

reply to u/General-Writing1764 at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1g7a8y5/does_anyone_know_how_do_they_make_new_platens/

I'm guessing that JJ Short is taking the original, removing the rubber. Placing the core into a mold and pouring in new material which hardens. Once done they put it on a lathe and turn it down to the appropriate (original) diameter. Potentially they're sanding the final couple of thousands of an inch for finish.

I'd imagine that if you asked them, they could/would confirm this general process.

The only other shop I've heard doing platen work is Bob at Typewriter Muse, but I haven't gone through his YouTube videos to see what his process looks like. (I'm pretty sure he documents some of it there.)

"I'm always trying to get back to the 20s a little bit." <br /> —John Dickerson, in Field Notes interview (2016) https://vimeo.com/169725470

Dickerson says he's got two screens on the computer in his office as well as an ipad and a phone. But he's also got a "notebook does only one thing". He's also got an old black lacquer Underwood (No. 4, 5, or 6?) on his office desk still.

Wonder if he uses it?

Reporter John Dickerson talking about his notebook.

While he doesn't mention it, he's capturing the spirit of the commonplace book and the zettelkasten.

[...] I see my job as basically helping people see and to grab ahold of what's going on.

You can decide to do that the minute you sit down to start writing or you can just do it all the time. And by the time you get to writing you have a notebook full of stuff that can be used.

And it's not just about the thing you're writing about at that moment or the question you're going to ask that has to do with that week's event on Face the Nation on Sunday.

If you've been collecting all week long and wondering why a thing happens or making an observation about something and using that as a piece of color to explain the political process to somebody, then you've been doing your work before you ever sat down to do your work.

Field Notes: Reporter's Notebook from Coudal Partners on Vimeo.

For an inexpensive starter machine ($5-25) that's easy to find, easy to get parts for and has a reasonable chance of working when in "unknown" or "untested" condition, I'd recommend one of the following ubiquitous, but solid machines which show up almost daily on ShopGoodwill.com:

• Royal Quiet De Luxe https://typewriterdatabase.com/Royal.Quiet+De+Luxe.72.bmys
• Remington Quiet Riter https://typewriterdatabase.com/Remington.Quiet-Riter.42.bmys
• Smith-Corona Clipper (their Sterling, Silent, and Silent Super are very similar, but can sometimes be more expensive; they often have a few more features like tabs, but are otherwise the same machine) https://typewriterdatabase.com/Smith+Corona.Clipper.86.bmys

They'd all make excellent starter machines for a younger kid. The black models with glass keys from the 1940s will look a bit more old school/classic while the more industrial browns and grays with plastic keys from the 1950s are still solid choices. You might also find some later 60s/70s versions of these machines (or variations), and while they may be a bit more colorful, they'll usually have a lot more cheap plastic and can potentially have cheaper builds. (My parents got me my first typewriter, a 1948 Smith-Corona Clipper, in the mid-1980s when I was 10—I have it today and it still works as well as it did then; I still also love the airplane on the hood.)

If you want something simple with a bit of color you can also look at the 70s/80s Brother Charger 11 which is pretty ubiquitious and inexpensive as well.

Since you have some time, you can wait for one in better looking cosmetic condition (and with a case) which means it was probably better taken care of, and less likely to need aggressive cleaning, and more likely to work without needing any repairs. You can also wait to find one local that you can pick up in person (to save shipping cost and/or potential damage) or which will be cheaper to ship from nearby.

Without any experience, you might try looking at Just My Typewriter's Typewriter 101 series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJtHauPh529XYHI5QNj5w9PUdi89pOXsS She covers most of the basics there.

Cleaning a machine isn't horribly difficult and can be done pretty cheaply ($20 or less for some paint thinner/isopropyl and a small toothbrush), but if you need it or get a machine that needs some repair work, try https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html.

If you're in an area with lots of yard sales, try shopping around and see if you find something interesting. It's at these that you'll have a potential chance of finding more collectible machines for pennies on the dollar and it'll also give you the chance to put your hands on machines to test them out to make sure they work.

Good luck! 🎄

reply to u/strawberystegosaurus at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1g5rgi4/typewriter_for_christmas_please_help/

https://www.libraryfutures.net/post/how-much-does-obamas-summer-reading-list-cost-your-library

What is non-attachment?

What is he attempting to say here?

