Well done on this, I have just received a Corona flat top from 1935 with a suspected broken spring. Looks fiddly but after watching you do this I feel brave :)
Good Thursday morning, it's 4:55 AM here in NC, and I'm up early, as I'm excited to get to work on saving my Smith Corona Electric 120 today, I named it Lakota Stormcloud, as its the storm colored grey with black buttons. Today is the day, and to help keep the mood and to keep up morale and good spirit, I'm watching, what I'm sure a lot of people call their Repair Mentor, lol, well, I do, I can't believe, or let me say, I am still catching up on all the repair videos! I'll definitely be drinking coffee, and listening to 80s music, some Journey, Kings, ELO, Buffet, Eagles, break off sone Frampton, lol as I disassemble the 120, chant and channel my inner Duane singing "I need you, to Show Me The Way!" lol I do hope this comes off funny and not creepy. Today is 12/14/23, so an update on the 120 project will be found on the most recent Video here on PT, a community of Typewriter enthusiasts here. Just incase someone is following along in comment land. I had someone drop a line in my box asking what's going on with it? In case you don't know and you fond these comments, I bought a 1970, SCM Smith Corona Electric 120, it was sold to me as working and come to find out the motor is shot, and the Carriage return string is missing, it wasn't too dirty on the inside, had one owner most likely as it has its original metal ribbon spools, belts are dry and no good, (BTW I read an article online about soaking them in hot 100 degree oil to help bringbthem back to life, EVOO Extra Virgin Oilve Oil, and since I have the O-Ring replacement belts, I've nothing to loose so Ill give that a try, let you know how that turns out lol,) the case on the outside is perfect not a scratch on him casing is a Perfect Storm Nickname. (I associate with mechanical objects, I think all who work on machines do, at least most I know or knew did, oh sure we might say it to another soul, but to some of us, we search for that mape or femal attitude and go from there, only us really no friends people, go as far as to name them, but hey when the machines take over, we'll be their well taken care of pets lol) so the person I bought it from refunded me for it but said to just keep it as shipping costs are too high. And I located a refurbished motor for it, and never have I worked on a Typewriter Repair before, going with what I've learned here and I am in good fortunes as I'm a retired ASE master mechanic so, I'm not exactly a stranger to mechanical things. And although I was advised to keep it for parts and find one that working and switch over the case, still an option if I should not be successful, but Ive invested a total of $12.58 on it to try to save it and thats what I'm going to do. I don't like tossing things as without trying first, doesn't seem right, but that's just me. And yeah this is not going to be an easy repair as that little motor is in there and I'll need to rewire it, thought about putting a fuse in it, but I think so long as I use a surge protector socket for it, should be fine. After the original design doesn't have one....hmmm...nope, I've been waiting and today is the day, I can always go back in and add a fuse later if I want. Sorry this is long, it's now 5:37 AM! Thanks for reading. Hold on to your butts, cross your fingers and hope to die, because like Jona and the whale, today, I'm going in, Cover me Duane! 👍 🦾🧑🔧🖨️ I think that last emoji object is a fax machine but it looks like a Typewriter to me, so I'm going with it. I'll catch up eventually on the repair videos. Always a Big Thank You Duane 👍 I still know people in AZ and have told them about Phoenix Typewriters and to pass the information along through 3 big churches! And to help out here I thinbs up every video I watch trying to help push your channel through to others searching for such repairs. No seriously, wish me luck here today 🤞 🤠
Had to reset a mainspring on a unit just a few days ago. As I was moving it across the bench, somehow to mainspring came away from the notch in the center pin and unwound, leaving the draw string still attached. Still a mystery how that happened. Couldn't get it to grab so finally ended up taking it off and reforming the inside bits to make it grab easier. Still had to nudge it towards center with a screwdriver though. Fortunately, that one was a bit of a simpler design. Took five minutes to figure it out and fix it up and then a few divots in my fingers to wind it up enough that the carriage felt right.
What I find happens, especially on SCM's of this era, when typewriter sits unused for decades the main spring gets gummed up, so first time it moves to the left the draw string comes loose cause the main spring drum is stuck or sticky. quickly the main spring might or might not start turning normally, but lot of time it has to be flushed out.
