1990s Olympia Traveller C Movie

Perhaps one of the most streamlined typewriters ever made is the Olympia Model C, a portable that is mostly flash and plastic. It looks like something the Jetsons would use. It's light and durable but is it a great typer? We find out in this episode of Typewriter Tuesday.

[@陳希新]

Thank you for sharing this video! I just purchased one and the name is Traveller de Luxe instead of Traveller C. All the functions are the same. Cheers from Taiwan!

[@altongansky]

You are welcome. They are beautiful machines. I hope it brings you joy.

[@buddycollier3541]

I use one daily for my diary entries. I had forgotten how to lift the lid and that Google search brought me to this video. Thanks!

[@altongansky]

Thanks for writing. I'm glad that the video was useful to you.

[@Musique3579]

I just found one of these today. So neat! (Barely ever used, at least it looks to be this way.) Thanks for making this video. Heck, there were some things I simply could not figure out such as the Carriage lock, but especially, taking off that front plastic covering so as to get to the Ribbon (which was not in place correctly.) Now it is. Streamline, cheap, whatever. I am having a blast typing on this machine! New or not, out of the 5 manual Typewriters I have ranging from the early 1900's - mid 70's, this one is my favorite. :-) Types REAL NICE.

[@AmandaCharlotteChester]

Hii!! I have one since almost 17 years and I just buy the tape and idk how to change it, can you please help me?

[@altongansky]

Hello Amanda. Thank you for writing. If I am reading your comment correctly, you have purchased a new ribbon for your Olympia Traveller C. The first thing to do is to remove the cover. Watch my video about this process because the cover can be difficult to remove. That portion of the video begins around 7:15. Once you have the cover off take a good look at how the ribbon is threaded through the vibrator (the small metal thing that lifts the ribbon up and down while you type). If you have a smart phone, I advise taking a photo of that part of the ribbon mechanism. The ribbon needs to be installed in the same way. I found a manual on line with directions in several languages. Here's the link: www.manua.ls/olympia/traveller-c/manual?p=6.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Nice review. I like the styling of the thing better than I thought I would. The repeat spacer feature reminds me very much of Japanese-made Brother portables. I wonder if this whole series of Chinese-made machines is loosely based on a Brother design?

[@altongansky]

I did find one reference to the mechanicals being Silver-Seiko but can't verify that. I have a Brother Charger 870 and innards look different, smaller. Thanks for writing Joe. I appreciate your good work. It's almost like you do video casts as a full time job.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Excellent review. How heavy or light is the carriage shift? (At least I think I saw the carriage bob up during the type test.)

[@altongansky]

TypewriterMinutes I should've mentioned that in the video. My bad. I was trying to squeeze 25 pounds of potatoes in a 10 pound bag. The carriage pivots back. When shifting, the mechanism tilts the carriage back, rocks it back, so the user isn't lifting the whole mechanism. Kind of cool really.

[@shienadelapena8817]

I'm interested in a typewriter here at local store that no one wants to buy since the letters just stacking up at each other and wont move when typed. Is there a way to fixed it? Its also an olympia typewriter that looks just like that.

[@altongansky]

Hello Shiena. Thanks for writing. It's impossible for me to diagnose a typewriter without seeing it. Also, I'm not sure what your describing. By "the letters just stacking up at each other" do you mean the type-bars move but stick in the upright position? Or are you saying the the carriage doesn't move when the keys are pressed? I'm afraid, I would need more information to be of any help to you. Generally speaking, most typewriter problems can be repaired. Sorry, I can't be of more help. I suggest watching Phoenix Typewriter videos on KZbin. Here's a link to one of his videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3rVg5KAjLRkp5I.

[@shienadelapena8817]

@@altongansky Thanks for the reply. The problem Sir is that the carriage doesnt move when keys are pressed. I hope its something reparable.

[@altongansky]

Hi again Shiena. Your last comment helps. Usually if a carriage doesn't move it is because of one of three things (that can be other reasons but they're not common). First, the easy ones: Go back to the video and watch the part about the carriage lock. It shows up about 9:50 into the video. The typewriter comes with a carriage lock to keep it from moving in its case or when it's being transported. The video shows how to use and release that. That is most likely the case. The second thing it could be involves the margin settings. There are two sliding tabs on the top of the carriage-one of the left and one on the right. You use those to set the paper margins. Sometimes people will move the margins to the center of the carriage so that they are next to each other. It's an old trick to keep the carriage on older typewriters from moving. It would not be necessary on this typewriter, but someone may have done that anyway. Typewriters displayed in stores are often played with by customers. The third possibility is the bad one: a disconnected draw band. The draw band is a string or band connected to the mainspring (a big, tightly wound spring) and connected to the carriage. If that band is gone, broken, or disconnected, then it needs to be reattached. That can be tricky. So, first see if the carriage lock is on. If so, move it forward and the carriage should be free to travel. If that's not the problem, check the margins. Move the left all the way to the left, and the right tab all the way to the right. See if the carriage will move. If it's neither of those, then it might be the draw band. If your handy and have a few tools, you might be able to fix it. If you've never worked on a typewriter, then I advise getting a different machine. I hope this helps. Al.

