I'm surprised you didn't cover typefaces, which is one of the most important things to look for in a typewriter (and which every seller seems to neglect showing a photo of in online auctions). If you look at the middle of the type slug between the lowercase and uppercase letter, there will be a very tiny slug code telling you what typeface is in the typewriter. Here are the ones I have owned and documented: S s = Script S 6 = Pica S 7 = Elite S TP = Techno Pica S TE = Techno Elite S DP = Director Pica S DE = Director Elite S PP = Petit Pica S NO = Epoca (on late 60's and early 70's models only) **********************************************************
TypewriterJustice you forgot Jack Kerouac. His Hermes 3000 sold at auction for @ $22,500.00. He wrote "On the Road" on it. It sold for way more than anticipated.
@@TypewriterJustice I know, right?? I didn’t see how old the vid was until after I posted my comment. Silly me! LOVE your videos though! I know I am late to the party but I hope you will continue to create content in this space🙏🏻
oh, wow- i spontaneously found one (knowing literally nothing about typewriters other than the fact they're old & um.. words) in great condition at an antique store for 75 usd in late october of this year (2019) & i feel extremely lucky lol
Finally I found my Hermes 3k. Woohoo! I was looking for a good one for almost a year now. Today I bought one on eBay that looks almost mint on pictures. It hast 10 cpi, German keyboard (which I need) Excited to receive it hopefully next week. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will arrive without any damages.
Aleksander Karłowski it’s because the lowercase L is used instead, and it would be redundantly wasting a key position where you could instead have something more useful - the vast majority of typewriters ever made leave it off. (this also applies for the ! symbol, since you can make it by typing a period then putting an apostrophe above it)
TypewriterJustice really? what does it say about your typewriter, then, if it does have the '1' & '!' keys? does it indicate anything about the age or anything like that?
I wish I'd seen this video before I got my Hermes 3000. It's in beautiful cosmetic condition. But after I realized how to unlock the carriage, the string that was hanging out seems to be the carriage strap/string. There are no typewriter repair shops here, so I'm going to have to figure out how to replace that. Without it, of course, it's a lovely desk ornament. So disappointed. I won't give up on it though.
+Linda Lee Harper Never fear! Replacing a drawstring isn't the hardest thing on earth to do - with the proper materials & a little bit of ingenuity (and perhaps a whole lot of patience) you should be able to get it up and running. Now, that being said, the Hermes 3k is by no means the easiest typewriter to just dive into...there's a lot of ways to have things go wrong rather quickly, and just one way for most everything to go right. If you haven't already attempted the repair...DON'T!! I'll make a video either tonight or tomorrow showing how it's done (really, it's not a hard repair if you know how to go about it, but some of the steps are rather counter-intuitive & will scare the living bejeebus out of you right up until you finally get it all back together & have one of those "IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIIIIVE! IT'S AAAALLLIVVVVE!!!" sort of moments when it all works. I love those moments) In the meantime, keep your chin up & check my channel over the next day or so - help is coming!
+TypewriterJustice I will be keeping my eye on RUclips just for you! Yes, you are absolutely right...this machine is very intimidating. But to me, they all are. The vendor who shipped it did NOT secure the carriage like you suggest in your video. The carriage was locked and the release hook seemed jammed. I suggested that he watch it. Not sure he appreciated my advice. Ha.
I recently found a Hermes 3000, and it's been reduced because the keys don't reach to the roller- none of them. They are all about a 1/2 inch away. I am new to typewriters but mechanically inclined, so I am guessing this is a simple fix where the roller/bar needs to be raised or released from some type of compression? Could you give me some advice, as I am really interested in buying. Otherwise it seems to be in excellent condition!
Could you upload a Buying tips and "general overview" video about the IBM Selectric(s)? I am looking for one, not only for my collection, but mainly to work with on a regular basis. I don't really have a lot of information about the variants, models and their differences. What's the most reliable and "highest quality" version, which one offers the best typing experience? I know that the later Selectric II & III offered a correction feature, but for me personally, the overall quality and reliability of a machine is much more important.
