Royal Futura 800 and Friends

A line up of Royal Futura 800 and Friends. This is a story about an unexpected typewriter, how it came to me, and how it fits with others in the Futura line.

[@LoveMyRottweiler1]

Hello Alton, thank you, your fixed did the trick...needed to clear the carriage, works great now, order a new ribbon then I will be selling it on eBay...thanks for your video and help.

[@nakapaa]

I love to get one of these futuras....Maybe in the future. :)

[@altongansky]

They're out there, nakapaa. Keep looking. Thanks for writing.

[@dfcprops3849]

I just purchased an 800, the one you bought for parts, and it is a very beautiful typewriter. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and story with these how you added these typewriters to your collection... very interesting!

[@altongansky]

Thanks for the kind words. Enjoy your 800.

[@Astyanaz]

I set out to get one old typewriter to write a novel on. I ended up with a thousand typewriters and never wrote the novel.

[@altongansky]

A thousand typewriters. Are you being poetic or are truly surrounded by typers? Don't give up on the novel, Charles. Few things are so difficult and few things are so rewarding.

[@j.d.thompson3505]

Very beautiful.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Excellent review and comparison. Is that a Royal flush? I see five more Futuras in your future as you continue to buy “parts machines” that are too nice to part out.

[@altongansky]

TypewriterMinutes You might be right. Five more Futura. That’s too much even for an addict like me. I’ll have to sell a couple to make room. Thanks for the compliment.

[@LoveMyRottweiler1]

You mention on the blue one that you got as a part machine that one reason that the seller sold as parts was the carriage didn't move all the way to the left...I purchased a pink 800 all seems to be working great however like the parts machine the carriage stops near the middle...only way to get it all the way to the left is using the tab release key near the rollers. You didn't mention how you fix this problem...please help! Thanks...

[@altongansky]

Hi Garry, Thanks for writing and congrats on buying a Royal Futura. I often get typewriter repair questions but usually there is little I can do since I can’t see the typewriter or check it’s parts, but let me offer a couple of possibilities and see if that helps. First, let’s go with the easiest fix. On the left side (as you face the typewriter), just below the left carriage knob, is a small lever used to lock the carriage in place. To do so, the carriage needs to be centered. Its purpose is to keep the carriage from moving when in its case. When the lever is down, the carriage should move freely; when it’s up and the carriage is centered, then it locks. So, give that a quick look. The mechanism could be bent or need some adjustment. However, I don’t know why the tab release would allow the carriage to move. Perhaps our terminology is off a little. The lever behind the knobs that allows the carriage to be manually moved right or left is a “carriage release lever.” Check to see if that solves the problem. Actually, I do mention what the problem was on my blue Futura. Around 15 minutes into the video I talk about having to tighten the main spring-the device that pulls the carriage along when you’re typing. You will know if you’re having the same problem because the carriage movement works but slows down before it moves all the way to the left. The main spring is similar to a old watch spring but bigger. You can see it by moving the carriage all the way to the left and looking down at the carriage track. You will see a string attached to it. I hope this helps. Again, thanks for writing. Al

[@Shipwright1918]

Beg pardon, but I just acquired one of these, and the carriage has a habit of jumping all the way over to the left when I advance to the next line, is there some way to correct this?

[@altongansky]

Greetings, Shipwright1918, thank you for watching and writing. First, let me say that I am not a typewriter repairman. I have repaired some of my typewriters, but I don't have formal training. The problem you describe is a new one to me, and since I can't see the typewriter or examine it, there is very little I can say. Based on your description I suspect that the rack on the bottom of the carriage is loose, miss align, or missing teeth. The rack is a metal bar with teeth the mesh with a gear the moves it along as you type. To see it, you have to move the carriage to the right or left then tilt the typer up so you can look under the carriage. It could be that the carriage is lose (that is, it's not riding on the rails properly and when you do a carriage return you're lifting the carriage up a bit causing it to disengage). It could be that the rack is loose. It's mounted with two screws on the left and right ends of the rack. I would check those things first. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[@Shipwright1918]

Alton Gansky Thanks ever so much for your reply, and while I realize you aren't a repair-person, nonetheless the tips you've provided me should prove a big help. I've put a few typewriters back into operation before, I've just never had to deal with the carriage mechanisms before, most have just required a good cleaning, some oil, a fresh ribbon. Thanks again!

[@user-ys8ct7cd1c]

I have this 800 Futura and when I hit the keys, the carriage does not advance for the next letter. Any ideas on how advance the carriage with each key stroke? Is that the main spring you talk about 15 min into your video? The carriage lock is released and the carriage moves smoothly, without obstruction along its complete path.

