Why Electric Typewriters
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- Typewriter Video Series -- Episode 284: The One I Can't Forget About
In this video essay, Joe describes his particular fascination with the Smith-Corona 5TE Typebar electric machine from the 1950s.
![ฮักเทื่อสุดท้าย - บอย ศิริชัย [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-1PoPoQ-B-k/mqdefault.jpg)
I have the same exact model and it works perfectly. I love it but I rarely use it. In fact I forgot that the power switch flips to a bright red in the “on” position, almost like it’s telling you it’s fully charged and ready to go!
That's wonderful to hear more than one person who is impressed by and enjoys using this particular model!
that’s awesome! would you consider selling it if you got the Alpine blue?
@@thinkabove I really have no thoughts on selling. In fact I started using it again since watching this video. :)
What’s the exact name of the typewriter?
@@Lincoln_cooks it’s known today as a “5TE”. Not sure how they were marketed in the 1950s other than “portable electric”.
Love everything about this video: the camera angles, zoom-ins and close-ups, the sounds, the text and the narration.
I have been searching one with the correct French Canadian keyboard for some time. I even wonder if they were ever sold with that keyboard.
Daniel
Believe it or not, I am STILL catching up on all your videos! Lol, what a fun adventure.
Joe, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to film and upload this... this was simply beautiful. I think we all need that gentle reminder to simply ENJOY the things we love and think about often.
The cinematography was extremely well done in this project, and your true emotions were captured brilliantly!
Your typewriter is incredibly beautiful as well! I do not own a typewriter, but have been watching typewriter content on youtube since this summer, and you are one of the channels I'm subscribed to. I've been considering getting one and have been doing some passive research since this summer, but I think this video pushed me over the edge... I have a birthday coming up in January and just might get myself a special gift!
Thanks again for this wonderful video!
😊❤👍
I just acquired one of these machines. A brown one. It was totally gunked up and nothing worked but after cleaning and cleaning now everything works except for the bell. I just love it! I have a Hermes 10 too that I also love. But it has the power return that is quite forceful. I bought this model specifically because of your reccomendation. Thank you!
Damn. I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be convinced into buying an electric typewriter until now.
I found one of these machines on Facebook marketplace about two weeks ago and went to purchase it. It had a few issues so I took it to my typewriter repair guy and had it completely refurbished. I got it back yesterday, and I have to say, I really love it. I've been a Selectric guy for many years but this machine is a joy to use. I set it up on my kitchen table to use it, while my Selectric sits sanctimoniously on the desk in my office.
Don't know why this video was recommended but I'm glad it was, such a beautiful review, very relaxing. Looking forward to the next videos
What an excellent video thanks for sharing your thoughts with us about your beautiful typer. oddly enough it’s kind of humorous, you are essentially paying tribute to a typewriter you rarely use.
Yes, I’m glad you noticed the irony! Maybe this will convince me to use it more often.
I love this one! It kinda rips at your heart! Makes me smile and cry at the same time (which makes no sense, but it does)
Smith Corona electric typewriters have a touch control knob underneath, under the spacebar so your touch can be heavier. Best of both worlds my customers love typing in them. Especially those that have arthritis or weak wrist. Form your linespace lever up and stops scratching the top lid.
I considered getting one of them but my eyes were set on the older 1946 royal QDL. It had a classic look in black with glass keys which was snappy to type on compared to a royal mercury I used to own.
No regrets, I enjoy typing on it. Fun to write outlines and drafts on jt.
I am what is commonly known in some circles as first. Also, great video per usual. I love my IBM Selectric II Correcting like you like your Smith Corona. It is so easy and smooth! I have a 1955 Smith Corona Stirling manual I bought at a garage sale for $5.00 circa 1980. I love it too. It’s just not as easy. Like you, when I’m doing serious typing, the Selectric is what I reach for.
Congrats!