+Olumin Alas, I haven't often touched a Selectric since my typing class in high school, years and years ago :) They are incredibly complicated machines with very, very fine tolerances and a much steeper learning curve to service them than manual typewriters; your best bet for a solid working machine will be to check with the typewriter repair shops in your area and find someone who was factory trained that still sells them(I know of at least three shops in the US that work on them, so surely there are more). It'll cost a bit more, but it will be very well worth it! My personal favorite is the Selectric ll, but that's mostly just nostalgia - all three versions are amazing machines. Finicky, but amazing.
Hi, nice video. Very good tips that weren't suggested in articles I've been reading. I was just wondering if you would mind answering a few questions I have? I want to get a typewriter. I have for years, ever since my mom told me how great they were. The problem is, I have no idea where to begin. I want it for writing, not just to sit on a table for displaying, so it needs to work (I would have no idea how to repair one). Do you have any more suggestions for a first time buyer? I found an Underwood on ebay that I can afford, but I'd hate to buy it only to find out it doesn't work (the seller said it should, but I've realized through research that most sellers don't know what to look for in a decent typewriter any more than I do). Any amount of help would be great, and sorry if this comment is a little forward.
first suggestion would be to buy locally if possible - craigslist & a little patience will go a long way; you should also check the map to see if there are any typewriter repair ships near you - they might be masquerading as office supply shops, but the old guy working there is going to be your best friend. If eBay is your offered option, I would suggest only bidding on machines which either have a type-sample pictured, or which the seller specifically states that the machine is tested & functional - and there aren't many of either! A lot of factors go into making a typewriter work smoothly, and most sellers on eBay barely even know how to load a sheet of paper, let alone properly evaluate a machines functionality. If a machine is clean, it will perform better - pictures can help here, as any machine that's dirty on the outside is likely dirty on the inside too. Which machine should you choose? well, the Hermes 3k is excellent, as is the Olympia SM3, Royal Quiet Deluxe, the Remington QuietRiter, and the Smith-Corona Sterling or Silent. The Sterling or Silent would likely make the best 1st typer as they are rather common(which means cheap!), extremely durable, and have an excellent typing feel - also, the rubber they used on them seems to have stood the test of time much better than most brands, a serious consideration on a working machine. Whichever machine you choose, have your seller Google the phrase 'a typewriter is not a bowling ball' to find an essay by John Lewis on properly shipping a typer; often shipping is not kind to typewriters. I hope this helps! feel free to message me if you'd like more specific advice.
Hey! Nice voice. What is that button with the 2 opposite arrows? Each type I type with mine, I have to push that button to carry on. It's pretty annoying
that's the margin release key; it should only be used when you need to exceed your current margin settings, so you might want to check where yours are positioned. Check out my other H3k vid at ruclips.net/video/A_OG6qaGjk8/видео.html to see how this is done. If you don't have an owners manual for yours, I highly suggest you download the pdf of it at site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html and give it a good eyeball. If you still seem to be having trouble with it, you can find a repair shop at site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html - the Hermes 3000 is not a very friendly machine for beginners to attempt their own repairs, so finding a shop within driving distance would be ideal(shipping them is a nightmare). Best of luck!
Hello! I'm looking to buy a Hermes 3000 in the Future, but i can't seem to find a good one since i live in the PH. I'm choosing whether to Buy the Curvy Model or the Boxy Model. Any Ideas? Thanks in Advance.
MorganO First off, prices on them have gone up quite a bit since i made this video; lately if you can find a decent machine for under $175-200USD then it’s a pretty good deal. Regarding the difference between models, the METAL boxy version is every bit as good a machine as the curvy version...the PLASTIC one is a piece of junk :)
Thanks for this video. Just to be clear, the first two years of production, '58 & '59, with out the holes for the case, are more desirable or less desirable? I found a '59 on Craigslist that might be worthing checking out. Thanks for your time!
desire is a difficult thing to quantify…but the latch mechanism on the second generation case/lid (WITH holes on the front of the machine) is more reliable, but some people prefer the clean appearance of the machine WITHOUT holes that the first generation case/lid affords. different strokes for different folks! personally, i prefer the second gen deluxe case - it’s much more livable than most :)
@@TypewriterJustice I knew the word choice of "desirable" was a mistake as soon as I started typing it. Thanks for seeing past my laziness. Perfect explanation to my question. Cheers!