What about using the notes for comparison and/or contrast of ideas?

On one level, the reason is obvious: accountability. There’s a lot at stake...

except somehow for Donald J. Trump and some in identity politics...

How do they get around it? system 1 vs system 2

ideative connectivity sounds fun, but ???<br /> Sounds like a Nick Milo neologism...

potentially a stab at combinatorial creativity?

How to get round the idea of processing which is a stumbling block for fun?

processed notes are akin to the amount of nutritive value in processed food...

I often find that people who discuss "workflows" and the idea of "processing" their notes are the ones who are falling trap to the anxiety-producing side of the work.

BD should have found more exciting words for "processing" which he uses two more times in the next paragraph.

This relates to Luhmann's quote about only doing what is easy/fun/flow:<br /> - https://hypothes.is/a/TQyC1q1HEe2J9fOtlKPXmA<br /> - https://hypothes.is/a/EyKrfK1WEe2RpEuwUuFA7A

Compare: - being trapped in the box: https://hypothes.is/a/AY7ABO0qEeympasqOZHoMQ - idea of drudgery in the phrase "word processing"

There are some fleeting ideas which are truly great and the entire purpose of writing them down is to maintain their value. ("I was in the bath one day...") Others ideas aren't particularly genius, but may need to be kept for later use or actionability. Still other ideas are just useless and these get flushed out in the wash.

BD doesn't do an exceptional job of looking at the entirety of the spectrum of ideas here, which could be useful and illustrative, but instead focuses on moving things toward what he's calling "main notes", and even these can have different levels of value to a particular person.

BD seems to sideline PKM, but is using the underlying ideas to further his claim that we're forgetful, so capturing thoughts on paper is worthwhile. Seems a bit disingenuous. Maybe sideline the "religious zeal" and take what you need to build your argument here instead?

I really don't like this David Allen quote which is often seen in these spaces. It's usually used by people who haven't spent any time training their memory.

I'll give BD the benefit of the doubt that the entirety of this PKM paragraph is sidelining the "PKM scene" altogether.

Is he poking fun at the PKM space here? This non-definition definition would seem to be a subtle jab certainly.

I've never like the phrase fleeting notes, though it does serve a purpose. It's really a conflation (or portmanteau) of two separate ideas: fleeting ideas and writing them down/capturing them quickly so that they're no longer fleeting. Sort of a noun/verb in form.

glad that he's got a section on coming to terms with some of the space, but he's only really looking at recent terminology since about 2013 and even more specifically terminology from Ahrens and how it's been used/misused.

Organization of the book gives preference of the practical ("how-to") over the theoretical ("why-so").

An alternate stating of the process: 1. capture<br /> 2. refine<br /> 3. connect<br /> 4. search

cross-reference earlier process: https://hypothes.is/a/HgcILIvyEe-OfdOArKZxGg

card system ⇒ system theory

In the early 1900s it was very common, especially in English speaking countries to call these note taking/paper database systems "card systems". Is it a wonder then that they may have helped to create "systems theory"?

In particular, look at Niklas Luhmann's work as well as Ross Ashby.

Example of a fleeting note triggered by a single word in a context, but with thoughts not relating at all to the specifics of the particular work.

aside: interesting that he uses the umlaut here, but not consistently other places.

also card index and card system (early 1900s)

Overview of Bob Doto's suggested process:<br /> 1. having and capturing thoughts<br /> 2. refining thoughts into clear ideas that can be repurposed<br /> 3. connecting ideas across topics<br /> 4. developing connections and making them accessible<br /> 5. transforming notes into writing for readers 6. re-integrating writing back into the system (he lumped this in with 5, but I've broken it out)

How do these steps relate to those of others?

Eg: Miles1905: collect, select, arrange, dictate/write (and broadly composition)

Before he even begins the enterprise, Doto starts off by giving pride of place to a quote by Sertillanges admonishing the reader to beware of over-collecting.

https://hypothes.is/a/tGF6povnEe-bSc_BdDPn5Q

Doto, Bob. A System for Writing: How an Unconventional Approach to Note-Making Can Help You Capture Ideas, Think Wildly, and Write Constantly - A Zettelkasten Primer. 1st ed. New Old Traditions, 2024. https://amzn.to/3ztjrfb.

