Typewriter Battle: Torpedo 18B vs Alpina SK24

I take a closer look at the typewriters 1956 Torpedo 18B and the 1954 Alpina SK24. Which is, in my own heavily biased opinion, the best typewriter?
In this video I look at the various features of each machine and how it has been implemented. I finally look at how they compare to each other compared to my own opinion on how I like typewriters to be. I'm 100% sure not all would agree with my assessment here, so don't think I'm reaching a conclusion that I deem as fact. Just my opinion here, people!

[@donaldlampert331]

Have never used the Torpedo 18, but I have used, and own, a Torpedo 15a, that I love… and today got a Torpedo 20, from July of 1954….. in Remington Travel-Riter guise! But… I absolutely love my Alpina SK24…. and yes it is one of the finest!! Perhaps only equalled by the classic Erika M, Aztec (Erika) 600, and the late Rheinmetall & Supermetall portables! Thank you for this fine concise review!

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

Thanks for sharing such a nice review of the Alpina SK24. It's the best review I have seen. Daniel

[@selkiemaine]

Thanks! I enjoyed that. My only machine, these days, is my Bluebird 18B, a gift to my mother from my father before their marriage, and inherited by me decades later. Not only is it a wonderful machine (with a unique custom key - the key top engraved by hand to match the type slug), but but it has always been part of my life. I used to play type on it as a child (carefully!), my mother used to write magazine articles on it back in the '60s, and used it for her personal correspondence until she died. Yes, the line spacing lever on an 18B should snap into place. It is definitely fairly easy to double-strike a key - I'll replace the rubber on the platen one of these days and see if it makes a difference. The Torpedo keys seem to have a lot of "acceleration" and it's easy to press too hard. It's almost like the keys want to accelerate, and not just move up to strike the ribbon. I think it's an unforgiving machine. I have to pull off the force on each stroke about 2/3 the way down. And, if my keystrokes aren't precisely the same weight, it'll be obvious on the paper. Mine does not skip. I used to have an old Royal office machine (it was what I typed on before I inherited the Torpedo, and I sadly let it go as I had no room at one point in my life). I'm going by memory here, so please take it with a grain of salt, but my Royal required more effort on the keys, but was more forgiving. I could just press on the keys and they'd get there eventually. It would look just fine. If I put that much effort into typing on the Torpedo, I'm hitting way too hard. I'm not surprised that you can type a bit faster on the Alpina. If you used the Torpedo regularly, you'd be as fast, but it's like some sports cars - you have to treat it right and that takes some getting used to. What an amazing case. Mine is plywood with wallpaper on it. I've never had the opportunity to try an Alpina. Maybe one day I will.

[@Retro-Type]

Thank you for your thorough feedback. Since making the video I've looked closer at the mechanism for the lining spacing and have found that there is a bent pin underneath that doesn't engage with ratchets on the lever. Using a spring hook, pushing this up makes it engage correctly and work as intended. I'll have to take it out and try reforming it. Also thank you for putting into words what I feel I missed on this. The Torpedo definitely wants to accelerate the type arms. That is a very good way of putting it. Softer rubber might help, but I wouldn't be surprised if adapting the typing style will have more impact on eliminating ghosting.

[@OctavianVesa]

Excellent video, thank you for making it. It would be nice to see the typed page of each tests, as I'm always interested in the typeface of the machines. Keep up the good work!

[@Retro-Type]

Thank you! I plan a video in the future where I will talk about typefaces where I will showcase my collection of various types. As for this Torpedo and Alpina, they are both standard pica typefaces :)

[@douglasjackson9058]

Great video,thanks so much for taking the time to make this video. Have never come across either of these in the wild here in NE Ohio,but always looking. Grateful for your video and imput.

[@richardburton7704]

Thanks for this interesting video and the respect you show for both machines. I have an earlier edition Alpina in the same light brown and with the same tab mechanisms. I wondered if you'd experienced any skipping of the carriage. If locked in upper-case my machine is a pleasure to type on, showing no tendency to skip. However, in lower case the carriage skips frequently, and more frequently on the left side, which is to say across the first half of the line being typed. As I said, it doesn't skip at all when in upper-case, a symptom that I suspect helps identify the possible reasons it's skipping in lower-case. If anyone could help me out with a fix, I'd be an even happier typer. Thanks.

