Ivory Groma Modell N
I drove 100km one-way to pick this machine. Lady who owned her did not want to send her so she turned down many potential buyers who could not come in person, even though they were offering very good money.
Well, that’s good for the machine - shipment is always tricky with these precision mechanisms. It is not guys with white gloves who handle packages these days - automated conveyor lines, packets dropping regularly from substantial heights… Nothing good for old, precision-made German mechanisms.
I already had Groma Modell T (with TAB) in black, most common color. I did not know that there were also ivory-white versions. This machine is model N so no TAB but otherwise it is exactly the same machine.
Nothing was wrong with the machine apart from it being very dirty and filled with dust. Traces of excessive oiling which accumulated layers of sticky dust inside the mechanism. Body shell keeping screws were sitting so hard that I had hard time to remove them but apart from destroying two screwdrivers the screws came out undamaged.
Similar to some Olympia machines Groma typewriters also use spacers on platen rod. Keep en eye on them when you remove the platen - they like to fall down into the mechanism.
Ribbon cover - the part that is so beautifully formed in curved line along sides of the machine - is made of Bakelite. Bakelite is in itself black so this machine has it painted ivory but the paint is delicate and in places where screw heads rub against the shell the paint easily chirps.
Machine naked and ready for cleaning and inspection.
Removing the ribbon cover shell required unscrewing space bar. Tiny screws, easy to drop and lose.
Removing the platen is a bit tricky: one needs to remove paper rest and correction table first, otherwise it is too little space to pull out the platen.
Paper feed rollers, apart from being dirty, are in good shape. No flat spots, rubber is still gripy and elastic. I clean it with isopropanol.
The platen is in very good shape - still elastic and grippy. It was a bit deformed due to heavy use for many years so I sand it smooth, to remove unevenness and external layer of oxidized rubber. Good as new.
Line advance mechanism is a bit tricky on these Groma machines. My other Modell T was missing coupling link between the arm and the ratchet. With help of FB group I manufactured a replacement link but I remember it to be a chore. On his machine all is working as it should so keep the mechanism in one piece even after removing the platen. Just keep the left platen knob in place - it holds all parts in place. Otherwise they will drop and just hang on their springs.
Platen clutch pops out of the tube. A smudge of oil dispensed on rollers will bring it back to smooth operation.
The machine got proper de-dusting and chemical flush, to remove all dirt and dried oil. Lots of compressed air. Body panels cleaned and waxed - avoiding areas with stickers! They are very susceptible to damage.
I started putting all parts back together. All pretty standard, just spacer rings require a bit of fumbling to hold them in place before platen rod slides in place.
Limiting screw for platen clutch decoupling is the last step in reinstalling the platen. It is a tiny screw and easy to miss!
Threading the ribbon and the machine is back in operation. Nice and clean!
Groma machines from just after the War are among most beautiful typewriters. Name just Kollibri or Gromina! Models N and T are in the same range - just look at these lines, these curves! It is not only Italians who take care of such details - East Germans where equally sensitive!
These machines type like a charm. I have no complaints about anything. Even glass-ringed keys, later substituted by plastic, ergonomically formed key-tops, are not causing any strain when one types extensively on Groma N or Groma T typewriter. Pure joy, very light action, very responsive!
Original watermarks are preserved in good condition.
And these curves… eye candy for anyone who can appreciate industrial design at its best.
Ribbon cover lines are more visible on this ivory machine. Just to compare I took out my other Groma T to have them side by side.
I’m considering switching covers between them, to have both of them double-colored. That would make the curvature even more pronounced, especially on the black machine. But for now I enjoy them as they were originally assembled.