New spacebar for an Oliver 3 typewriter

The ends of the spacebar of an older Oliver typewriter are often broken off. The spacebar is made of a 'plastic' material and the ends are relatively thin and exposed. Not surprising then that the spacebar on this battered Oliver 3 was broken at both ends. Makes the machine look as if someone gnawed on it.

Only the thicker section between the pillars remains; and like the rest of the machine was slathered with black paint. And gnawed at both ends.

From the remaining 'stub' and pictures online of Oliver's that still have an intact spacebar, the dimensions were estimated and a 3D model was made. Included are pockets for the stop-buffer and threaded holes for the pillars.

This model (available on Thingiverse) was 3D printed in PLA (strong!) and painted. Unsure what the variations in color originally were; in pictures they vary between almost black to a mid-brown. This reproduction anyways painted brown (and waxed for good measure). Likely will be re-painted in a darker shade later, for now it'll do.

The pockets underneath are the buffers for the bottom-stops; originally these probably were leather. In this reproduction spacebar, rubber disks of 8 mm diameter by 2 mm thick are a press-fit. Disks of leather, furniture-felt or even simply card would also work. (Hole-punches are relatively costly, but a full set of hole-punches from 1 to 25 mm is one of the best investments in tools I ever made! These get a surprising amount of use.)

Mounted on the Oliver 3 it makes the machine looks more 'whole'. It also looks perhaps a bit too new and out of place on the battered black machine (a re-paint in olive-green may yet happen).