Annotation url: urn:x-pdf:231323658d79d9bdf946e1cfbe01e500

Alternate annotation view

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictitious_entry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_street

non-existent towns and streets used to trap plagiarists

Relation to Genius.com's trap of Google on music lyrics

If you collect everything, you collect nothing.

https://www.youngw.ca/

https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1g3xtkp/platen_experiment_the_result/

https://www.hostingadvice.com/how-to/best-mediawiki-hosting/

Miles touches on the interplay of knowledge written down on index cards and the knowledge which is kept only in one's mind. Some practitioners in the space from 2013-2024 seem to imply that they're writing almost everything out in far deeper detail than Miles would indicate. In his incarnation, much of the knowledge might be more quickly indicated by a short sentence or heading which the brain can associate to longer explanations.

This sort of indexing is akin to some of the method potentially seen in Marshall Mathers' zettelkasten.

I'm creating a tag here for "card index for productivity" to track the idea of productivity in writing which I'm specifically using separately from the tag "card index as productivity system" which is used to describe their use for project tracking systems in systems like GTD, Memindex, etc.

What work exactly does Miles include in his description of preparation of a 30,000 word book in two hours?

He specifically excludes dictation. He does include selection of ideas and arrangement. He also says it includes "collection", but I'm supposing that he's taking a larger tranche of cards from a possibly massive collection and collecting only those he needs right now? Certainly the reading, thinking, and collecting work can't be included in this two hours of work.

Does he have a better definition of what he means by collection?

Miles doesn't go very deep into the idea of how big a note ought to be, only that the system "encourage[s] a business-like brevity."

Unsurprising given that card systems were used for accounting in the early 1900s, but not many manuals cover the use of a card index for addresses (aka Rolodex) of for bills or memoranda.

Love that Miles talks about what index cards he uses, where he gets them from and even their relative prices!

Miles doesn't specify how he comes by the practice of a "Card-System" other than "by degrees" as well as elaborating on it in the months before he writes this book.

(Having something more concrete would be nice though...)

At some point he read Barrett Wendell's book on composition (1891) to discover that he recommended cards as well.

Dictation from index cards can be done quickly for drafting one's writing to improve the efficiency of composing and writing essays.

This is essentially the sort of advice which Nabokov used in his writing work in combination with his wife Vera.

Miles breaks the writing process down into three broad categories of work, each of which can be done separately to make it easier: - collection of ideas; <br /> - arrangement of ideas; and <br /> - expression of ideas.

reuse of index cards

How exactly would fully used ("covered") cards be used for scrapbooks for Hospitals?

Using a card-system over writing on a single sheet of paper or in a notebook allows one to separate the thinking work. Instead of both capturing the idea and arranging them simultaneously, one is splitting these tasks into smaller parts for simpler handling.

For Miles, getting the ideas down is paramount and they can later be sub-divided or re-arranged.

Connexions definition

Miles is specifically advising the card system user to write down the "connecting link between each Idea ad the Idea that follows".

He does this in the context of using headings and sub-headings as a means of organizing and re-organizing material for writing. There isn't much of a jump from here to the idea of folgezettel. Which is happening in many people system in a looser fashion than Luhmann's.

How is he using pegs on a table exactly? Is this something like the Brothers Grimm, but table-based rather than wall based?

how does he define scheme? he goes past it pretty quickly here.

Using larger cards for main headings as Miles suggests (1905/1899) is very similar to using tabbed dividers. When were these invented for separating groups?

The original tags from antiquity did this sort of functionality as they stuck out from the shelves as a finding aid.

Miles' version of fleeting notes.

Miles, 1905 uses an arrow symbol with a hash on it to indicate a "connecting link between two Sentences or Paragraphs, etc."

It's certainly an early example of what we would now consider a hyperlink. It actively uses a "pointer" in it's incarnation.

Are there earlier examples of these sorts of idea links in the historical record? Surely there were circles and arrows on a contiguous page, but what about links from one place to separate places (possibly using page numbers?) Indexing methods from 11/12C certainly acted as explicit sorts of pointers.

When was the use of the caret first made for indicating the insertion of material?

Eustace Miles has an example from 1905.

Eustace Miles suggests the use of "special marks on cards" (annotations) in the top left corners, though he doesn't provide specific examples of how they might be used in practice. He does mention "The Abbreviations and Marks need be clear only to the Writer [sic] himself. They save ever so much time."

