Typewriter Video Series - Episode 224: Keyboard Ergo

[@drandallesq]

Hi Joe, Great new top for the Voss! I haven't had the "A" and Shift Lock issue with a Royal Quiet De Luxe, but with a 1976 Olympia SM9. In part this was arthritis, but getting dropped "A"s bothered me, as the rest of the machine works so well. I found there was clearance to the left of the Shift and Shift Lock set of keys to form the levers from underneath and get a bigger gap. It took a bit of adjusting to realign the keytops with the others, and still have the shift lock work, but now it's perfect for me. Best regards, and stay safe!

[@juanpablobarrionuevo1001]

What a beautiful ribbon cover. I hope there’s a video about that proyect in the future. Greetings from Tucumán - Argentina

[@lymantria10]

Good presentation. I took a quick glance at my two most easily reach typewriters, a 1971 Olympia SM9 and a 1966 Olympia Splendid 66 (new old stock!). I knew the SM9 had the steeper slope between ranks of keys, but was surprised that the SM9 has a tight gap between the "a" and the Shift key (similar to your QDL)...yet the Splendid 66 has a significantly wider gap. Explains some of my typing mistakes! The tradeoff, for me, is the linkages. The SM9 has a solid feel, all business. The Splendid 33 (as with my Traveller de Luxe) has a linkage system designed for the flat Olympias that has a strange feel by comparison, and requires a snappy finger action to be confident with. Amazing how different these machines can be. I will look more closely at my collection as your video has helped me better understand why I don't want to type on some of my favorite machines, yet gravitate towards others. Thanks for putting this together.

[@shakespeareteacher]

Joe, thanks for an interesting comparison! My turquoise colored QDL has a much larger gap between the A and the caps lock key. I'm not sure why, as it looks to be the same vintage as your Adobe Rose. The gap on mine is about 5mm and the shift lock key is about 1mm from the frame. One of my very best typers is a Royal though, a Speed King, c. 1958. I can fly with that machine!

[@joeycredible]

I found the Royal Quiet Deluxe too mushy too. I recently ordered a Sears Tower which is a unique version of a Smith Corona Silent Super.

[@joeycredible]

Great video, that's one of the reasons I had to sell my Royal.

[@joeycredible]

I also own a Smith Corona Electra 120 which I actually love and a Brother Activator (don't know the model number off-hand). It's ultra portable. The touch is firmer but I'd rather have that than the cushier Royal QD feel.

[@gemista]

This has never occurred to me; I’ll be measuring my machines in the near future. I personally enjoy the feel of the classic round class covered keycaps, like the ones used on the early Corona models.

[@joeycredible]

Perhaps the spacing and feel is more suited to me but I'll see.

[@claudiaorozco5028]

Hey joe how are you I got a smith corona typewriter the skywriter but from the 1950s and I hope that your collection keeps on going and I have this machine that is a olivetti italia 90 typewriter

[@aphexteknol]

So how long until you derive a formula for creating the “ultimate” typewriter keyboard Joe? Thats a lot of interesting work you did comparing the two keyboards geometry. I find for my own typing, that I seem to be more sensitive to the keycap design versus some of the other attributes. At least thats how it feels to me anyways... Thanks again!

[@joeycredible]

I believe it's the '58 version, but I could possibly be mistaken. I can share a photo with you when it comes if you'd like. Where would I do that?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I'm familiar with the Sears Tower, I like its styling better than the standard Smith-Corona version.

[@joeycredible]

@@Joe_VanCleave Me too. They are increasingly harder to find in good condition, if at all. Take a look around, but I feel like they're popping up less and less now. I'm happy to have one.

[@kylehazachode]

Please don’t paint your ribbon cover. It looks so cool in its natural state. Can you make a video on how you make ribbon covers? I switch between my Royal Quiet De Luxe and my Adler Tippa S. I don’t know what it is, but some days it’s harder to type on the Royal and I’ll switch to the Adler and vice versa. I’m a letter carrier and I swear my hands fatigue differently everyday. It’s usually the current strength of my ring fingers that will cause me to want to switch. I wonder if there’s finger stretching videos for typing.