Typewriter Video Series Episode 38: Royal Mercury

[@vincentaurelius2390]

I love these 70s Japanese-made portables. I have a few Brother-branded models which look very similar to the Mercury. Mine aren’t professionally serviced so they’re a little clunky to use but I love their distinct sound and feel. Light and fun to use and so reliable. Great video, Joe.

[@thethriftyfawn]

There's something very modern looking about that typewriter!

[@thebellaluna]

Hi! I just bought a Royal Mercury typewriter for $40 in good shape, needs a ribbon & needs some light cleaning & blowing out ...yay! So excited & can't wait to use it! Thanks for your videos, Joe! :)

[@manofmanyfaceshq]

Fantastic machine. I have one and use it daily for my poetry . Never had a problem.. Enjoy it.

[@carolinewhite6010]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video Joe, as just last week I received an Imperial Mercury which I am currently having fun using, and it was interesting to hear about the Tab's, which got me to thinking about looking out for an Imperial Tab-O-matic as well. Thank you so much for sharing this video, its greatly appreciated and given me great food for thought x

[@GeoSlash99]

You're awesome dude. I got one of these for $9 USD recently that was full of pine needles and eraser shavings and all sorts of crap. Cleaned up so nice though. Now I don't want to sell it! I love seeing you type in public brother. Do not concern yourself with the opinions of other people. The people who would think typewriters are goofy are the same people with 10 second attention spans that will forget by dinnertime that they ever even saw you. Or perhaps you'll stick out in their mind and they'll ponder meaningful things... Cheers to the Royal Mercury!

[@leelee71]

Our first one also :D. I just picked this up for my daughter's 11th bday. She is going to love it. Now i need to learn how to clean it and the keys stick. I do plan to paint it though. I also finds some advertisements regarding this machine...it was originally marketed for children to use.

[@douglasjackson9058]

I am going to enjoy this series in a series of each individual typewriter.

[@tz7245]

I just bought this typewriter and am so thankful you uploaded this! Love this thread of videos showing your collection! Makes me want to start one of my own!

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Excellent video. Congratulations.

[@grumpyoldgeezer6913]

Update on locking the carriage. Move the line space lever towards the red dot and move the carriage towards the center. keep slight pressure on the lever and it should drop into place when centered.

[@user-io2pd8rv8r]

I enjoy this very much.

[@grumpyoldgeezer6913]

I have the Royal 200 version with the British keyboard. I found by accident that there is a centering carriage lock. Move the line space lever to the red dot. Move the carriage from right to left and it will stop in the center.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Thank you!

[@marthaperkins1845]

just got one of these, cant wait for it to arrive

[@av8bvma513]

The index setting lever on this model has a position opposite where it lifts the index rachet, and here it lets down a small lever to help center the carriage before putting the case cover on. It only works from left to right, so the carriage has to be several spaces left of central, pull the index lever towards the front, slide the carriage right, and it will stop dead-center.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Thanks for showing me that. We all learn from each other.

[@KarejChlieb]

Nice video. :) I have a same typewriter, but it's named Royal 200. I like it. (Sorry for my bad English)

[@woodymccaslin3205]

Hi Joe, We just bought the same Royal Mercury model that you demonstrate in your video. Do you have any resources for making adjustments or repairs? The carriage drawband needs some minor repair/adjustment. Enjoyed your video and have bookmarked your site. Jim in Arizona

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I've never had to repair the drawband. Is the carriage slow to move? Is is skipping spaces or piling letters one atop another? There is at least one good typewriter repair shop in the Phoenix area.

[@leelee71]

Any suggestions on how to help the keys unstick? i will also need ribbon on amazon. Her birthday is on Friday :)

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Unscrew the four feet from the bottom, remove the plate and then set the machine on an old towel. Then use Zippo lighter fluid and/or PB Blaster (aerosol spray available at auto parts store) and spray inside the segment slots where the type bars are at. Then work the type bars and keys until they loosen up. Then follow up with 91% isopropyl alcohol to wash out the degreaser. If you use PB Blaster, it's pretty smelly so use it outside or in the garage, then let it air out for a few hours.

[@leelee71]

Can you tell me the size of the rubber grommets you bought for the snap on lid? I just figured out that the pieces of rubber ON the lid on top of the nubs were the original grommets (now not ON the typewriter).

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I found them at True Value hardware store. They measure 1/2" in diameter. The hole in the middle should be snug for the protruding pin on the lid to engage, while the slot in the side of the grommet should be snug for the hole in the body of the typewriter. Good luck.

[@leelee71]

Great!! I had zero luck at home depot but found them in my local tiny Ace Hardware. LOVE this place. They have them in drawers.

[@trooper8436]

Just picked one of these beauts up at my local thrift but the Paper will not advance on the platten, it seems to catch on the holes for the rollers and just will not allow me to feed in a sheet of paper, can you help with thisa problem? Thanks from Brooklyn NY!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Make sure the lever for the feed rollers is released, so the rollers are pressing against the platen roller. This lever is on the right side of the carriage. You should be able to roll the platen knob back and forth and see the paper move up and down.

[@av8bvma513]

Hi Jo. If you can, try to get some time on a nice clean Olympia SG1. The machine is a full-sized office type, hewn from gigantic blocks of ultra-dense alloy, heavy, beautifully built, with many unique features. The size and weight and build quality mean the action, the parts that are moved by one's fingertips, is super-light and accurate and truly sublime. Especially for someone who has spent many years on portables, the difference is night and day. Obviously, one needs to set a specific location, a solid desk, and a good chair, and the machine stays there, as moving the SG1 around is a workout, and a cheap card table will just collapse under the weight! The one to go for is with the narrow 11" carriage, [they do go up to 24" !] and having the roll-in lever is a plus. The paper rest is desirable, but often missing or broken. Here's one with a neat paint job: writingball.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/sg1-at-work_28.html

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I'd love to have one of those, thank you for the tip.

[@av8bvma513]

@ = At Sign. & = Ampersand.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Of course! Thanks for setting me straight!