• "X": As contrasted with—
• "Q": Quotation
• Black triangle in corner: important
• Arrow pointing to corner of card: As compared with
• Angled parallel lines in the bottom right corner of card: End of Paragraph (or Chapter).
• Arrow pointing to the corner of card with hash mark: Connecting Link between two Sentences or Paragraphs, etc.
• Upside down V (or caret): An omission, e.g. to be filled in afterwards
• ?: A doubtful point

In Miles' visual examples of cards, he presents them in portrait (rather than landscape) orientation.

This goes against the broad grain of most standard card index filing systems of the time, but may be more in line with the earlier French use of playing cards orientation.

His portrait orientation also matches with the size ratios seen in his Card-Tray suggestion on p187. https://hypothes.is/a/llEgpIf4Ee-dVfcaIGUryQ

He's repeating (and thus emphasizing) the admonition that a card system is not expensive, particularly in relation to the savings in time and effort.

Miles suggests using a Card-Tray (in 1899) with various compartments and potentially an open top rather than some of the individual trays or card index boxes which may have been more ubiquitous

This shows a slight difference at the time in how an individual would use one of these in writing versus how a business might use them in drawers of 1, 2, 3 or cabinets with many more.

The image he shows seems more reminiscent of a 5x3" library charging tray than of some of the business filing appliances of the day and the decade following.

very similar to the self-made version at https://hypothes.is/a/DHU_-If6Ee-mGieKOjg8ZQ

How does he define "labelled" and "catalogued"?

Presumably he means a version of tagging/categorization and possibly indexing them to be able to easily find them again?

Miles goes against the grain of using "cards of equal size", but does so to emphasize the affordance of using them for "Arrangement and Clearness".

Miles admits that one can use both sides of index cards in a card system, but primarily because he's writing at a time (1899) when, although paper is cheap (which he mentions earlier), some people may have an objection to the system's use due to the expense, which he places at the top of his list of objections. (And he does this in a book in which he emphasizes multiple times the ideas of selection and ordering!)

Miles lists the following objections: - expense - inconvenience - unusual (new, novel)

Notice that he starts not with benefits or affordances, but with the objections.

What would a 2024 list of objections look like? - anachronism - harder than digital methods - lack of easier search - complexity - ... others?

Miles' uses the ubiquity of card systems (even at the writing in 1899, prior to publication) within business as evidence for bolstering their use in writing and composition.

(Recall that he's also writing in the UK.)

Interesting to see a mention of Alphonse Loisette here!

But also nice to see the concept of linking ideas and association (associative memory) pop up here in the context of note making, writing, and creating card systems.

This book was finally published in 1905. The introduction was written in 1899 and the mentioned Feb 1900 publication of How to Remember didn't happen until 1901.

Miles, Eustace Hamilton. How to Remember: Without Memory Systems or with Them. Frederick Warne & Co., 1901.

writing and waiting is useful in many instances, and particularly for clarity of expression.

see also: <br /> - angry letter https://hypothes.is/a/6OoqHofyEe-1mtOohGA63w - diffuse thinking<br /> - typewriter (waiting) <br /> - editing (waiting) https://hypothes.is/a/VxRNeofvEe-5n1dpCEM48Q

Recall: Abraham Lincoln's angry letter - put it in a drawer

Using a card system, particularly while travelling, can help to more efficiently use one's time in preventing idleness while travelling and waiting.

Compare this with the reference in @Kimmerer2013 about responsibility to the tree and not wasting paper: https://hypothes.is/a/pvQ_4ofxEe-NfSOv5wMFGw

where is the balance?

It could be interesting/useful to create a checklist or set of procedures (perhaps a la Oblique Strategies") for editing a major work.

Sections in this TOC could be useful for creating such.

relationship to Adler's levels of reading?

Even in 1905 writers had to wait interminably after submitting their writing...

it's only gotten worse since then...

The process of having a work typewritten forced the affordance of creating time away from the writing of a piece. This allows for both active and diffuse thinking on the piece as well as the ability to re-approach it with fresh eyes days or weeks later.

Even as early as 1905 (or 1899 if we go by the dating of the introduction), typewritten manuscripts were de rigueur for submission to editors and publishers.

Note that he's writing in 1899 (via the introduction), and certainly not later than 1905 (publication date).

