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Telephones by day... typewriters by night!

Started by Telephones_etc, March 07, 2019, 01:56:53 PM

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Telephones_etc

As much as I love telephones, I'm also a sucker for Royal typewriters. Just took on the chore of replacing all 46 faded key legends (letters) on a 1942 Royal Quiet De Luxe! I would've used a proper typewriter key remover, but I didn't have access to one, so I'm doing it by hand... with a screwdriver :P . And as if it weren't hard enough already, I have to cut all the new legends by hand!

Wish me luck... :D
"The day will come when the man at the telephone will be able to see the distant person to whom he is speaking."

-Alexander Graham Bell

jsowers

My mom had that exact same typewriter in college. I used it in high school until it finally wore out but I don't remember the keys fading on it. We always kept it in the case when it wasn't being used. It could be from something someone used to opaque the keys when they took typing.

I wonder if 1942 typewriters had any shortcuts in the metals or chrome plating like 1942 cars did? Mom's was more like 1946. It's a great little typewriter. Mom's had a Tab and Magic Margin on the left only.

Have you investigated a circle punch to cut those key inserts out with? I don't know the exact size you need. Here's a 1" one by Fiskars...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/392254242510
Jonathan

Jim Stettler

Harbor freight sells a hollow punch set that might work $8.99 plus shipping.

https://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html

Punch sizes: 3/32 in., 1/8 in., 5/32 in., 3/16 in., 1/4 in., 5/16 in., 3/8 in., 7/16 in., 1/2 in.
You live, You learn,
You die, you forget it all.

Telephones_etc

#3
QuoteMy mom had that exact same typewriter in college. I used it in high school until it finally wore out but I don't remember the keys fading on it. We always kept it in the case when it wasn't being used. It could be from something someone used to opaque the keys when they took typing

Actually, almost always legends fade because repairmen and even users would 'dunk' the typewriter in water or a cleaning solution to deep clean all the grease and oil out. :P

Here's a video that kinda explains it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxQJ8gwR5-A
"The day will come when the man at the telephone will be able to see the distant person to whom he is speaking."

-Alexander Graham Bell

Telephones_etc

Quote from: Jim Stettler on March 07, 2019, 05:43:42 PM
Harbor freight sells a hollow punch set that might work $8.99 plus shipping.

https://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html

Punch sizes: 3/32 in., 1/8 in., 5/32 in., 3/16 in., 1/4 in., 5/16 in., 3/8 in., 7/16 in., 1/2 in.

;D Actually I looked at that very item! However, so far, scissors have worked just fine :)
"The day will come when the man at the telephone will be able to see the distant person to whom he is speaking."

-Alexander Graham Bell

jsowers

Quote from: Telephones_etc on March 07, 2019, 05:47:37 PM
Actually, almost always legends fade because repairmen and even users would 'dunk' the typewriter in water or a cleaning solution to deep clean all the grease and oil out. :P

Here's a video that kinda explains it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxQJ8gwR5-A
Ours never went in for any kind of service, so it was never dunked, thank goodness.
Jonathan