Reproduction comma-indicators for the Thales pinwheel calculator

The Thales model CE mechanical calculator was missing 4 of its 5 comma-indicators. 

The originals are fairly fragile and are often missing from these pre-war Thales calculators. The bottom of the thin sheet-metal stamped construction is clamped and comes away easily - the whole thing then just drops off its rails. Although the machine 'works' also without them, to be complete a new set of these "Kommaschieber" could be made using 3D printing.

Luckily there was one remaining slider still with the machine - using this one original as a guide, a 3D design of a replacement was made that would be printable in plastic, function on the machine and still resemble the original. A set of these were then printed in PA using MJF-technology printers. This technology creates parts that are quite strong, slightly flexible and with dimensional accuracies and features good enough for this part to work. The surface as-printed is slightly grainy, but can be smoothed with sanding.

For printing (and handling) a set of the pointers were grouped (with connecting 'beads') into a single printable part-file and ordered in MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) at Shapeways. When received the parts were first washed to remove any grease or other remaining contaminants. Then the group was given a coat of primer (spray-can) before a first coat of 'chrome' lacquer. The parts are then still very grainy (and shiny), ready for separating and sanding smooth.

Using water-based modelling paints in metallic-silver, the parts can be given a proper brushed-metal appearance. Because the paint is water-based, water-based inks could be used to find a good colour match for the nickelled parts of the original. In this case, brown and yellow Ecoline was added to the silver-paint to find a colour that would not jar too much with the original. (Metallic 'silver' is a surprisingly varied colour.)

It took a few iterations of filing and sanding the surfaces smooth and re-applying a newly-mixed brushed-nickel paint to get the comma-indicators looking the part. The printed parts actually fit the comma-bar without any modifications and the PA material gives it a good, firm grip on the rails for sliding them.

Now with the complete set of 5 indicators, the Thales mechanical calculator again looks as it should and comma-positions can be again indicated with the pointers. (The comma in the lower-left UW register shows the answer to square-root of 10 being 3.162277. The indicator in the lower-right RW is between positions 11 and 12, where it started with 10 in positions 13 and 12. The RW and the upper EW registers now show the remainders of the square-root calculation. These actually make it possible to determine if the last digit of the answer should be rounded up or down - if the RW is less than half the EW, then the next digit would be less than 5 so round down, otherwise up. The EW is 632... so checking against 316.. immediately shows the RW is larger with 417..., so the answer has to be rounded up to 3.162278. Have been reading-up on the use of these calculators; fascinatingly ingenious machines!)

The 3D model of a group of 10 of these indicators is available for download at this link.

Remington keyboard layout No. 645 (UNMIF)

The keyboard of this sunny little Remington Portable typewriter looked clearly Portuguese.

Now confirmed that it indeed is Portuguese; it is Remington typewriter keyboard layout number 645. For ordering use telegraph code "UNMIF" - well, back in the 1920s you could have.

On the Archive are scans of Remington typewriter keyboards. These pages give an extraordinary insight into the wide variety of regional keyboard layouts, the vast number of (to my eye) minor variations, very specialised trade-layouts and specials for large companies.

The pre-printed characters on the form also show Remington's most common variations in keyboards - the q, y, z and a were filled out by hand and the rest of the letter-characters were standard and printed. 

Almost 2000 different layouts must've been kept on file at the company - now many scanned and available on the Archive - with many thanks to the uploader!

Erika M Schreibmaschine in neuwertigem Zustand

Pristine.

The lacquer is truly shiny and without any damage. Likewise all the chrome is without any blemish. the decals are immaculate. The machine was not polished-up in any way, only lightly dusted off.

This belonged to a typewriter repairman who ran his own repair-shop. It was one machine that he kept for himself - perhaps a customer trade-in. Judging by the state of the machine and the fresh platen, he probably serviced it and then only used it very little. It was clearly stored well in a dry and warm spot for 40 or 50 years until it was bought from the repairman's descendants and picked-up yesterday.

The one plastic spool that was probably put on the machine some time in the 1980s will be replaced by a matching metal spool. Other than that, it will not be touched. Rather it will continue to be stored warm and dry and sometimes be used for typing (with care).

The serial number 702222/M makes this a (late) 1938 machine.

 

The one difference with 'the one that got away' is that this specimen has a German keyboard - as do most of these Erika M typewriters of course. It does fit the machine well (mit recht "deutscher Wertarbeit"), also it may lead to some more practice and improve my German (die Fälle hab ich nie so richtig gelernt - und es fehlt mir bisher die Übung...).

(Or alternativelz; this tzpewriter maz cause some yanz spelling :-)

Just picked up...

Will be taking better pictures, but these identify the machine already!

Ever since walking away from one in May '18, a machine of this type had been on the 'watch' list. Finally, actually did pick one up! - now to practice my German to use it :-)

More pictures shortly, after a 'wipe-down' and light dusting.

Remington Portable with case-key and instructions (localised)

The reason to get yet another Remington Portable #2 typewriter, and a 'bog-standard' specimen at that, was that it came complete with the key to the carrying case.