I'm sorry, I lied, but Ill try to make this short...🤞 You may want to look into getting Clock Spring Wind and Removal tools. They won't be cheap, but will make your life a lot easier, it's a set if tools specifically designed to remove and replace springs for clocks. You'll still want eye protection, and they help you wind the spring up and hold it within the tool and then you push a pin and it releases the spring into the housing. They make them for watches too but I think that set might be too small, a Clock Spring Wind Tool set would do you better I think. Also if you needed a spring for a Typewriter but dont have one in spare, (I have studied Watch and Clock making for years, as I repair watches and clocks too, so this is how I know) but these springs on typewriters, and their housing is so right on in design with clocks its not even funny. Just bigger when compared to watches, although some onion picket watches like an Elgin from 1880s can have a sping i bet would work in a Typewriter. But there is a match formula you can do, I have the diagram & formula in a book I cant get to it right now, but you can google it with Clock Spring, but there is a way to determine the force any given spring applies by a winding force, such is the same in Typewriters as it winds back in the carriage and escapment. But you measure with calipers in mm. the thickness and diameter and length and using multiplication and divide the answer it tells you the springs force, and with this information the size and length you can order a clock spring to work in a Typewriter as there are companies that absolutely still make clock and watch springs. They can also make custom springs too, not too expensive you'd be amazed, I had to get a replacement for a Elgin model 1 from the 1860s when Elgin started, crazy to imgine but yeah I have a pocket watch thats been telling time for over 200 years...lol it winds and set time with tiny keys lol, But they too in clocks and watches have the same kind of housing, and the way the spring attatches like by either a slit gap in the center or set screw stem, to an eyelit on the spring end that latches to a shoulder withing the housing, that's exactly the same way a spring in a watch and clock is. Okay trying to help and keep this one short.❤ I failed I know, thank you 😮 lol.😅
Also, I like the videos wherein we do a kind of exploratory surgery/autopsy, this is ES because the patient is still alive and viable. Lol, I know, I'm a 70s and 80s kid... anyway the way I tell people the durability of a Smith Corona, is that with the mechanical and Electric Mechanical Typewriters, you can use them to K. I. double hockey sticks, L L, (YT algorithm screening, I got in trouble once for making that joke as a commical reference and YT didn't find it funny, so there you go) somone with it, and then use it to write / type out the experience, lol! The knowledge I've gained, I have used at a pawn shop on a Cronimatic and Brother Cassette, and it got me a 1968 Royal Aristocrat, Original marked $159.00, he Offered to me at $100.00, I countered it at 50.00 and said it will go to a good home, and if I publish a book with it, I'll mention him and the Pawn Shop as a special thanks, $56.70 out the door and it is in exceptional condition and order. As it was professionally cleaned and serviced before it was brought in to pawn. Story on it was an Elderly man had just had it serviced for his Wife, it was hers, but then she got sick, and although doing better they have bills to pay and needed some quick cash, she said she was getting to a point she really couldn't use it too much and asked him (the pawn shop guy) if possible please make sure it gets to a good owner perhaps a writer who will use it, so he was true to his word, also why NC is a cool place to live not like the big city folk who would just say sure lady and sell it to the Typewriter devil that destroys them for art lol just kidding, but when I said my special thanks that is what did it. Yeah there's a guy that takes Typewriters that are too far gone and turns them into art, and while I'm okay with that, I'm also kind of not because, true we can't save them all, but he is destroying the spare parts some of us need. My advice to anyone wanting to buy a mechanical or electric mechanical typewriter is to buy two either both working or just one that works, this way you have spare parts. I plan to pick up a second SCM 120 and another Royal Aristocrat just incase for parts stash. One day I think it will be really hard to find these, not just mine but any of them, and if you do they wont be cheap. They are making a turn around and with 2 generations that like to pop bubble wrap and have fidget devices, the Typewriter is write up their alley, it clicks with a satisfying sound, and they tend to like trends that make old styles fun again. The only hope we have is these two generations well, 3 now that I think about, Millennium Babes, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, Millennials and Z dont like to work thet want it now lol so we