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

I would look into the tension from the mainspring. It might be too high. That being said, the escapement should be cleaned first to remove a y old oil and grease. Daniel

[@VirtualGuth]

I am very fond of both of these machines. Your 18b sounds as if it would benefit from some additional adjustment. My 18b doesn't have any issues with skipping or ghosting. Fortunately I have never felt the need to adjust my own typing style to adapt to it. But my 18b was essentially pristine when I bought it. On the other hand, my SK24 would benefit from a bit more fine tuning, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. (This might have more to do with the differences I experience than anything else.) I'm not sure if this will make sense or not, but while I'm not a blazingly fast typist I do appreciate and prefer snappy typewriters that don't get in the way of my typing. Both of these typewriters qualify. In their current state, I feel that I could probably type faster with the 18b, yet neither of these typewriters feel as if they are slowing me down in any way. I really need to hold off on any judgements until I've managed to bring the SK24 up to snuff. I find myself drawn to both machines It's also important to take into account the age of these machines along with the fact that they have all led very different lives over that period of time. As such there is bound to be some deviation from one example to the next. I previously owned a 1961 Torpedo 18b and can say that while I did not experience any skipping or ghosting with it, I do prefer the 1956 machine that I now own. How interesting it would have been to be able to compare all of these typewriters back when they were still new. Based on my own experiences, I can say that I definitely have a soft spot for German portables from the 50's and 60's.

[@Retro-Type]

I definitely share your soft spot there. And I can confirm that yes, the skipping issues on the Torpedo in this video is particular to this specific machine, and not a problem with the design of that model. I have 2 other Torpedo 18Bs, one earlier than the one in this video (flat top design) and one later (blue lid design), and neither of them have skipping issues. I will make this one too fly smoothly, but before I start doing any adjustments on screws and what not, I will do a proper flushing with mineral spirits. You never know what grime and old oil can cause. I'm just awaiting warmer weather so I can work outside where the fumes won't give me a headache.

[@typewriterexperience465]

Thanks for sharing! More videos. Enjoyed much !

[@storm_f1788]

Very good quality, and a very informative video.

[@hugocharleshansen8329]

Hei Geir! Veldig bra og informativ video.

[@Tordenstjerne]

Veldig bra og beskrivende sammenligning. Torpedo hadde jeg en gang, men Alpinaen har jeg enda. En meget flott nesten sporty maskin. I den forbindelse kan nevnes at sønnen til opphavsmannen bak Alpinaen er grunnlegger av nå bilprodusenten (tidligere stylingfirma) Alpina som lager sportsversjoner av BMW.

[@willyb4235]

Love your careful description of the feedback each machine imparts onto your fingers. I just came across a pristene SK24 but the owner was not in so I will have to return and give it a spin. Do these machines have any particular concerns? Can I get the platen replaced? Is it difficult to find parts? Certainly is a fine looking machine. Thanks, Willy

[@Retro-Type]

Hello Willy. These are great machines, but not completely without weak spots. There are a couple of pieces on this machine that are known points of failure, but fortunately these are not the kind that sneaks past you. If they fail, they leave a machine with dramatic faults that are plain to see when you try it out. If you have the chance to quickly test it out a bit you should be good. The platen _can_ be replaced through certain rubber specialist companies like JJ Short (USA based company) who will typically charge somewhere in the range of $60-80 to change the rubber on platens you send them. There are also certain DIY options, but they can be hard to do well, and are not guaranteed to last long. Hunting for parts is also a luck based game. Sometimes you can be in luck that some other enthusiast on some forum have what you need and is willing to sell it, but the hunt can other times be a very long and frustrating process. As far as rarity goes, the Alpina isn't the most commonly found machine, but it isn't among the rare ones either, so the chances of finding parts isn't impossible, but not among the simplest either.