[@superfren3559]

Thanks for the good rundown. Just found one at a flea market for $5. Only had to put some shims under the rubber bottom pads to stop it from rocking. Frame must be warped a bit.

[@altongansky]

Five dollars! Great find. Congrats.

[@HarryPotter-bs5ss]

I habe got one an it works Really well and I have had it for 9 Years now.

[@altongansky]

Thanks for writing. They are great looking machines.

[@philippkistler1430]

Thank you for the help with the ancient Technology. Getting the Cover off, was easy once i had your hint.

[@signingwithbecky7987]

You're welcome.

[@lol8650]

Thats interesting the guts of this Olympia Traveller C and the metal frame that holds them in place look extremly similar to those of my Robotron s1001 even the bends and holes in the metal fame match as far as i can see (the guts on the robotron werde licenced from silver reed).

[@AthenaKnightstar]

Can I request a video on how to install the ribbon?

[@altongansky]

I'm afraid that I don't do typewriter videos anymore, but thank you for writing. To make matters worse, I sold that machine a few years ago so I don't have it available to me anymore.

[@jerrygundecker743]

I keep hearing you and others talking about the stencil setting. I hadn't ever heard that term in connection to typewriters until a few days ago. Still don't know what it is. Maybe you could show that operation sometime. And thank you for these videos.

[@altongansky]

Hi Jerry, I appreciate the suggestion. It would make a good topic. I'll keep it in mind, but since I'm up to my ears in work it may be a little while before I can to it. So a quick answer for you: The stencil setting on typewriters disengaged the vibrator (the metal thing that lifts the ribbon into place with each keystroke. A stencil was a way of producing copies before copiers. The typist wrote on a special material rather than paper. Each key stroke left an impression. That sheet could then be put into a small "printer" and copies made. Back in my day, teachers used this technique almost daily. Thanks for writing.

[@jcw.7774]

@@altongansky You just gave me a flashback(!!!) mentioning those spirit duplicators.... even back in the early 90's we still got those copies. Who needed to sniff glue, when you got fresh copies handed out...lol. Very "unique" scent....

[@juanpablomoyahernandez913]

Many thanks, i didn't know how to get the ribbon

[@ivangirondracovan956]

gracias por el video yo tengo ese mismo modelo de cuando estudiaba ..

[@altongansky]

Gracias por escribir.

[@chihaohuang7609]

Thank you! I have a Traveller de luxe that looks exactly same as this one, guess it’s just another name for it (the merchant I bought from said they were the same, and they’re made in China, HK)

[@altongansky]

Hi Bill. Thanks for the comment. You're right, the typewriter was sold under different names.

[@megala6719]

i ve just bought exactly the same one, i like old fashion

[@altongansky]

They have a very unique look. I like it. Thanks for writing.

[@megala6719]

@@altongansky I wonder where can you get the ribbon...?

[@altongansky]

@@megala6719 I no longer have mine, but I'm pretty sure it uses a typical 1/2 inch ribbon. I get mine from Amazon. Just search for "typewriter ribbon."

[@alejandrocastro6507]

Actually how much it can cost?

[@altongansky]

Hi Alejandro. Prices for old typewriters vary based on rarity, condition, and demand. I sold the one I had (the one in the video) for $55.00. I probably could have sold it for more. I hope this helps.

[@alejandrocastro6507]

@@altongansky Sure ty so much!

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

Cheap is CHEAP!!! There's a reason why they used good, strong METAL in the older OLYMPIA and ROYAL machines. They were "overbuilt" in many ways to take ANY punishment we "puny" humans could "hit" their keys with.

[@squatchhammer7215]

Most likely made in Taiwan then manufacturing was sent to China after 99.

[@altongansky]

Thanks for the comment. You are probably right.

[@machopolitan1]

@@altongansky No，they are made in China. Taiwan never produced any typewriter.

[@altongansky]

@@machopolitan1 Thanks for the comment and thank you for watching.

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

I own two typewriters. One (ROYAL) I bought myself in the 70's while the other (OLYMPIA) I inherited from my Mom who purchased it new in the 1950's. Both work flawlessly. Only an occasional new ink ribbon has been replaced across all those decades. These CHINESE made "OLYMPIAS" are junk by comparison!!!

[@altongansky]

Thanks for writing, John. There is no doubt that old Olympias are some of the best typers ever made (especially the SM9), but do remember that collectors don't confine themselves to just the best typewriters but also collect those that have some meaning to them or that represent a shift in typewriter history. The 1990s Traveller C shown in this video is a case in point. As a typewriter, it's okay but it pales when compared to its predecessors. It does however represent the sad times when typers were passing from the scene and being made by companies other than the original manufacturers. In that sense, they are valuable because they show the decline of the industry. Thanks for watching.

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

@@altongansky Thank you Alton for giving me a different and more enlightened perspective on our favorite writing instruments, who's mostly building and supplying them now and why? Much appreciated!

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

Save you hard earned $$'s! Look for the older, mid 20th Century or earlier typewriters! Not the newer, cheaper, more shoddily built ones. Even if it needs repair or adjustments it'll be well worth your investment.