Bremerton Typewriter Company

Mouse nest damage on a Hermes Standard 8 from 1959

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This customer machine was brought in with totally stoved up type bars. Upon inspection, a mouse nest appears! Years of the high life living in this Hermes Standard 8 from 1959 really must have been fun. Rust, corrosion, nest debris, and the smell was awesome! The machine got multiple cleanings until just a handful of typebars were stuck. Finally taking off the lower slotted fulcrum and individually honing each pivit did the trick. This … [Read more...]

Smith-Corona Sterling with Numode #61 type face is nice

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This customer machine came in for general cleaning and a tune up. I love the different type faces typewriters present and this Smith-Corona Sterling comes with Numode #61 type face (9 cpi). You never know what you find on a typewriter hunt and even the most common looking machines will surprise you. Enjoy. … [Read more...]

Smith Premier No. 2 from 1896

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This is a customer's machine brought in for an overhaul. I like that this Smith Premier No. 2, serial number 13366, is from 1896. The typewriter still has the wood base and sheet metal cover. The typewriter received new rubber feet, new platen and fresh ribbon. We dismantled the machine to the type bar ring removing decades of shellacked oils. After that, the spring drum and ribbon feed was serviced, oiled and adjusted plus cleaning … [Read more...]

Nice Patria Portable Typewriter

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This customer machine is a Patria portable typewriter with a Swiss key board. The typewriter was brought in for general cleaning and a tune up. This machine puts really nice print on paper. Enjoy the photos. … [Read more...]

Mr. Montgomery – LIFE in the depression; 1930’s

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Occasionally, I publish some of Mr. Montgomery's musings edited only for grammatical errors. Since it was Mr. Montgomery's birthday this week, here is another of his reflections of earlier times. LIFE in the depression 1930’s The great stock market debacle happened in October 1929, and by 1930/31 the whole country was in the poor house. However, being a little boy I was mostly unaware of this problem. I do remember riding in the car with my … [Read more...]

An Erika Daro Portable Typewriter

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This plastic covered Erika Daro portable typewriter is a customers brought in as the variable line spacer was not working, the paper feed also a bit wonky and the ribbon vibrator sticking. After a dip in our trusty sonicating water bath, the typewriter came out all nice and clean. The variable was frozen in the platen tube and once removed and degreased, started working. The paper tray was deformed preventing paper feeding and needed a bit of … [Read more...]

The Three Amigos Underwood Style

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Three Underwood Standard 5 typewriters arrived in the shop the same week. So I wound up working on them at the same time. I like the really old Underwood machines for the simplicity and enjoy experiencing the changes Underwood made to this model as the years progressed. These Three Amigos are from 1909, 1916 and 1923. 1909 Underwood 5 (left typewriter in the photo) was spray oiled so needed some time getting degreased in the solvent station. I … [Read more...]

Now This is Typewriter Art!

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This is a customers Royal KMM machine from 1945 brought in after being a display in their shop for a very, very long time. This is just about as Americana as you can get with typewriter art. What a great object! Sooo dirty with missing carriage bearings and a broken carriage return lever. Oh yes, a dropped typewriter along with all the damage that comes with it. Oh, and add a touch of rust in many wrong places. This baby was jammed and only … [Read more...]

What does it mean to be a Repair Person?

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Have you ever thought of going to Typewriter Tech School? I often chat with customers about why I enjoy repairing stuff. Every so often someone will ask if they can hang out or volunteer to learn how to commune with typewriters. Heck yes! I love sharing what I know. So what do I really do here in the shop? Well lots of cleaning. Cosmetically, mechanically or chemically I try to get all the decades of goo cleared out so the typewriter gets a … [Read more...]

The Mighty Olympia SG1 is an Engineers Machine

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This mighty Olympia SG1 from 1958 is a customer machine brought in for a bunch of deferred maintenance. This guy had a bit of corrosion all over which complicated the clean up. Multiple sticking keys, tabs not working, margin lock hung up . . . the usual. What I like about this machine is the custom keyboard with the engineering symbols. Plus the type face is double gothic! … [Read more...]