The second reason to get it and even pay perhaps a bit much for it, was that it came with the original Dutch instructions.

This localised version of the instructions booklet for the Remington Portable has an interesting mix of typeface-sizes. Almost every paragraph on a page has its own size.

Comparing to the original, American instructions booklet it becomes obvious why this is. The page layout with text and images was kept near-identical, only needing to swap-out text blocks to print the localised (Dutch) version. With language however being different, it did mean that sometimes a lot more characters were needed for the translation of a paragraph. Still keeping it in the same bounding-box, they reduced the text size.

Another peculiarity is the spelling, that's odd I think even back in the 1920s. For 'schryfmachine' it can be excused, however the consistent use of the y also in other words ('maatschappy', 'aanwyzing', 'byna') that should really have 'ij' looks strange, certainly to today's (Dutch) reader.

The booklet was of course scanned and is now available on The Archive - for any Dutch machines that may be out there sans-instructions :-)

On the bog-standard, excellent Portable typewriter itself: Having gone as far as to give it a new platen, that paint-damage on the lifting tray was 'jarring'. Dipping into the spares-box for Remington Portables yielded a near-pristine tray of similar vintage. Replacing is a fairly simple process (remove top-panel and then 4 screws), but very fiddly and the fit of a different tray in a machine can be tricky.

Also this part had paint-fingerprints from handling in the factory, as seems to be common for these machines - the production process must've called for lots of manual handling of freshly painted parts. 

Now would there be any surviving documents, photographs or even movies of the Portable manufacturing of the 1920s? Would be neat to see - what is available is imagery of this Czechoslovakian factory of Remington Standards that definitely did do a lot of handling.

New bits and a platen for a Remington Portable

The state of the rubber on this Remington Portable typewriter was not great. The platen was hard and e.g. the feet were 'tired'.

Luckily, we have new printed feet in stock here. Also recently arrived is a newly covered platen, with a fresh layer of 'contirite'. To top it all off, there's a full set of rollers salvaged from a parted-out machine. A full set!

The feet were chiseled off with a screwdriver:

The new, 3D printed feet simply snap into place.

Similarly, swapping out the bail-rollers is simple - gently bend the sides of the bail to free the bail-rod, slide off the old and on the 'new' and snap the rod back into place.

Before moving on to exchanging the platen, a new ribbon was wound on the spools. The typewriter still has the 'top left' and 'top right' in their correct spots. It must however have been serviced, perhaps still in the 50ies. The spool-trays show signs of congealed, old oil (why?) and a missing screw (again, why?). Here again the treasure-tin with parts from the parted-out Remington Portable EV167240 comes to the rescue.

With the fresh, heavily inked ribbon a few lines were typed on the old platen.

Next the platen was replaced - unless the platen-knob screw is stuck in place this is a fairly simple matter. Undo the screw, take off the knob. Then push out the platen-rod towards the left and lift out the platen. The line-ratchet assembly is moved over to the new platen (three small screws) and then the new cylinder is placed in the machine.

Then some lines with the new cylinder - first time typing with brand-new rubber!

Actually the difference was not as marked as expected. It is still fairly loud, with a sharp impact sound. The print quality is very good - although even with the hard platen it was not too bad either. Testing the hardness with the very unscientific fingernail-method, the old platen did still have some 'bounce' (Sh90+?) and was not entirely hard. The new platen is supposed to be around Shore 82, it does register much more 'bounce' with the same fingernail-test. (Will have to consider getting a durometer...) May be that for an even quieter machine, an even softer platen might be possible.

In any case this new rubber should be much better for the type. Although (I think) it still is a fairly loud typewriter, it does now give excellent print quality and, well, it just 'feels better'.

Overall, getting new rubber for my vintage typewriters is definitely something to explore further - it does 'feel' nicer. It makes this typical, common 'garden variety' Remington Portable #2 typewriter an even nicer little writing machine :-)

Damage to the paint, probably of its period

Recently was acquired another Remington Portable #2 typewriter. 

Nothing remarkable in and of itself - these are still pretty common. Even today these regularly emerge from attics and closets to be put up for sale on one of the many online marketplaces. As was this machine.

The crisp serial number makes this a 1928 machine, the 6314th machine produced in January 1928 in the USA - then exported to Holland with an 'international keyboard'. 

It will require some cleaning; it clearly hasn't been used for decades. Also the rubber will require attention. The platen is rock-hard as usual plus the feet and bail-rollers have perished. These parts will need replacing, but then the typewriter should function fine. These are great machines, very sturdy and can be tuned to be a pleasure to type on. Marvels of 1920s product-engineering. (Quiet, however, they are not.)

It took a moment to determine what it was - that damaged 'matte' spot on the lifting tray. But what this looks like, is heat-damage. Very likely somebody put his (or her) cigarette away on the panel - "no ashtray... Oh, I can put it there and it won't burn the table" - and it caused an unsightly stain. Similar damage is also sometimes seen on older slide-rules, but then the person didn't pick-up the cigarette in time so that the burning reached the rule.

A damage that is perhaps in keeping with the period. We'll have to see how to tackle this - to bring this typewriter into its next century :)