@@Joe_VanCleave Ha! Thanks. I do have more ambitious goals. I just like celebrating the small ones as well! 😂
I could not have said that any better. Great video! This my favorite typewriter for sure. I have yet to find another one that I enjoy writing on more than the 5te. I can't seem to part with any I have collected either:) and somehow they keep showing up at my house...imagine that :) I will be sharing this video with anyone I am trying to inspire to start writing on a typewriter. Thank you Joe and keep up the great videos!!! Take care
I just picked one of these up yesterday. VERY cool. Mine is an early 1958 model with the white "Electric" tag. 5TE141616. Otherwise, same color as yours. Purchased it from the original owner that got it new when she was young. A scuff mark here and there, but no exposed paint bits. Platten is a bit hard, but not the worst. It has three issues including a sticky += slug that I fixed last night. The 6 key (not the slug) is a bit stiff and then slow to retract. I imagine that issue is probably a cleaning and lubrication issue. And the final issue is if you press the left shift key down fairly quickly, it will shift for a split second and then come back up. If you press the key slowly (or the right shift key at any speed), it stays down. I'm not sure exactly how these electrics work yet, but it feels like something sticky or maybe a tired solenoid? Regardless, it's in excellent shape and think this one will be a keeper.
I remember having this typewriter- and yes it was lovely to use
Hey JOE!!! You won't believe it! I left a comment here last week and mentioned that I was looking into purchasing my first typewriter for myself for my birthday in January... well my husband and I went on a little spur of the moment road trip about 1.5 hrs away and purchased a typewriter from facebook marketplace this past Sunday!!!
It's a vintage underwood from the 1950s, and I believe it just might be this SX model!!! Mine is a little bit different- it has white keys, with the outer parameter keys being a teal green color! It's a tank and is in great shape and appears to be i working order!!!
It DEFINITELY needs a good cleaning, so when I looked it up, I was SO GLAD to have found one of YOUR videos as a top search result!!! I watched and commented on your episode of the Underwood SX! Thank you for such a wonderful tour of this machine! I had no idea about popping the front panel down at the very front for super easy access to the inside!!!
Please let me know if you have any specific videos that demonstrate how to degrease the inside parts as well as recommended cleaning products!
Fawn
What a great video! I love this typewriter and would love to find one. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and enthusiasm.
I have a green one of these and it is on a shelf at the moment. It will be used more sometime soon.
Yep, I would love one. I do have one electric typebar Smith-Corona machine, but it is a later one with power return. It still uses a normal ribbon though, I think the models after mine went to a proprietary cartridge system. Yes, the touch is super light and the imprint dark. But, somehow it is missing something - soul?
By the way, wonderful videography in the intro shots. So easy to watch, very much a polished look now.
Good video Joe! I have one of these in coffee & cream color,I am the same...I should use mine more.I believe mine is Pica. Nice film:) I enjoyed the camera angles & sounds.
Thank you!
I really look forward for an electric typewriter with a carriage return lever. These are very hard to find here in Austria. So far I have an electric brother 3600 (with which I learned the 10-finger-system back in the days). Now I'm looking for an IBM golf ball because I want to try this changeable type feature.
Well produced video!
I own a tan one of these. As a guy who worked as a professional typist/transcriptionist for more than a decade, including using several of the earlier non-screen IBM word processors, I can't deny that my little portables are just plain hard to use for me, and certainly I can't get over 100wpm on it. I have a 1935 LC Smith Super Speed that I can fly on, and my Olivetti Linea 98, bought new, but these are office machines. I won't pretend that I have perfect typing rhythm; typed pages +/- a million pages of type or so cements one's good and bad habits. But--unlike these newer typewriter lovers, I just don't see the difference between manual and electric machines. Where the love stopped with me, though certainly not their use, was the first purchase of an IBM Wheelwriter in the eighties. I loved that machine, put well over 100K pages through it, but was never emotionally attracted to it. There's just something special about these little SC electric portables that, to me, doesn't seem so different in this case from my Silent-Super...
Прекрасное видео! Спасибо!
Thank you!
You're making me regret letting go of the two I had. ):
Two! OMG!