One of the major values of fame is that it often allows the dropping of context in communication between people.

Example: Carlyle references in @Miles1905

It bears noting in this book on writing and composition, Miles (nor the indexer if it was done by someone else) never uses Carlyle's first name (Thomas) in any of the eleven instances in which it appears, as he's famous enough in the context (space, time) to need only a single name.

One ought to ask what purpose this Rhyme serves?

• Providing emphasis of the material in the chapter;
• scaffolding for hanging the rest of the material of the book upon, and
• potentially meant to be memorized as a sort of outline of the book and the material.

did I miss the "rhyme" in this section or is he using a more figurative sense (as in "rhyme or reason")?

Ha! Didn't get far enough, it's on page 36, but also works the other way as well.

This chapter is essentially what one ought to glean from skimming the TOC, the Index, and doing a brief inspectional read (Adler, 1972).

Echoes of my own advice to "practice, practice, practice".

Definition of the "first department of composition": <br /> The preparation (mise en place) for writing as opposed to the actual expression of the writing. By this he likely means the actions of Part II (collecting, selecting, arranging) of this book versus Part III.

How is this accomplished exactly? How could one imitate this effect?

How do we break down his material and style to re-create it?

"Brevity is not always the same as Vigour, but the two generally go hand in hand." -Miles

Notice that again he's emphasizing breaking down the problem into steps, and he's using a little analogy to do so, just like he had described previously.

(see: https://hypothes.is/a/NDArGoemEe-9BXcYJSUyMQ)

Attempting to escape the huge list of potential "Chief faults in composition" is a solid reason not to try to cram a paper or essay in a single night/day.

By abstracting and concatenating portions of material, one can more efficiently learn material that would otherwise take more time.

It's difficult to teach when you've forgotten how you learned a thing yourself. It's hard to un-know a topic to empathize with the beginner.

This statement follows the broad thesis that imitation is far easier than innovation.

A fine recommendation by a future Olympian!

One of the major affordances of using a zettelkasten or card index for writing is that it forces the writer to break things down into their constituent parts, thereby making the entire process of writing far easier and less complex. One can separately focus their attention on the smaller steps of collecting, selecting, and arranging the material before beginning to actually write.

he capitalizes five words here to emphasize their importance... I wonder what he says in his section on capitalization???

Creating a comparison or illustration of an idea is a means of emphasizing it. It also serves as a form of repetition and aide-memoire.

the list of broad parts of writing an essay

Interesting to see this tennis analogy in writing in 1905 from a top-notch player who will win a silver metal in the 1908 Olympics...

Miles, Eustace Hamilton. How to Prepare Essays, Lectures, Articles, Books, Speeches and Letters, with Hints on Writing for the Press. London: Rivingtons, 1905. http://archive.org/details/howtoprepareessa00mileuoft.

in reply to Cesar A. Hidalgo at https://x.com/realAnthonyDean/status/1844409919161684366

via Anthony Dean @realAnthonyDean

Advanced Typing: Duplicating and Manuscript. Vol. MN-1512d, 1943. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ve5JnTUzvo.

Stencils

Before writing stencils, be sure to clean your type. (Don't use liquid solvent.)

Be sure to place the cushion sheet properly behind the stencil.

Place the paper bail rollers at the extreme left and right of the stencil to prevent them from marking the master.

For errors, rub individual characters separately with a burnisher using a circular motion.

Hectograph masters, Hectograph ribbon (ditto ribbon)

Wax pencils

Typefaces

20% more type on a page with elite than 10 inch pica.

Pica allows approximately 26-40 lines on standard letterhead giving 300-450 words to a page.

Special characters: - o for degrees ' and " for feet and inches or minutes and seconds along with superscript - division: - backspace colon - pound sterling: L backspace f - exclamation point: period backspace ' - equal sign: hyphen backspace variable hyphen - paragraph mark: P backspace I

proofreaders' marks<br /> # followed by a number is used to mean insert that number of spaces

Centering timestamp 19:37

https://www.calligraphr.com/en/

Can be used to digitize typewriter typefaces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenore_Fenton_MacClain

Basic Typing: Machine Operation. 16 mm. Vol. MN-1512b, 1943. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-REJEArnjE.

