Typewriter Talk - Underwood SX

[@archivist17]

In the 80s, I bought the Underwood No.5 as my second typewriter after my Imperial desk model. The No.5 was so awesomely gothic, that I bought a slightly sad No.6 as a *ahem 'project' which I never got round to. With my Underwood portable, these were far and away my favourites. I found recently that my dad had kept at least one of the Underwoods I'd had to leave in his garage when I went to University in 1992! 😮 I must dig it out, but I am worried what thirty years in a (dry) cellar may have done to it 😱

[@WaskiSquirrel]

You might be surprised how some air and a toothbrush can clean up your typewriter.

[@tsherbs1309]

Love it. I really like that the ruler and tab sets are right out front (easy to see and access). And that asterisk!

[@WaskiSquirrel]

Glad you like it! And yes, a convenient way to set tabs and margins!

[@archivist17]

@@tsherbs1309 Yes, that's a great bit of design. I never liked having to furtle down the back.

[@mumalogue]

Great review, love that elegant typeface and the sound seems very pleasant. I love my standard too but it needed work though acquired locally.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

It really is a good machine. I'm thrilled with it.

[@juicylouisey]

The written ampersand is a challenge. Probably why you don’t see it much. Added to my challenge list. The sounds took me back to science lessons opposite the typing rooms.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

A room full of typewriters was a noisy place! I got into high school at the tail end of that era.

[@keraba1]

Just a heads up: It /appears/ that Evernote deprecated sharing an entire notebook. This would explain why the 'pub' link gives a 404 (even after correcting 'waskisquirrel'.) The photos link works fine.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

That's good to know. I'll look at a new option for this. Thank you!

[@MrAndrew1953]

Not a lightweight,portable device Italian machine. I remember those they had mounted on portable desk trolleys.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

This is a heavy monster!

[@edwardstaats4935]

Do you have trouble getting ribbons? I never used the red portion of those ribbons. I never had a desktop but loved my Olympia portable and later digital ones like a Smith-Corona. What is the size of the type: pica or elite?

[@WaskiSquirrel]

Actually a lot of ribbons are still made. In the rare case, like this machine, where it doesn't take the standard ribbon spools, you can often wind on the ribbon from another brand.