And a few fixes.
The most glaring issue with this dusty and rusty Dalton was that it had no spools and no ribbon.
The spool for a Dalton of the "Super Model" series that launched in 1921 is a proprietary format, but not too complex in shape. Quickly modelled in CAD and two form-fit-functional replacements created on an FDM-printer.
A small nail to catch the ribbon, the top-flange glued to the hub and thus two new, replacement spools.
The left spool-capstan was much lower than the right one. It also did not advance at a machine-cycle. A bit more peeking revealed that the left-capstan had slipped its mounting-clip and been pushed down into the machine. Its ratchet-wheel thus free from the driving ratchets/dog.
Re-forming the clip (bending) and fiddling the ratchet back into engagement, the capstan is again at correct height and whole mechanism again works. Including the automatic ribbon-reverse - this does require a lot of pull on the ribbon though! (Best to firmly nail that ribbon to the hub.)
New spools and ribbon on the machine - this specimen turns out to be one of the 'Special' 100-dollar model 181-4 machines that do not have two-color printing. The only model in the Dalton range to be monochrome; black ribbon, very austere.
Having the front panel off was a good opportunity to clean the position-indicator. The dots are again visible through yellowed celluloid.
Another small improvement; the handle. The rough, rusty crank-rod had been hollowing-out the wooden handle. Taken off the crank the wood was cleaned, oiled and given a copper-tube insert to have a bit less free play on the de-rusted rod of the handle.
With ribbon, the machine adds just fine; 8 times 12345679 indeed is 98765432. (Machine still looks terrible, though :)
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