Hello! I recently bought a typewriter and discovered your channel, and though it wasn't a Hermes 3000, I have been looking into getting one in the future. I did have a question for you though: do you know if there's any significant difference between the one you have here, where the logo just says "Hermes 3000" and other machines where right underneath that it says "Made In Switzerland?" I've seen both floating around and was just wondering if there was any real difference in quality or anything like that between the two.
BooksAndStuff - so far as i know, the curvy model 3000's were all made in Switzerland. Mechanically they are are all pretty much identical except for the very last iteration (plastic-bodied boxy one) which had significant design changes & was an inferior machine(i think a lot of that iteration were made in Brazil)
@@TypewriterJustice I was hoping the newer boxy ones were mechanically the same, it would help in my search. But if they are not, I'll stick to looking for a curvy one.
I have a Hermes 3000 and was wondering if you could tell me where or how to find the serial number. All I have found is US patent and GR BRIT patent on back of machine. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you for your time sir.
pull off the ribbon cover (lid with the Hermes 3000 logo) and you will find it inside on the chassis, upper left side just in front of the ribbon spool. you can determine the year by looking it up at typewriterdatabase.com
Hello, do you have any idea of how to adjust the platen on the 3000? I'm getting some fade on the lower portion of letters. It probably is the age of the platen, but then again, this one looks pretty good. Is there a vertical adjustment I'm missing somewhere?
losing the lower portion of your letters is normally a sign of type being out of alignment, though sometimes it can also be a sign that the shift rails & shift travel stops on each side of the segment simply need cleaning. Something else to consider is that your machine might have had its type adjusted in the wrong method, where the caps & caps lock are set to match the lowercase, when it should be the other way around; often simply raising the shift stops a bit & realigning the type will take care of it. The problem can also often be exaggerated by a hardened platen, which almost all Hermes suffer from(unless you're lucky enough to have one that's been recovered - if not, contact JJ Short & Associates for pricing & info on getting yours recovered; they do excellent work, and are reasonably priced (and they're one of the few companies in the world that still recover platens...just saying). All in all, it's not a huge problem to fix - be patient, observe your machine closely, and if you are in doubt of what you're doing...don't do it! Contact a local repairman instead. If you're ever near Dallas, drop me a message & I can fix it for you, no matter what.
Thank you for the reply! I wish there was a repair guide of sorts for these machines. I've been able to make some progress, but I know I'm missing a few basics. I know I've made more progress than the $200 "repair" for which I paid! My platen is fairly decent, it seems to be just an alignment issue. He actually suggested I use three sheets of paper while typing. Some people you pay just to never see again... that would be one of those instances. Just shoddy work and no results.
Ian Scott Osborne On machines with hardened platens, I normally use 2 sheets of paper - but this is for mechanical reasons. The extra sheet of paper helps to soften the impact of the typeslugs on the platen, which otherwise can lead to loosened typeslugs, cracked typebars, and a chewed up platen. Now, that said, for $200 i would expect my repair guy to tell me he had the platen recovered with fresh rubber, not that i need to double up my paper :) This is one of the largest reasons I became my own repair guy!!
It depends on the task & situation. For coffee shop/bar writing I normally bring my Lettera 32, but for most home writing tasks I rotate between my Erika 5T, my Torpedo 18b Deluxe, and my Hermes 3000...all of which is subject to change if I happen to have a crush on some new fling, which given the rather hefty number of typewriters flowing through my house & across my bench it's bound to happen...but I always seen the come back to my Hermes 3000(which my particular one is a wonderful beast of a thing, tuned & tweaked & somewhat customized)
+TypewriterJustice Cool, yeah make another:) They are nice and relaxing to watch. Feel lucky about the hermes media 3 I have. Found it in a thrift shop and gave 200 norwegian kroners for it, which is about 18-20 bucks. And I bough a kolibri yesterday in very good shape. Nice machines.. Nowadays everything is plastic. Yuck...
Very helpful. THANK YOU! By the way, do you happen to have an owners manual for the Hermes Rocket? I bought one in very good condition last year in South Australia but no manual :-(
Hi Sir, Can you tell me the difference between this and the media 3 ? I am picking up a media 3 tomorrow (kinda got excited about typewriters and rushed into a purchase lol.)
thanks for the reply. turns out the media 3 is pretty beat up. gonna try return it. but I found a local guy who's been repairing typewriters for 40 years who sells them. gonna go check those out.
