1939 Erika 5


I regrettably didn’t take as many photos of this machine as I wanted to.  This machine was another repair, and it needed some escapement tuning and a bell tuning.  The bell was easy, the skipping escapement was not.  This machine doesn’t have a star wheel like most other typewriters, instead it has two teethed pieces that move in and out of alignment with the carriage rack, one of which is on a small compression spring that regulates spacing.  This makes the machine pretty sensitive.



 

The escapement was eventually fixed by reforming a section of the spacebar linkage over a torch, the same with the letter spacing leaver.  The rest was polishing.  That’s that, a very short story for a very interesting machine.  Wish I had more time with it!  I do want to note the level key top action, which does not cause the keys to shift forward or back more than a fraction of a millimeter.  Very remarkable!  The Coronas tend to lock up if you don’t let the keys travel a few millimeters forward.  These kept the keys level and straight, a joy to type on.   Got up to 107WPM with no skipping!!

 

Bringing it back, also had to replace the handle on the case, used a leather strap and some brass rivets.



Comments

  1. Richard PApril 17, 2019 at 7:55 AM

    107 wpm! Wow. These are very fine typewriters.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LxAugust 7, 2019 at 9:09 AM

    For me Eika's are the fastest machines I can type on. (Not sure if I can do 107 wpm, though) I just ordered a 1939 Erika 5 but reading your statement how delicate/sensitive these machines are, I truly hope it arrives in good condition from the other side of the country and no case. :S

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lucas DulAugust 24, 2019 at 5:15 PM

      Any machine could suffer disasterous effects from shipping!! The entire carriage generally rides on a single pawl, so any shock is prone to sheering it clean in half. Having this issue on a gorgous green Royal A model. Good luck with the Erika! The german compression style escapements seem (to me at least) to wear out leaving much greater space between parts, hence the sensitivity.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

the Cyberdeck

Image
I can't be the only one to find myself lost in the internet rabbit holes in an age such as ours.  Sometimes it's an uninspiring frustration, and other times you find yourself on the path to discovering something truly cool.  A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a group of unique creators making what they called "cyberdecks."  The concept was a dystopian-esque or retro-futuristic portable computer, in part inspired by the cyberpunk movement, Blade Runner, and Fallout, though there are plenty of other sci-fi extravaganzas that employ similar devices.  The cool thing about cyberdecks is that they work, and there is no right way to create one.  There come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some in the traditional clamshell style, and others that their own entirely new concept. I had toyed around with the idea of creating a small portable computer, and decided I would give it a shot.  I've always been a fan of the aesthetic of old computers, so I decided to try and b...
Read more

The “Charming?” Yet awful Typecast Typewriter (updated)

Image
A couple of years ago, the Michaels craft store began to sell a machine made by “We Are Memory Keepers.”  It is the Typecast Typewriter, and it costs about $170. Let me cut to the chase: this machine is awful.  The construction is flimsy and cheap, the action is stiff, and the alignment is the worst ever.  So if you wanna buy it, click below!!! https://www.michaels.com/we-r-memory-keepers-typecast-typewriter-mint/10507749.html I am not alone in my views, as many other enthusiasts share my stance.  This machine gives the typewriter a bad reputation among many people, especially craft people, who enjoy bearing the name “key chopper” for cutting the keys off of machines a hundred years old just to make a piece of jewelry.  When they are done, the rest of the machine is thrown away.  I really truly despise the lack of respect given to these historical artifacts, and the Typecast only seems to mock them, by perpetuating the inaccurate stere...
Read more

A Comprehensive History of the Royal Model P

Image
nothing like medium format film and typewriters  A number of years ago, I was perusing the Internet and looking at old typewriters.  I had been writing fiction for a while and was enjoying it a lot, and wanted to look into typewriters as I had seen one a couple days ago at a local antique shop.  I stumbled across a blog titled "Machines of Loving Grace," and saw two Royal Model Ps.  One in duotone red, and the other in duotone green.  I remembered from that moment on I knew I had to get my hands on one of them.  I'll skip all the lame details, because that isn't what I want to spend time talking about.  I want to discuss the history of the machine, and it's impact on the typewriter industry as a whole.  There are too few articles on the Internet, too few resources on typewriters, and I among many others wish to expand the available amount of knowledge.  So I'll present to you, a project a long time in the making, to the best of...
Read more