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Author Topic: Fixing the "mill"  (Read 9883 times)
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Paul, K2ORC
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« on: January 28, 2005, 02:37:44 PM »

For over 50 years, my dad, who is about to turn 80, has used the same old buzzard Remington portable typewriter.  He'd occasionally have to haul it off to a repair shop for a tuneup and overhaul and then he'd be back pounding the keys, writing letters, lecture notes, and articles.  

Today my mom called and asked if I knew of any typewriter repair shops in my area.  Seems the old Remington crapped out and there's no one in their town anymore who fixes typewriters.  Since I own a couple of old mills myself, I know we don't have anyone around here anymore either.

Google turned up the website below.  The site includes a list of typewriter repair shops in the US and other countries.  Hopefully, out of the listings we'll find a reapirman who can get my dad's typewriter clacking away again.   For those who own and enjoy the old "mills", here's the website.  Enjoy.

http://staff.xu.edu/~polt/typewriters/index.html
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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2005, 07:54:54 PM »

Have fun tinkering with those old typewriters.  Kind of like the 1920's rigs heard during the AWA sponsored events.  I love the sound of W2ZM's r.a.c. rig.  But I wouldn't use it for serious cw work.  

I have a classic open-frame Underwood with japanned finish.  Looks neat,  right at home with some of my old buzzard radio equipment but...

when I want to type a document, I use the computer, set to the DVORAK keyboard.  I've been using it since 1997.  Took me about 3 weeks to learn .

http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/

It was easy, using the following tutorial.  About 20 minutes of practice per day:

http://www.gigliwood.com/abcd/
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

- - -
This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout.
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak
W1RKW
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« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2005, 06:38:37 AM »

One of my wifes girlfriends is a court reporter who uses a mechanical steno machine.  Her steno machine crapped out recently.  She looked for a place to have it serviced which didn't exist here in CT.  She'd have to send it away.  She called up an out of state service place and they quoted her $650 to service it.  My wife suggested to her that she have me look at it which I did.  It turned out to be a simple case of cleaning gummed up grease, removing the accumulation of paper fibers in the mechanism and relubing.  Took about 45 minutes to complete the job and so far so good.  It's working  still after 6 weeks.
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Bob
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Home of GORT. A buddy of mine named the 813 rig GORT.
His fear was when I turned it on for the first time life on earth would come to a stand still.
w3jn
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« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2005, 09:51:24 AM »

K2ORC wrote:
Quote
Since I own a couple of old mills myself,


You Luddite you.  Bet you still use a Model 33 Teletype on your Altair 8800, too!

73 John
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N3DRB The Derb
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« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2005, 12:03:56 AM »

back when I had a roomful of hallicrafters stuff I had a Underwood sitting on a table to go with "the look".  It made a difference, thing fit right in with all the buzzrdly stuff.
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K1KV
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« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2005, 01:03:41 AM »

No John,
That's to modern!
More likely a MOD-15 or 19.
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w3jn
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« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2005, 10:24:54 AM »

Remember back in the early days of S-100 computers 73 Magazine had a bunch of construction articles on ASCII-Baudot code and speed converters so you could use a Model 15 or 19 with your computer?   Now *that's* doing it the hard way.

Guess Model 28s were still to rich for the average hobbyist.  My employer dumped its last Model 28 teletype circuit in 1991 (but several posts around the world continued to use 75 baud circuits for several more years!).

73 John
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Steve - WB3HUZ
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« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2005, 02:52:11 PM »

Get up to date with this sweet piece or technology!




Only $30! It even has a card reader.

http://www.electronicsurplus.com/commerce/catalog/product.jsp;jsessionid=38C97689C83626210F33FC007DD3FF69?product_id=77299&czuid=1107125145135
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Paul, K2ORC
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« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2005, 11:13:39 AM »

Quote from: w3jn
K2ORC wrote:
Quote
Since I own a couple of old mills myself,


You Luddite you.  Bet you still use a Model 33 Teletype on your Altair 8800, too!

73 John


Hell  I even use AM and tubes.  


http://webhome.idirect.com/~jproc/rrp/mcentdes.html

And here's some technology for the
Late Night AM Video Peepshow Net.   :lol:
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