Type pacer timestamp 4:12

"Your head is the most important part of your typing." - Lenore Fenton

"Your typewriter does exactly what you make it do, but it does no more" - Lenore Fenton <br /> This is very similar to quotes about computer programs at the end of the 20th century too.

The touch characteristics for the manual, the noiseless, and the electric are all slightly different.

Office Etiquette. 16 mm, Industrial. E B Films, 1950. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLF1STKnBTU.

EBF Human Relations Film<br /> Produced by Encyclopedia Britannica Films Inc.<br /> In collaboration with Hamden L. Forkner, Ph.D., Teachers College, Columbia University

1962 Vintage IBM Typewriter Training Film IBM Selectric Proper Typing Procedures, w/ Bud McDole by [[Computer History Archives Project]]

Right at the Typewriter. 16 mm. San Francisco, CA: KQED, 1962. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPfHAW_OfGo.

On manual typewriters one "snaps" the keys while on an electric keyboard one "taps" the keys for maximum speed and accuracy.

Overview of functionality of an IBM typewriter.

To add longevity to one's carbon papers they should be rotated both top to bottom and front to back within one's packs.

Use plastic type cleaner, meant for cleaning type slugs, to clean the excess ink from a typewriter. Form it into a point and press it to the letter to erase several times. Then erase with eraser shield and eraser.

To type to the very bottom of the page, particularly with a carbon pack, to prevent slippage at the bottom, insert a "trailer sheet" about halfway down the first page. Insert it at the back of the pack just behind the original and between the first carbon sheet.

For typing small sheets of paper (index cards) fold a pleat into a regular sheet of paper and use the lip to hold the smaller sheet you're typing on.

To more quickly type envelopes, do the first then reverse the platen so that only about an inch of the top of the envelope is visible. Then insert the next envelope behind the first and continue reversing the platen. This will allow the finished envelopes to stack at the paper table and speed the threading and typing of envelopes in rapid succession.

Use of the divots on the typing guide for making horizontal or vertical lines while moving the carriage or rotating the platen respectively.

How to change the typeball and the ribbon cartridge on the IBM selectric.

Hot Rod Mercury - Repaired ! Royal Typewriter Made in Japan Not Spacing Troubleshoot and Fix. by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]

There was a loose assembly underneath the carriage that was preventing the vibrator from working and the carriage from advancing via typing. Tightening it up fixed the issue completely.

https://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/pickled-red-onions-2/

Saying Goodbye to Vale Typewriter, the Second-to-Last Typewriter Shop in Town - Racket by [[Jay Boller]] for [[Racket]]

Mark Soderbeck expects to close Vale Typewriter by the end of 2024 after a 67-year run.

"Well, I already gave him an estimate," he says with a chuckle. "I'm not gonna change that quote, I've been here too long to do that."

It seems like an unwritten rule for typewriter repair shops to go way over on time versus pay to repair a typewriter based on an initial quote.

I've seen at least one other quote like this, but don't think I collected it.

Tom Hanks Typewriter Collection #329<br /> Corona Junior donated to Vale Typewriter in March 2023

In 1974 there were 11-month typewriter repair programs to train typewriter repair technicians.

Compare this to Philly Typewriter's 4 year internship program: https://hypothes.is/a/LSbZtlboEe-4vtMPIWcTKA

Why would the city come calling to a typewriter shop calling? Nostalgia perhaps? Better would be if they came to order or have their machines serviced to keep the place open or to help the next generation continue on.

evidence of a card system/zettelkasten method in this?

I found a copy and indeed there is evidence!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_Wendell

Eustace Miles suggested that Wendell used the card system in writing, so perhaps one of his textbooks suggests the method as well?

Watch My Typewriter (Not Me) https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1g2ybw4/watch_my_typewriter_not_me/

One of the few others aside from JJ Short who is doing platens is Bob over at Typewriter Muse. Might be worth checking out his YouTube channel for some potential tips.

I presume you're already aware of how to make your ring and cylinder adjustments when you're done, so things are properly tuned...

Can't wait to see what you come up with...

reply to u/throneofashes at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1g2j4hz/platen_experiment/

colloquial attribution to u/matttheoret at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1g1ugrw/first_typewriter_ever/

Demonstrate your Electric in 10 Minutes by Remington-Rand, Inc.<br /> A Sales Training Film<br /> Produced by Visual Aids Department Remington Rand Inc.

via Periscope Film

1940s REMINGTON RAND ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER SALESMAN DEMONSTRATION FILM 49734

Basic Typing: Methods, 1943. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztyzGit1dTI.