might be safe...but since no one is making good mechanical typewriters anymore, eventually they will be hard to find. You use to be able to be able to buy a broken Hermes 3k both models, broken mind you even, for about $50 bucks on eBay, but I've been watching the market and now they're going for $150/$175...BROKEN!!!.. And Working models were $130/$250 maybe, now they're $450/+$1200 prices on ebay can be wild up and down I know. But 8 months ago, I saw a sea foam green wavey ultra portable Hermes 3k in working order with documents showing serving and such, selling for $95.00 and I dont think I'll find that ever again, and the reason I didn't buy it, was I didn't know anything about it, as I was just getting seriously back into Typewriters. More and more people have been watching that California Typewriter documentary and it's helping to generate positive feed back for the use of Typewriters to which it's aiding in this Typewriter table turn /coming back into style as it were. I like using them to write my story on distraction free, and adding another layer of proofreading and editing as well as familiarity to the story, double space for editing then every 10 or 20 types pages, copy it by hand into the computer to help with editing. More work yes, but it makes for a better quality story. Anyway long sorry, but if anyone knows me, lol I'm not usually short on words. Okay promise last comment. Good Day All❤
The only thing I am sure would happen to me should I attempt this repair is that I too would get hit in the face! In a pinch could you have rewound the intact fragment of the original spring? Would that generate enough tension if you didn't have spare parts everywhere?
My plan was to reuse the remaining portion, but with so many breaks makes me want to believe the remaining portion was also brittle. So chances for another break to happen was much higher
@Hvitis Steel is tempered differently for various reasons, main springs are spring steel, to bend this steel it needs to be heated up red hot, bent while hot, but now the area that gets hot looses its spring steel characteristics. This is when experience and skills come into play
Well done on this, I have just received a Corona flat top from 1935 with a suspected broken spring. Looks fiddly but after watching you do this I feel brave :)
Of the nearly one-hundred machines I have owned this is the only one to come with a broken mainspring, exact same model too but glossy black.
I’m glad to see you spring into action with this repair without getting all wound up.
Not sure why I didn't respond 4 yrs ado, But, Great Comment !!
Good Thursday morning, it's 4:55 AM here in NC, and I'm up early, as I'm excited to get to work on saving my Smith Corona Electric 120 today, I named it Lakota Stormcloud, as its the storm colored grey with black buttons.
Today is the day, and to help keep the mood and to keep up morale and good spirit, I'm watching, what I'm sure a lot of people call their Repair Mentor, lol, well, I do, I can't believe, or let me say, I am still catching up on all the repair videos!
I'll definitely be drinking coffee, and listening to 80s music, some Journey, Kings, ELO, Buffet, Eagles, break off sone Frampton, lol as I disassemble the 120, chant and channel my inner Duane singing "I need you, to Show Me The Way!" lol I do hope this comes off funny and not creepy.
Today is 12/14/23, so an update on the 120 project will be found on the most recent Video here on PT, a community of Typewriter enthusiasts here.
Just incase someone is following along in comment land. I had someone drop a line in my box asking what's going on with it?
In case you don't know and you fond these comments, I bought a 1970, SCM Smith Corona Electric 120, it was sold to me as working and come to find out the motor is shot, and the Carriage return string is missing, it wasn't too dirty on the inside, had one owner most likely as it has its original metal ribbon spools, belts are dry and no good, (BTW I read an article online about soaking them in hot 100 degree oil to help bringbthem back to life, EVOO Extra Virgin Oilve Oil, and since I have the O-Ring replacement belts, I've nothing to loose so Ill give that a try, let you know how that turns out lol,) the case on the outside is perfect not a scratch on him casing is a Perfect Storm Nickname. (I associate with mechanical objects, I think all who work on machines do, at least most I know or knew did, oh sure we might say it to another soul, but to some of us, we search for that mape or femal attitude and go from there, only us really no friends people, go as far as to name them, but hey when the machines take over, we'll be their well taken care of pets lol) so the person I bought it from refunded me for it but said to just keep it as shipping costs are too high. And I located a refurbished motor for it, and never have I worked on a Typewriter Repair before, going with what I've learned here and I am in good fortunes as I'm a retired ASE master mechanic so, I'm not exactly a stranger to mechanical things.
