Typewriter Video Series - Episode 79: Underwood Portable

[@user-io2pd8rv8r]

Good to see people that love the typewriters.

[@davidmatney5033]

Thank you for the wonderful review and tips! My Underwood Portable will arrive in a few days and I feel much more confident based on your walk-around of the components, etc. I cannot wait to begin my journey with it.

[@larosehatcompany2433]

That black finish is “Parkerized” they did that all the time back then to prevent rust

[@larosehatcompany2433]

Could you please please please make a video showing me how to take the feed rollers out so I can send them off to get new rubber? I can’t find any good videos around that show me. The nearest typewriter shop is 7hrs away and they refuse to even give me a rough ballpark range estimate without coming in person. Thank you so much!

[@thethriftyfawn]

Absolutely beautiful machine Joe! It looks like a deep blue color (I say "looks like" because I'm not entirely certain, have a form of color deficiency in my vision lol) Any storytime about the yellow mug that took a front row seat for a good portion of the video?

[@TrishMeyer99]

Thank you for this great review. I just bought this model at an estate sale in Tijeras! It's a beautiful shiny black. I'm new to vintage typewriters, so just watching you work is fascinating. I can't get the left spool off yet, but will bring it into John Lewis soon for a new ribbon. Also, my old ribbon fed from the back, so now I am wondering if it was inserted upside down! It needs new paper bail rollers (I just have bare metal), so with that and a good cleaning, I'm hoping the carriage return will advance the paper up reliably.

[@guerinoboscariol2881]

Se capisse nagott.m...

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

Joe, There are ENGINEERS and those of us who admire them but have absolutely NO talent in engineering or mechanics. You are the former while this correspondent is firmly in the latter group! The DIGITAL AGE has only succeeded in WIDENING the chasm between us (Think GRAND CANYON here as a mental image.). LOL! That's why we appreciate so much your videos which, echoing what the late Carl Sagan did for ASTROMONY, explains the complexity of these machines in easily understood terms for we, the great "unwashed and uneducated" masses who share your love and deep appreciation for them. Thank you!

[@johnandrewmunroe]

Great tip at 16:40 for quieting the space bar - a problem I have found on many machines of this era. Love this video! Just got one of these so excited to get it working. Pro tip: serial number appears to be just under the left-hand ribbon spool. Am I right?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Yes.

[@williamaubin8591]

Do you know where the Shift Alignment screws are on this machine? I can't figure it out from the guide diagrams I've been able to find to date.

[@BridgetteHylton]

I can’t figure out how to get the little spring that does the line spacing back in! Help me!

[@MikeCharbonneau]

Hi, Joe. I've watched a few of your videos and noticed you just seem to pop off the spool covers. I have a 1935 Underwood Universal (it looks similar to this one, but doesn't say portable beneath the space bar) and I can't seem to remove these. I can see where they hook in, but can't figure out how they come off. There doesn't seem to be any yield, no matter which way I push the cover. Did quite a few Google searches and found nothing, but your videos kept coming up. I was wondering if you have any ideas? I don't want to force them too much, but would love to replace the ribbon.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Hmm, I actually don't have this machine in my collection any longer. I'd recommend seeing Ted Munk's blog and perhaps emailing him to see if he has any service manuals that cover disassembly. He reprints old typewriter service manuals. typewriterrepairbible.com/ munk.org/typecast/about/

[@MikeCharbonneau]

@@Joe_VanCleave Thanks for the info!

[@iceseic]

Making 3D model of this, i'm clueless when it comes to typewriter.

[@dariel7001]

Beautiful machine

[@tpaynemm]

Hook'em! :) Great review. I have a 1935 model - it has a longer carriage return arm and seems to be intended to be used off its base, unlike yours. Refinements.

[@shirleyoregan]

Any idea where the carriage lock is on these? My platen moves easily to the left and right with the carriage release, but will not move to the left when keys / space bar is pressed. All keys reach the platen easily.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Platen lock is on the left side of the carriage. However, if you can move he carriage with the release, then it’s probably not the lock. I suspect the drawband and/or spring motor aren’t working. When you move the carriage to the right, you should feel tension from the spring motor.

[@kennygk79]

Joe, I have a 1930 as well. The ribbon should go behind the outter tri-angle part of ribbon vibrator; Showing the tri-angle, then over the inner 1/2 of the tri-angle side, then behind both middle posts. Repeat for exit side. Also be careful setting the typewriter on it's back and flat down without babying the carriage slam movement-that spacebar's escapement gear action WILL SURPRISE YOU if it moves.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Thanks, Ken.

[@johnnydough8924]

Madison Avenue is in Manhattan,New York.

[@kristykohn1]

Hello, I missed the opportunity for you to answer a question about my 1938 underwood portable 4 bank, yesterday on the live chat. I had a broken ribbon carrier vibrator piece and need help how to put the new one in. I am having issue accessing how it goes back in and stays. The broken one was loose with a broken hugger piece and just came right out. I can't get the carriage off or the hammer bridge panel piece to see what I'm doing. I hope I was discriptive enough. Thank you for any suggestions. Love your videos.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I’m not sure which piece you’re referring to, but hopefully my 1930 version is close enough in design. Maybe also try asking the Facebook Antique Typewriter Maintenance Group.

