What a classic set of frustrating experiences. I like to "relax" at my typewriter workbench, but often end up swearing a blue streak when I encounter things like this.
You can be just like Quine now. According to the story, he had a '20s Remington with special symbols but no question mark, and explained that "I deal in certainties."
What a post! Thanks for the laugh; I have a Remington Junior that is identical to yours, but because Junior is actually written on the machine, I knew what I was in for from the start. I suspected as much when you wrote that the typewriter had been cannibalized for parts; those would have been hard to take off and still leave it looking so nice!
Love the quote from Richard about dealing in certainties - you will need to be very sure of your facts when writing with this one: no questions allowed!
I envy you your success in fixing this up; I have been through the wailing and weeping and gnashing of teeth, but with my ineptitude I've got nothing to show for it but a large Voss-ian paperweight. Sigh.
I'm honestly sorry to hear you can't get your Voss working. I believe you're in Switzerland, so I can't offer you any help in person, unfortunately. I have had a few machines arrive smashed in the box, so I have my paperweights sitting around as well!!
Regarding the luxuries of a backspace key and such, the joke is on us, isn't it? I have a Remington Scout, and they economized production by leaving out all those features you mentioned and more. I added the back-space mechanism from a Remette (which had a broken Z-typebar) and that turned it into a properly civilized machine. It fits nicely into the hard saddlebag of my motorcycle.
My Oliver continues to be a work in progress. But, as Richard has suggested, it can be temporarily relaxing to tinker at the workbench. When the air gets too blue, it's time to cover it up and walk away for a while, though.
What a classic set of frustrating experiences. I like to "relax" at my typewriter workbench, but often end up swearing a blue streak when I encounter things like this.
ReplyDeleteYou can be just like Quine now. According to the story, he had a '20s Remington with special symbols but no question mark, and explained that "I deal in certainties."
.. Oh, forgot to mention, Adolf Gruenbaum on our main campus still uses his IBM selectric, no email. I've gotten real type written letters from him!
DeleteThanks for the reference on Quine. That does indeed sound like him!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a post! Thanks for the laugh; I have a Remington Junior that is identical to yours, but because Junior is actually written on the machine, I knew what I was in for from the start. I suspected as much when you wrote that the typewriter had been cannibalized for parts; those would have been hard to take off and still leave it looking so nice!
ReplyDeleteLove the quote from Richard about dealing in certainties - you will need to be very sure of your facts when writing with this one: no questions allowed!
I envy you your success in fixing this up; I have been through the wailing and weeping and gnashing of teeth, but with my ineptitude I've got nothing to show for it but a large Voss-ian paperweight. Sigh.
I'm honestly sorry to hear you can't get your Voss working. I believe you're in Switzerland, so I can't offer you any help in person, unfortunately. I have had a few machines arrive smashed in the box, so I have my paperweights sitting around as well!!
DeleteMartin, well done for sharing the struggle. It is something that binds us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rob!
DeleteRegarding the luxuries of a backspace key and such, the joke is on us, isn't it? I have a Remington Scout, and they economized production by leaving out all those features you mentioned and more. I added the back-space mechanism from a Remette (which had a broken Z-typebar) and that turned it into a properly civilized machine. It fits nicely into the hard saddlebag of my motorcycle.
ReplyDeleteMy Oliver continues to be a work in progress. But, as Richard has suggested, it can be temporarily relaxing to tinker at the workbench. When the air gets too blue, it's time to cover it up and walk away for a while, though.
Hmmm, I have an extra Remette and a box style rem 5 that's never worked right. Maybe I'll try what you did.
Delete