And although I was advised to keep it for parts and find one that working and switch over the case, still an option if I should not be successful, but Ive invested a total of $12.58 on it to try to save it and thats what I'm going to do. I don't like tossing things as without trying first, doesn't seem right, but that's just me. And yeah this is not going to be an easy repair as that little motor is in there and I'll need to rewire it, thought about putting a fuse in it, but I think so long as I use a surge protector socket for it, should be fine. After the original design doesn't have one....hmmm...nope, I've been waiting and today is the day, I can always go back in and add a fuse later if I want.
Sorry this is long, it's now 5:37 AM! Thanks for reading.
Hold on to your butts, cross your fingers and hope to die, because like Jona and the whale, today, I'm going in, Cover me Duane! 👍 🦾🧑🔧🖨️ I think that last emoji object is a fax machine but it looks like a Typewriter to me, so I'm going with it.
I'll catch up eventually on the repair videos.
Always a Big Thank You Duane 👍
I still know people in AZ and have told them about Phoenix Typewriters and to pass the information along through 3 big churches! And to help out here I thinbs up every video I watch trying to help push your channel through to others searching for such repairs.
No seriously, wish me luck here today 🤞 🤠
Had to reset a mainspring on a unit just a few days ago. As I was moving it across the bench, somehow to mainspring came away from the notch in the center pin and unwound, leaving the draw string still attached. Still a mystery how that happened. Couldn't get it to grab so finally ended up taking it off and reforming the inside bits to make it grab easier. Still had to nudge it towards center with a screwdriver though. Fortunately, that one was a bit of a simpler design. Took five minutes to figure it out and fix it up and then a few divots in my fingers to wind it up enough that the carriage felt right.
What I find happens, especially on SCM's of this era, when typewriter sits unused for decades the main spring gets gummed up, so first time it moves to the left the draw string comes loose cause the main spring drum is stuck or sticky. quickly the main spring might or might not start turning normally, but lot of time it has to be flushed out.
I'm sorry, I lied, but Ill try to make this short...🤞
You may want to look into getting Clock Spring Wind and Removal tools. They won't be cheap, but will make your life a lot easier, it's a set if tools specifically designed to remove and replace springs for clocks. You'll still want eye protection, and they help you wind the spring up and hold it within the tool and then you push a pin and it releases the spring into the housing.
They make them for watches too but I think that set might be too small, a Clock Spring Wind Tool set would do you better I think.
Also if you needed a spring for a Typewriter but dont have one in spare, (I have studied Watch and Clock making for years, as I repair watches and clocks too, so this is how I know) but these springs on typewriters, and their housing is so right on in design with clocks its not even funny. Just bigger when compared to watches, although some onion picket watches like an Elgin from 1880s can have a sping i bet would work in a Typewriter.
But there is a match formula you can do, I have the diagram & formula in a book I cant get to it right now, but you can google it with Clock Spring, but there is a way to determine the force any given spring applies by a winding force, such is the same in Typewriters as it winds back in the carriage and escapment.
But you measure with calipers in mm. the thickness and diameter and length and using multiplication and divide the answer it tells you the springs force, and with this information the size and length you can order a clock spring to work in a Typewriter as there are companies that absolutely still make clock and watch springs. They can also make custom springs too, not too expensive you'd be amazed, I had to get a replacement for a Elgin model 1 from the 1860s when Elgin started, crazy to imgine but yeah I have a pocket watch thats been telling time for over 200 years...lol it winds and set time with tiny keys lol, But they too in clocks and watches have the same kind of housing, and the way the spring attatches like by either a slit gap in the center or set screw stem, to an eyelit on the spring end that latches to a shoulder withing the housing, that's exactly the same way a spring in a watch and clock is.
