Bulbous typewriter - Remington Quiet-Riter
This fellow came from a good home - was certainly been cared for and used not too heavily. It was also lucky to be serviced by a proper mechanic - all screws are intact, no butchered slots and all alignment is spot-on. Moreover - it has a brand new platen! The rubber is fresh and springy, typing is silent and pleasant.
The only problem was dust and molded ribbon. Certainly the machine was put back into its case and forgotten for many years, stored in room temperature in a wardrobe, I suppose, not on cold attic. Good for her! No rust, no solidified grease, just dust.
Another minor issue was variable line spacing mechanism not working.
To keep her in tip-top shape I decided to transplant clean and fresh ribbon winding mechanism from a younger Quiet-Riter 11 which is my donor machine.
Removing ribbon winding mechanism is easy, only on left side one needs to unscrew pull-rod for backspacing. On younger machine this rod is formed to pass under but on older version it is just straight and is in the way. I marked amount of thread to be visible before unscrewing - for easier calibration afterwards.
Old spools were covered with ribbon rests and metal coating was damaged.
While at it I renewed type-arm rest. With fresh rubber it will be even quieter when slugs hit home position.
All body panels got proper cleaning and drying. Sound-proofing is in perfect shape and fresh so I leave it as is.
Mechanism dusted off, body panels clean - assembling back all pieces.
Serial number is found close to right ribbon spool, on the frame.
To remove the platen on newer Riter one just unscrews both knobs by twisting them, they screw out with partial axle on both sides and the platen can be lifted.
Not here. This older model still carries the old style construction, with platen axle being a full-length rod. But there is a twist: line-spacing ratchet de-coupling mechanism is operated by a separate rod which needs to be removed first, before the axle can be removed from the right side.
At least that’s how I done it. I wanted to check variable line spacing mechanism anyway.
The mechanism is simple: three toothed surfaces of the platen clutch engage with toothed band on the inside of platen’s left metal collar. Clutch engaged.
To disengage one presses-in left platen knob which pushes a short rod gliding inside platen axle which, in turn, pushes the clutch away from toothed surface. Clutch disengaged, line spacing becomes variable and permanently changed.
To assemble back the platen I inserted the axle from the right. Empty axle emerges from the left.
Insert the short rod into its channel…
… and rotate the axle by 90 degrees, to see surface for landing knob’s set screw.
This part is important, so that we don’t press the rod with set screw because it will block clutch mechanism. Which was exactly why it was not working when I got the machine.
With all assembled back together the machine was ready for work.
I much prefer this earlier version, with rounded, bulbous ribbon cover.
Newer versions have the logo made from plastic, here it is brushed metal. Nice detail.
Left side of the carriage houses most controls: carriage release, variable spacing with clutch release (platen knob) and without clutch release (thus non-permanent spacing alteration).
Three sets of line spacing: single, one & half and double line.
Being a 50-ties child the machine has a “car hood” instead of ribbon cover. Bi-chrome selector for red, blue and stencils on the right. Ribbon reverse lever on the left.
Speaking of cars and 50-ties, I had to compare this Remington with another bulbous machine from that era: Underwood.
Not as radical as Underwood, Remington is more toned down yet has a slightly bigger footprint.
Mugshots reveal that it is also a bit higher.
Both are handsome machines, Remington being less extravagant I suppose.
They were big competitors back in the day. Shouting on each other with wide-open hoods!
Typing on this Remington is very satisfying. The action is smooth and soft but not spongy. It is a silent machine. Basket-shift, ergonomic key-tops, well spaced keyboard - suites me very well.
Typing action reminds me one of another bulbous machine from that period - Hermes 3000. I agree with Ted Munk on that: typing out on this Remington is very comforting.
Hermes is, however, even bigger and wider!
“Bulbousness” in its best, with Hermes leading in sophistication of shape.
Remington not as extravagant or sophisticated but still very robust and comfortable tool for serious writing. And not an eyesore either!