[@kristykohn1]

@@Joe_VanCleave thank you. The piece is what the ribbon feeds through and moves up and down when typing so the hammer hits the ribbon. It's shaped like a y with a knob on the bottom. Not sure how to put it back. Can't seem to get in-between the platen and the plate with the hammers attached to put in the new piece.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I’ve never had to replace this piece, but it looks like the carriage would have to come off. You may want to check out Duane Jensen’s channel to see if he’s covered this. Otherwise it may be best to have it looked at by a professional.

[@kristykohn1]

@@Joe_VanCleave thank you so much. I will check it out.

[@JoeJason100]

Question: I have a Underwood Portable much like this, the problem I am having is that the carriage does move as each key is stuck, causing letters to type over each other. Is there some way that I might be able to fix this myself, or does anyone know where I can find more information/directions on how to have this fixed? Everything else seems to work fine. Very nice video by the way Joe.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Is the carriage lock on? Can you press the carriage release lever and easily move the carriage left and right? Does the carriage move with the space bar?

[@JoeJason100]

@@Joe_VanCleave I am not sure, where do I find the carriage lock? and how does it switch on and off? Yes, the carriage release lever easily moves the carriage left and right, and No, the carriage does not move with the space bar. In fact it does look like the space does much of anything (even from underneath).

[@CDBelacho]

Hi there, how does the carriage lock work for underwood universal?

[@edwinagovindsamy5177]

Hi Joe. I have an Underwood: Standard Portable but the platen doesn't seem to want to turn. The knob turns but not the roller. I don't have any experience with typewriters and was hoping you could help!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Did it work at one time but suddenly stopped, or did you just get it and it hasn't worked at all? If the latter, do the type bars move easily when you type? Is there evidence the machine needs a good degreasing and cleaning? The platen could be seized up, indicating it needs cleaning and servicing.

[@edwinagovindsamy5177]

Thanks so much for getting back to me Joe. I recently bought it, the seller said it was working and stopped... they couldn't figure out what went wrong so I bought it for a discounted price hoping I could find someone who could help. The type bars do move easily. Not sure what signs of servicing are. What should I look for?

[@adrienjoinette8913]

Awesome video, I have a friend who recently bought a 225 Underwood and there having trouble finding a ribbon for the machine, any ideas where I can find one ?

[@colinmoore5991]

eBay. There are literally thousands of ribbons on eBay.

[@falcieridesigns]

I have an Underwood portable from 1935. The ribbon isn't turning when you type. We've isolated the problem down to the cogs underneath that drive the ribbon spools are not engaging with the shaft that runs underneath. There is a lever on the right which moves that shaft but it won't remain engaged so the ribbon drive works. Any thoughts? TIA.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

If operating properly, when the ribbon comes near to the end, the eyelet should push the forked guide, causing that drive shaft underneath to pivot and start driving the other side. Make sure the ribbon is properly threaded from the spools, through each forked guide, through the ribbon vibrator then onto the other forked guide and spool. I would start by degreasing and cleaning the spool drive shafts and any mechanical pivot points doing with the ribbon reverse system. Make sure both spool shafts can turn freely when they're set to be the take-up spool (i.e. in one direction, one spool is the driven shaft with the cog teeth engaging the pawl that drives the spool, while the other spool freewheels as the take-up spool. Switching the reversing lever reverses the state of both spools). If you remove the ribbon from the machine, does one spool shaft turn as you type? Then flip the reverse lever, does the other spool shaft turn? If you spin that ribbon reverse lever, it should drive the take up spool manually.

[@falcieridesigns]

@@Joe_VanCleave Many thanks for this Joe. I think we have to do a bit of trial and error on this. The drive for the ribbon spools seems to slip into neutral when you type so the cogs aren't engaged and the ribbon just doesn't turn. I think we need to do some manual incremental adjustments as you described on your video. It also looks like we bought the wrong ribbon replacement back when we didn't understand what was involved so there is no auto reverse grommet but I don't think that is why the drive isn't engaging. The lever on the right seems a bit floppy.

[@lightexposure]

I didn't catch how much you paid for it. I feel that typewriters are very overpriced at antique malls in my region of Washington state. Thanks for the video.

[@jeffwulfekuhl2098]

I”d like to know what you paid as well.

[@captainron8231]

I've seen your projects and crafts... Brass fetish I believe.. Great videos.. Your neighbor down the road in Truth or Consequences.. A.T.B.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Good to hear from you! Yes, brass is easy to work by hand, and looks great. And can be soldered together.

[@shirleyoregan]

Any idea where the carriage lock is on these? My platen moves easily to the left and right with the carriage release, but will not move to the left when keys / space bar is pressed. All keys reach the platen easily.

[@Bout_TreeFiddy]

A bracket, Left of carriage. It lifts into place with your finger. Of it's stiff, you may have to press it down.