Typewriter Video Series -- Episode 259: Hermes 10

[@Dr_Joe]

Funny thing: I STILL have my typewriter (a Hermes 3000) from the 1970s, but got rid of my first Apple computer probably 5 years after I'd bought it. Yes, we need to re-think the disposable culture we've backed ourselves into. Excellent video. Thanks, Joe!

[@dadtype2339]

I had to revisit this, as it was my first Joe video. I remember one of these on a desk at my Pediatrician's office, there were two actually,none on a desk in the exam room, and another on the desk out front behind the green bar like sliding glass the secretary used. This was back in the 70's and 80's. Very cool machine, it started on my secondary list of want to add to my collection, although it's moving into the Primary want list. As I imagine probably not too much of these running around. Who knows. Lol still trying to get the Curvy Hermés 3K. The Electric typewriter my Mom had was an Olympia LX or X...or XL...it was Grey ribbon cover, and a white frame with black keys... I just looked it up. It was an Olympia Report Deluxe...I was close lol. From the 80's and I remember watching her use it and it was like magic! Amazing how typewriters can influence so much and so many. Great machines, and I am still hopeful a company will be made that makes clones of by gone era tech. From typewriters to cars. There is a market for it. I can have dreams.

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

PS: The older I get and the more arthritic my hands become I begin to appreciate the genius of electrifying these great communication tools.

[@lespaul6550]

Great video! It is clear that you and your family valued it, and that so many memories are attached to it. I am not a nostalgic type, and I do think we are better off nowadays, even with all the problems we're facing. But I do miss one thing - when stuff (appliances, cars, guitars, etc.) were made to last. They were even called "durable" goods. I think humanity will have to rethink the disposable approach to stuff.

[@kerc]

I was fortunate to find one a year ago, a script model in pristine condition, for only $15. It's my favorite electric, no question. Great machines.

[@douglasjackson9058]

This was a touching video. Thank you for taking us down memory lane with you. I love that Hermes. Passed on one last year and in hindsight wish I would have looked closer at it. But then again by closing that door it opened the door for me to purchase a Underwood Model 12 which is a beast. Thanks again for sharing. God bless.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Nice review. With that price back in the day, it definitely was a high-end machine. That’s a keeper! Actually, that makes me wonder whether you and your brother are going to arm-wrestle to see who gets to keep it. I remember my dad had a small typewriter that I played with and I am virtually certain it was a Brother JP1 with a repeat spacer. They can’t seem to find it but I’m hopeful it will reappear some day. Maybe that’s why I like Brother typewriters so much.

[@jasonpeachrick2037]

That sure is one beautiful machine. Gonna have to try and find one!

[@jamie44134]

That is a wonderful machine, I used one in high school typewriting class, I typed faster and more accurately on the Hermes 10 than the selectric.

[@jpeter20]

Joe, I love the way your videos are evolving over the last several years. Great job you're doing on all these videos! I enjoy watching almost any video of yours to get more calmed and centered for my day ahead. Thanks so much for what you do!

[@ianrobbins]

Well said, Joe!

[@roger263]

Jo Can we ever get back home? "We can get back to the place but not the time" as the Paul Williams song goes. You expressed your thoughts so well. Time the impermiable barrier. Even if we could go back what would we find?

[@anthonybrunotheodd]

Just got my Hermes 10 yesterday, really used it today. I love it. I’ve owned Hermes 3000 so I felt right at home. The only things I noticed it that the space bar is finicky. It will make a buzzing noise unless I intentionally press it, and it won’t even space sometimes! Just probably due to age. Or the trip point needs to be adjusted which isn’t something I’m going to attempt unless someone can properly show me how to do and what level of difficulty it is. Because I opened up the bottom to look at the insides of this machine and it looks way more complicated than a traditional Hermes 3000. And it only happens once and a while so I can live with it for now. But also the end of paper slot doesn’t really work for me because the left one is almost always covered up by the typewriter so unless I lean a certain way I can’t really use until I’ve reached the end of a line and often times it’s too late and I’ve reached the end of the paper! Other than those two things and the fact that I really should clean it, I love it and I got it so cheap and it works! I’m thrilled! The Hermes 10 is a keeper. I still wish Paillard had made the backspace auto repeat. If your going to attach the backspace to the electric escapement you might as well make it auto repeat. I’d like to know the engineering philosophy behind that one! Also why did the shift lock have to be labelled? Did Paillard think we Americans were silly and didn’t know where the shift lock was located? The only labelled it for our market. All the other Hermes 10’s I’ve seen for Europe had the traditional down arrow on the caps lock. I can understand labelling the buttons on the top (Even thought the European Hermes 10’s and second and third gen European Hermes 3000’s had the same “top buttons” like the first gen Hermes 3000) like the clear all tabs button because they weren’t necessarily intuitive unless you read the manual. But did the Swiss think we Americans needed to have the shift lock labelled in order to find it? Plenty of American made typewriters used an arrow or didn’t bother labelling the shift lock (although some earlier ones did, I own a few American made typewriters with shift lock labelled I’m not saying America was anti labelling it’s shift lock keys) and we were fine, we Americans figured out that the button above the shift key was the shift lock. Well my thoughts aside, it’s got it quirks for sure but I’m still delighted with it and I’m quite confident it can comfortably bang out my first novel.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I hope you have many happy hours with it.

[@berniepokorski6608]

What a treasure to have! I have very few things that are left from my childhood and teenage years, but sadly, no typewriter(s). I had no interest whatsoever in them back then. I bought my first typewriter at a flea market or garage sale sometime in the latter part of the 1970's... it is a 1950 S-C Sterling, and thankfully I still have it!

[@vermontmike9800]

These are so hard to find now.

[@Dr_Joe]

Who was it that said: Home is where, if you knock, they have to let you in. (?)

[@HotRodTypewriter]

I’m just now finding a fondness for the typebar electrics. I’m not too into the selectrics (yet) but the Hermès 10 and the SC 5t are more my speed.

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

Joe? Have you ever retraced your family history? The "VAN" in your name implies "DUTCH" origins? Just curious since you do such a GREAT job at relaying the history of the various typewriters you feature on your videos.

[@javierorozco5136]

In the Hermes 3000,The tab button is on the right and the backspace button is on the left.But,the Hermes 10 has the tab button on the left and the backspace button on the right.That is something that I see on those two typewriters.

[@anthonybrunotheodd]

Hey Joe, do you know what kind of belt this typewriter uses?

[@irenelalouve2679]

Could this be used on a european 220v electric system?

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

I went back to using strictly MANUAL typewriters because of my "HEAVY" hands! I managed to destroy more than one electronic keyboard with them. (Disabled a couple MANUAL ones too!) That's why I appreciate my ROYAL 1970's era machine so much. To quote JOHN CAMERON SWAYZE about another, totally unrelated product "... It takes a licking and keeps on ticking...". Mom's 60's era OLYMPIA couldn't. It still sits quietly whimpering in its case waiting to go to the "doctor".

[@georgegonzalez-rivas3787]

$295 in 1971 equals $1,930.65 in 2021