A Primer on Typewriter Ribbons & Spools by [[Damon DiMarco]]

Typewriter ribbon is 1/2" wide (12.7mm) which has been standardized as DIN2103.

The DIN 32755 spool, aka a Universal spool, or a Group 1 spool.

Olivetti typewriters use Group 4 spools.

Nine Steps to Follow Before You Buy a Thrift Shop Typewriter by [[Damon DiMarco]]

Typewriter repairman still in business in 2024 by [[Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul]]

Mark Soderbeck started repairing typewriters in 1974. Working at cutting back and retiring soon.

Typewriter Repair Failure by [[Joe Van Cleave]]

Creating a REAL Typewriter Font by [[Janinagans]]

quote following the thunking sound of a typewriter carriage being pushed to one side.

I've picked up about 20 of the typewriters in my collection from ShopGoodwill.

Only two were impeccably/properly packaged and shipped and one of these was a special machine that I emailed them after purchase with written details and links to videos about how to pack and ship it just to be on the safe side.

Three were dreadful disasters: one was a 40 pound standard that was dropped and the frame bent drastically (it had almost no padding materials inside the box), two were shoved into cases (one upside down and the other right side up, but neither locked into their cases properly nor with their carriage locks engaged so they both bounced around for the entire trip) and put into boxes with almost no packing material. All three refunded portions of the price and/or all the shipping costs.

Most of the remainder (all portables with cases) were packaged with a modicum of care (some packing material in the case and some outside the case with reasonable boxes) and showed up in reasonable condition.

Two of the machines were local enough that I did a local pick up to ensure better care.

Generally, it's a crapshoot, but this is also the reason why I don't spend more than $20 on any machine I get from them (except one reasonably rare German typewriter in the US and a Royal with a Vogue typeface that still came out at less than $100 because only one other person noticed its rarity in the photos).

Only one of the machines was clean as a whistle and ready to type on day one. All the remainder required serious cleanings at a minimum. Two were missing internal pieces, two had repairable drawband issues, one had dramatically bad escapement issues, and one had a destroyed mainspring that I need to replace.

Only one of the group had a platen with any life left in it. One had a completely unusable platen, but it was also relatively obvious in the photos. Most of the rest were hard, but usable.

I live in the US and typically only bid on machines that are in the top 20% of their class cosmetically.

I'll echo the thought of others that I wouldn't have a machine from them shipped directly to someone as a present unless I knew they were a tinkerer and had the mechanical ability, the facilities/tools, and desire to clean and service their own machine. Otherwise, I'd do that myself and ship it to them directly.

reply to u/Tico_Typer at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1g28v6z/i_am_curious_about_the_shopping_goodwill_websites/

Windigo Norval Morrisseau, Windigo, tempera on brown paper, ca. 1963.(courtesy Glenbow Museum/64.37.9)

via The Canadian Encyclopedia<br /> https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/windigo

But isn't that what the confirmation process is all about here in Washington? And isn't that what the confirmation process is all about? Weeding out the truly qualified to get to the truly available.<br /> —Jon Stewart, White House Correspondents' Dinner 1997

Young Pre-'Daily Show' Jon Stewart's Compelling Performance (1997 WH Correspondents Dinner)

Typing Technique and Typewriter Design by [[Will Davis]] and [[Dave Davis]]

As early as 1932 Royal salesmen would use poor typing technique on purpose to cause skipping and piling and then use proper technique on their own machine to show how much better their typewriters were compared to the others.

Some repair and service manuals had sections about tuning a typewriter to the level of technique of the user. These may have included 5-6 specific adjustments for allowance to a particular user's technique, as an example indicated in this video.

