Typewriter Video Series - Episode 68: Olympia SF Fixed!

Joe lucks out with fixing a pretty little Olympia SF portable - plus a surprise short story!

[@robertbuck5399]

Fantastic short story, Joe! Thanks for sharing.

[@johnlennon1049]

Where would I find the serial number on a Royal Caravan & Aristocrat Portable typewriter? Loved your story. Funny but really, really true. I've got 8 now (typewriters). I even bought Ted Munks Typewriter Repair Bible and also his Olympia SM 1,2,3,4,5, and 7. Oh boy! Am I in trouble but at the age of 72, you can't do too much to me. I'm self reliant, married 38 years so yes, I'm hooked. Love your videos. Entertaining and very informative.

[@sanecosine505-8]

I absolutely loved the short story.

[@TypewriterJustice]

yet another great video, sir! nice extra info on the SC touch control, too :)

[@JamesSmith-od7po]

Laughed out loud re your short story. You and your thrift stores lol.

[@typewritervids6784]

Love the story, Joe!

[@iom25]

Hello Joe! First of all, i happen to have an old Olympia SF, very similar to yours, and your videos about it are helping me a lot, so thanks for that! I am having some problems with that left side of the carriage, since a couple springs went out of place and getting there to fix them is nearly impossible with the platin on place. I have been struggling with this and i have no idea on how to remove the platin on this typewriter! I would appreciate some advice on this if you know how to do it. Thanks a lot!

[@tmunk]

"Emboldened"! :D Also, good thing that was fiction at the end, or I'd berate you for leaving a Valentine behind in a thrift store.

[@i.f.haddock527]

I was having the same line spacing problem with my 1965 Olympia SM9 and had been working on it for two days; it has a collar on the right side of the platen; it too was not tight; I adjusted it moving the platen to the right. The strange thing is that I was able to muddle through this and finished it just before I watched this video.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Nice!

[@TypewriterCollector]

Excellent

[@KurisuYamato]

Haha, I loved that little story. On the subject of repair, I may have mentioned it before but I'll say it again, I've got an odd timing issue on my Remington 5 - if you type too quickly she will not space fully resulting in letter crowding. Need to get a repair bible for her, for sure, although my other machines are SCM and Underwood, so... I guess I'll have a few books to buy!

[@tmunk]

For a Remington 5 and other American-made typewriters of that mid-40's vintage, you need only one: www.lulu.com/shop/theodore-munk/the-manual-typewriter-repair-bible/paperback/product-23045770.html

[@TypewriterJustice]

Kurisu Yamato - you can download a pdf of the service manual from site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html Look for the "Ames Typewriter Mechanical Training Manual, 1945, vol. 2, for portables" and click on "Remington"

[@KurisuYamato]

Wow, I was NOT expecting to get bot Typewriter Justice AND Ted Munk responding to this! Thanks guys! TypewriterJustice: This looks to be very spot on for the 37 Remington 5 in question. I'll give a detailed look when I wake up, but I have a feeling this will, with enough study and patience, help me solve the issue! Ted Munk: Ah, that would of course do me nicely for my 37 Remington 5 and future machines of that vintage, but my other machines are from 55 on up through the 60's and 70's (ignoring the many later electronic ones I have). Still, good to know that book would be THE ONE I would need for the pre-war beauties that I desire most. Thanks for the replies guys, you're both awesome!

[@JamesSmith-od7po]

Yeah, both are typewriter Royalty :)

[@KurisuYamato]

Coming back to this thread, I made the adjustment to the escapement triggering screw as best I can, but this machine seems destined to fire oddly - at least, for now. It's better, but I still can't find a perfect spot. I'll just have to keep a little slower typing on that machine and slowly keep fine tuning it, and maybe checking on a few deeper parts, until she fires perfectly. The machine is already 80 years old and still works fine otherwise, so I think it, and I, can wait a little longer to do the fix properly ;)

[@hang-sangitch]

I have an sm9 and have removed the screw and little bar out of the side lever arm but cannot get the arm off in order to remove the side cover around the lever arm. Do you have any idea how to remove the lever arm in order to get the side cover off? Thank youp

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I don't have an SM9 in front of me to reference. Are you referring to the left side carriage return lever?

[@hang-sangitch]

@@Joe_VanCleave Hi Joe. Thanks for your reply. Yes the left hand return lever. I have taken out the screw and the little bar that the lever pivots. It seems the lever is still attached to part inside the cover. Can't figure out how to get it off.. 😊