[@altongansky]

That's hard to say without seeing it. You mention the usual suspects: carriage lock, free carriage, and mainspring. Also, I'm not a trained typewriter repairman but I've looked at the workings of many a typer. So, let's take a look at a couple of other possibilities. 1) The margins have been set next to each other serving as a carriage lock. It's an old way to secure the carriage. Try resetting the margins. (I doubt this is the problem if the carriage moves by hand, but it's worth the time to check.) 2) The mainspring is broken. I'm assuming from your question that the type bar strikes the platen but the carriage doesn't move. True?) If the main spring is broken, then all that can be done is transplant one from a donor Futura. 3) Less drastic but still a pain is that the draw cord has come loose from the carriage. Generally, that can be fixed. If the cord/string/band is broken, then it will probably have to be replaced and the mainspring reset. If it has come loose, you should be able to see by looking under the typer. Let me ask this: When you use the carriage release and move the carriage, is there any resistance when you move it? if there is, then the drawcord is still attached. If any other ideas come to me I'll send them your way. Let me know if any of this helped. Al Gansky

[@user-ys8ct7cd1c]

@@altongansky Hi Alton, thanks for the detailed response. : ) Margins have been set to either side, so they are not the culprit--unfortunately! Yes, the type bar of all characters strike the cylinder and marks the page. There's simply no advancement of one space to make a new character. The space bar doesn't advance it, either. I considered the mainspring, but when the TAB key is pressed, the cylinder moves forcefully from the far right margin to the far left margin and rings the bell. I can see the draw cord is attached, and it doesn't look loose; it's taught around its wheel. I'm not sure what moves the carriage predominantly: the mainspring or the cord? And which advances the carriage with each keystroke? Or is it something else? The Line Space Lever is the only thing which slowly swings back into place after being used, but I don't see how this could affect character advancement. It feels like we're missing something really simple. Arg!

[@altongansky]

Sorry for the delay. Crazy days. Anyway, there is a gear and a lever that are supposed to advance the carriage when a key is depressed. You can try setting the machine up on end so that the front of the keyboard points to the ceiling and depress a key slowly. There is a sprocket like gear that should engage. The only think else I a think of is that carriage is jammed, but I believed you said it moves freely. Sorry I can't be more help.

[@andrewkaiser7210]

Are those typewriter pads just bathmats? If so, where did you get them? They are perfect!!

[@altongansky]

Andrew Kaiser All but one (the deep red one) are dish mats, mats to set freshly washed dishes and cups on to air dry. The deep red one is carpet sample. I’ve had good luck with neoprene floor mats cut to size and, believe it or not, an old yoga mat (nonskid). Thanks for writing, Andrew.

[@YouWereCreatedBeautifully]

I have the same blue futura 800, but the bell does not ring when I get to the right margin. Is there a way to fix that?

[@altongansky]

Hello and thank you for writing. I'm afraid I can't diagnose the problem at a distance but let's check a couple of things. First, make sure you have a bell. I've seen a few typewriters where the bell has been removed. I can't begin to guess why. Most likely you do, but it's the easiest thing to check. Just carefully tilt the typewriter on to its back and look for the bell. It will be at the back of the machine and should be easy to see. It's probably painted black-mine is. While you there, make sure the clapper-the thing that strikes the bell to make it chime-is there. It's a little silver looking piece of metal. Assuming all that is good, then set the typewriter on its feet again and move the carriage as far to the left as you can without forcing it. When it stops, push the MAR REL key on the right side of the keyboard. This is, as you probably know, the margin release. This will allow you to move the carriage a little further to the left. You should now be able to see a flat piece of metal bent into a hook shape. Attached to it is a tiny, tiny spring. No spring-no ring! Test it by pushing the metal hook to the side and releasing it. It should snap back and the bell should ring. If it doesn't and the spring is in place, then the problem may be under the carriage and that's a whole different problem.

[@YouWereCreatedBeautifully]

@@altongansky I did run the test and the spring is there and it rings when I push the metal hook. So the issue may be under the carriage then. bummer

[@YouWereCreatedBeautifully]

@@altongansky I forgot to thank you for replying. I just looked under the carriage and the thing that strikes the bell movers. If I move it to stick out the furthest it strikes the bell, but then when I press return again, it moves and does not strike the bell. Do you think I can glue it still or should it be able to move?

[@altongansky]

@@YouWereCreatedBeautifully Glue would probably be a bad idea. I'm sorry I can't offer more help.

[@bbgerli]

WOW all of them are so neat. I just got the Salmon Pink futura 800 but the carriage is locked even moving the lock and centering device, I don’t know if it is related with the margins keys, and the Tab Set Key is loose. I know you are not a Typewriter Repairman but maybe you hear of this problem, some people has the same problem. Thanks.

[@altongansky]

Greetings. Thank you for writing. Congratulations on your Futura 800. They're great machines. Okay, on to your question. It is difficult for me to say since I can't see the machine but let's try a couple of things. First, there are two metal levers, one behind each of the carriage knobs. Pull one toward you to see if the carriage moves at all. You should feel the carriage pulling to the left. That's a good thing. It means the mainspring and cable are attached. (That's what moves the carriage when you type. Also double check that the carriage lock is not stuck in the lock position. It sounds like you already know this, but the lock is a little metal lever on the left side of the machine and beneath the carriage. Lastly, try pushing the margin release key. (Right side of keyboard and marked MAR REL.) Sometimes people set the left and right margins so the meet in the middle. They do this to lock down the carriage.) I hope this helps. Here's a link to a site that has downloadable manuals for typewriters: site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/RoyalFutura.pdf