"pounded out" - used by a heavy handed typist and now skipping (mentioned possibly in an Ames Repair Manual)

In the mid-century, the service life of a standard machine was 1-3 years of continual (heavy) use. After this it would have been remanufactured or swapped out.

https://www.weather.gov/grb/peshtigofire

Peshtigo fire occurred the same day as the Great Chicago fire on October 8, 1871. Less well known likely in part due to communication ability at the time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshtigo_fire

I just got a 1950 version of this KMG this week in medium rough shape too. (My 7th Royal and my 2nd Standard)

Looks like a Royal KMG with the Henry Dreyfuss glass tombstone keys in Gray Frieze paint. https://typewriterdatabase.com/Royal.KMG.72.bmys

Mine has some minor carriage issues that I'm hoping clear up with some cleaning. Otherwise it may need some tools and internal repair work and/or parts. If yours is generally working, a good cleaning and oiling should get you going: https://boffosocko.com/2024/08/09/on-colloquial-advice-for-degreasing-cleaning-and-oiling-manual-typewriters/

Diagram of parts: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/RoyalKMGdiagram.jpg

Manual of the prior model KMM which preceeded it, so the functionalilty should be almost exactly the same: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/RoyalKMM.pdf (Royal Standard internals were almost exactly the same from the Ten (1909) through the FP/Empress (1966).)

Home Study Course in Typewriter Repair and Service: ca. 1959, published by the Typewriter Repair School in Little Falls, New Jersey. Focuses on the Royal KMM among others: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/homestudycourse.pdf

See also:<br /> - https://typewriterdatabase.com/manuals.php - https://typewriterdatabase.com/1968-Ames_Standard_SVC.royal-repair.manual - https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-Ames_Gen_Cat_10-March.royal-parts-01.manual

Searching on YouTube for cleaning and repair advice should help out a lot. Phoenix Typewriter has some solid videos on related models (search also the Royal X (ten), KH, KHM, KMM, KMG, HH, FP, and Empress which are all roughly the same internals with slightly different body styles.)

If you need some basic typewriter 101, try: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJtHauPh529XYHI5QNj5w9PUdi89pOXsS

reply to u/MajesticWear5478 https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1g1i440/tips_for_cleaning_and_fixing_a_1949_royal/#lightbox

The Office S4.E8 The Deposition, Nov 15, 2007<br /> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1031476/

Michael is put in an awkward position when Jan sues Dunder Mifflin for wrongful termination and he is deposed as a witness.

Jan: Remember, it's not just a pattern. It's a pattern of disrespect and inappropriate behaviors.

Michael "Dis-ray." My friend Dis Ray got new specs. Dis Ray Spect. My friend In-A-Pro drives a Prius with his behind neighbor.

Jan: Does this work for you?

Michael: Yep.

Michael Scott makes up some truly incredible (bad) mnemonics to try to memorize specific phrases for a deposition.

An example of a self-made zettelkasten box using (1/2"?) wooden planks to create 4 rows of card storage and a smaller 3/4" slot for accessories.

via post by u/fer_mese at https://reddit.com/r/antinet/comments/t541j2/been_working_on_this_zettlekasten_for_my_thesis/

Ventura Highway, track 14 on the album Here & Now by America (1972-11-04)

It’s unsure whether a connection between this lyric and the famous Prince song (which was released 12 years after “Ventura Highway”) exists, but at least two journalists from The San Diego Union and the Post-Tribune wrote that Prince got the phrase “Purple Rain” from here.

Asked to explain the phrase “purple rain” in “Ventura Highway,” Gerry Beckley responded: “You got me.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustace_Miles

Blog on Dave! by [[Frank Meeuwsen]]

The Time I Met New York’s Patron Saint of Typewriters by [[Thaisa Frank]] March 12, 2019

Stanley Adelman of Osner's Typewriter Repair in New York

(closed in 2001)

The patron saint of typewriter collectors by [[Richard Polt]]

Step Back In Time At The Mesa Typewriter Exchange by [[Phil Latzman]]

Let's Compare 1955 & 1957 Royal Quiet De Luxe Typewriters by [[Scott Drudge]] of Old Bob's Old Typewriters

In David Gerrold's The Trouble with Tribbles: The Story Behind Star Trek's Most Popular Episode, he describes how he used a 12-pitch Selectric to type the 1967 episode. When the studio retyped it in pica (10-pitch) it came out to 90 pages and had to be cut down significantly to fit the show's running time.

The difference amounts to approximately 3 words per page and about 50 words per page.

The November 1952 issue of Boys Life had an advertisement for contest for a gold-plated Royal Quiet De Luxe typewriter.

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Needs exact sourcing, but Ian Flemming had a gold-plated Royal that he paid $174 for in 1952 and which sold in 1995 by Christys' for $89,229.

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