This video is awesome. But if you go back far enough you will find an older electric typewriter. There was the blickensderfer electric typewriter. If I remember correctly only about three still exist. It was about as portable as the blickensderfer no5 and had most of the features of a standard electric typewriter.
To add to this, the reason it failed was because power across cities was not consistent when it was made and this made mass production almost impossible.
I adore my 1952 Royal Quiet De Luxe manual. But I find myself using my Smith Corona WordSmith electric typewriter a lot more.
Now this is a guy I can relate to. An electric typewriter, and an atomic citizen attessa eco drive.
Joe? A suggestion... Save that "SC ELECTRIC" for use indoors on RAINY days or in the bitter (BRRRRRRR!) COLD of the Winter months instead of your other prized machines.
Another 👍 video.
I love my electrics. I have three, one is for parts, but the other two are fantastic Smith Coronas. They’re just so nice to type on. I love my manual, but the electrics wind up being the ones I make long letters on. Way too easy to get lost in the hum of the motor.
when I was a kid I HATED electric type writers I always wanted analog but as time goes on and they become more expensive and hard to find electric typewriters have won my heart so fascinating and unique and many come looking VERY good some still in the original box
Hi Joe, great video, I have little experience with typewriters and wanted to know how to create bold text or underline words using a typewriter, electric/electronic or mechanical. Thanks
Most typewriters have an underscore character which can add a bold effect. Some electronic daisy wheel machines do a bold effect by double printing the character slightly staggered horizontally.
Parabéns pela máquina
I'm a simple man. I see any typewriter, I click
I noticed Mr. Vancleave uses more than just 2 fingers when typing with an electric.
Any tips on a touch up paint match for the alpine blue?
Hello does your hum? I just purchased one and it hums I'm wondering if this is normal
Most motors make at least a slight humming sound.
@@Joe_VanCleave yep! The level of humming is super loud. That doesn't seem true for yours
@@ChelseyMariaa The drive belt could be worn, or the motor bearings need to be oiled.
Well I can see why you dream about it...it's lovely! I really hope to find a functional electric one eventually for my "collection". I really like the in between feel of it...between a manual and electronic typewriter. Which btw I just got after watching your video on Nakajima's electronics. I'm glad I found your video and bought it because it writes wonderfully! ( And I got 3 extra daisy wheels for it for 10$!) Also I hope you don't mind if I send you a letter eventually....I got your adress in a video somewhere
A BLUE INK ribbon? WOW! I've only seen, owned, used either: ALL "BLACK; COMBO "BLACK&RED". (Curious because I almost NEVER use the "RED". Only if the "BLACK" goes dry and I have no choice!).
I just bought a typewriter from my buddy and it's fun but I am disabled so hitting the keys hard is a little difficult for me. I don't like the more modern looking electric keyboards. Any suggestions? I am not picky on brand, I just wanna get something that's got the mechanical feel still, but have a lighter touch.
I'm surprised these weren't more popular in the 50s. I guess the cost of production or access to electricity made it less practical than a manual.
It’s kind of like an automatic manual watch to manual watch
Where did you get that blue ribbon ink from? Ebay? Amazon?
Ribbons Unlimited.
@@Joe_VanCleave thank you
What is the name of the blue ink ribbon? Does it have a specific name?
@@OttoH45 Contact Ribbons Unlimited for a blue ribbon.
Nice watch!, what brand & model is it?. Do I need to say something about the typewriter?.. its beutiful.
Thank you! The watch is a Citizen Eco Drive solar analog with radio control, keeps perfect time, model h-145-s113971.
I have an EXTREMELY HEAVY "HIT" on the keys. I've actually DESTROYED computer keyboards with it! So? I gave up on ANY electrified writing medium and now I stick with my ultra reliable, 1970's "ROYAL" brand portable.
Like John Cameron Swayze used to say about the watches he touted (TIMEX)...
"It takes a licking and keeps on ticking!"
Also? It DOESN'T raise my already ridiculously high ConEd electric bill each month. YAY!!!
Electric much easier on the hands for a long day.
Who came here from resident evil videos?
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