Okay trying to help and keep this one short.❤ I failed I know, thank you 😮 lol.😅
Also, I like the videos wherein we do a kind of exploratory surgery/autopsy, this is ES because the patient is still alive and viable. Lol, I know, I'm a 70s and 80s kid... anyway the way I tell people the durability of a Smith Corona, is that with the mechanical and Electric Mechanical Typewriters, you can use them to K. I. double hockey sticks, L L, (YT algorithm screening, I got in trouble once for making that joke as a commical reference and YT didn't find it funny, so there you go) somone with it, and then use it to write / type out the experience, lol!
The knowledge I've gained, I have used at a pawn shop on a Cronimatic and Brother Cassette, and it got me a 1968 Royal Aristocrat, Original marked $159.00, he Offered to me at $100.00, I countered it at 50.00 and said it will go to a good home, and if I publish a book with it, I'll mention him and the Pawn Shop as a special thanks, $56.70 out the door and it is in exceptional condition and order. As it was professionally cleaned and serviced before it was brought in to pawn. Story on it was an Elderly man had just had it serviced for his Wife, it was hers, but then she got sick, and although doing better they have bills to pay and needed some quick cash, she said she was getting to a point she really couldn't use it too much and asked him (the pawn shop guy) if possible please make sure it gets to a good owner perhaps a writer who will use it, so he was true to his word, also why NC is a cool place to live not like the big city folk who would just say sure lady and sell it to the Typewriter devil that destroys them for art lol just kidding, but when I said my special thanks that is what did it.
Yeah there's a guy that takes Typewriters that are too far gone and turns them into art, and while I'm okay with that, I'm also kind of not because, true we can't save them all, but he is destroying the spare parts some of us need. My advice to anyone wanting to buy a mechanical or electric mechanical typewriter is to buy two either both working or just one that works, this way you have spare parts. I plan to pick up a second SCM 120 and another Royal Aristocrat just incase for parts stash. One day I think it will be really hard to find these, not just mine but any of them, and if you do they wont be cheap. They are making a turn around and with 2 generations that like to pop bubble wrap and have fidget devices, the Typewriter is write up their alley, it clicks with a satisfying sound, and they tend to like trends that make old styles fun again. The only hope we have is these two generations well, 3 now that I think about, Millennium Babes, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, Millennials and Z dont like to work thet want it now lol so we might be safe...but since no one is making good mechanical typewriters anymore, eventually they will be hard to find.
You use to be able to be able to buy a broken Hermes 3k both models, broken mind you even, for about $50 bucks on eBay, but I've been watching the market and now they're going for $150/$175...BROKEN!!!.. And Working models were $130/$250 maybe, now they're $450/+$1200 prices on ebay can be wild up and down I know. But 8 months ago, I saw a sea foam green wavey ultra portable Hermes 3k in working order with documents showing serving and such, selling for $95.00 and I dont think I'll find that ever again, and the reason I didn't buy it, was I didn't know anything about it, as I was just getting seriously back into Typewriters.
More and more people have been watching that California Typewriter documentary and it's helping to generate positive feed back for the use of Typewriters to which it's aiding in this Typewriter table turn /coming back into style as it were.
I like using them to write my story on distraction free, and adding another layer of proofreading and editing as well as familiarity to the story, double space for editing then every 10 or 20 types pages, copy it by hand into the computer to help with editing. More work yes, but it makes for a better quality story.
Anyway long sorry, but if anyone knows me, lol I'm not usually short on words.
Okay promise last comment.
Good Day All❤
The only thing I am sure would happen to me should I attempt this repair is that I too would get hit in the face! In a pinch could you have rewound the intact fragment of the original spring? Would that generate enough tension if you didn't have spare parts everywhere?
My plan was to reuse the remaining portion, but with so many breaks makes me want to believe the remaining portion was also brittle.
So chances for another break to happen was much higher
@Hvitis Steel is tempered differently for various reasons, main springs are spring steel, to bend this steel it needs to be heated up red hot, bent while hot, but now the area that gets hot looses its spring steel characteristics. This is when experience and skills come into play
👏👏