I'm surprised you didn't cover typefaces, which is one of the most important things to look for in a typewriter (and which every seller seems to neglect showing a photo of in online auctions).
If you look at the middle of the type slug between the lowercase and uppercase letter, there will be a very tiny slug code telling you what typeface is in the typewriter.
Here are the ones I have owned and documented:
S s = Script
S 6 = Pica
S 7 = Elite
S TP = Techno Pica
S TE = Techno Elite
S DP = Director Pica
S DE = Director Elite
S PP = Petit Pica
S NO = Epoca (on late 60's and early 70's models only)
**********************************************************
@@JB-uv4hm Don't be so hard on yourself.
"$80-$100 is about an average price for one of these right now". Man, I'd love to find one for less than $400 that isn't broken somehow.
you and me both, friend
2014 "... eighty to a hundred and twenty-five..." Good grief! Have you checked on ebay lately? [2018] Some ""People"" are asking a THOUSAND DOLLARS!
av8bvma513 - HA!! i know, right? it's nuts. i blame tom hanks, sylvia plath, sam shepard, and larry mcmurtry, in that order.
TypewriterJustice you forgot Jack Kerouac. His Hermes 3000 sold at auction for @ $22,500.00. He wrote "On the Road" on it. It sold for way more than anticipated.
stephen fry has a hermes 3000 too, according to the internet.
@@joe.miller Google it. I am correct. I love my Hermes 3000. I have two. They are beautiful.
@@ladypearl9134 One standard one script i presume?
80 to 125? What planet are you living on? These are STARTING at $500!
inflation’s a bitch LOL (seriously, though - this video is seven years old, and those prices were accurate at the time)
@@TypewriterJustice I know, right?? I didn’t see how old the vid was until after I posted my comment. Silly me! LOVE your videos though! I know I am late to the party but I hope you will continue to create content in this space🙏🏻
Do you sell this typewriter? I am looking
The prices for these have sky rocketed since this video was done. It’s March 2019 and I got stupid lucky to find one for $85 in SOCAL.
So hard to find em for under 450 now!
I'm looking at one here in Oz for $795!. That's $540USD!!!
oh, wow- i spontaneously found one (knowing literally nothing about typewriters other than the fact they're old & um.. words) in great condition at an antique store for 75 usd in late october of this year (2019) & i feel extremely lucky lol
@@memereview9803 Fantastic find!
where were you able to find it for $85?
Just purchased one for $190.00 I believe it's going to be my best purchase ever! Thanks for the video tutorial!
I just found one in near mint condition off of Craigslist for $25!!!
I can’t deal with so much shaking on your footage 😵🥴😑
Bought one and damn it, it's all messed up. :(
Nat Brown that sucks, sorry mate
Finally I found my Hermes 3k. Woohoo!
I was looking for a good one for almost a year now. Today I bought one on eBay that looks almost mint on pictures. It hast 10 cpi, German keyboard (which I need)
Excited to receive it hopefully next week. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will arrive without any damages.
Can someone please explain to me, why so many of the typewriters reviewed in his videos are missing the "number 1" key?
Aleksander Karłowski it’s because the lowercase L is used instead, and it would be redundantly wasting a key position where you could instead have something more useful - the vast majority of typewriters ever made leave it off. (this also applies for the ! symbol, since you can make it by typing a period then putting an apostrophe above it)
TypewriterJustice
really? what does it say about your typewriter, then, if it does have the '1' & '!' keys? does it indicate anything about the age or anything like that?
I wish I'd seen this video before I got my Hermes 3000. It's in beautiful cosmetic condition. But after I realized how to unlock the carriage, the string that was hanging out seems to be the carriage strap/string. There are no typewriter repair shops here, so I'm going to have to figure out how to replace that. Without it, of course, it's a lovely desk ornament. So disappointed. I won't give up on it though.
+Linda Lee Harper Never fear! Replacing a drawstring isn't the hardest thing on earth to do - with the proper materials & a little bit of ingenuity (and perhaps a whole lot of patience) you should be able to get it up and running. Now, that being said, the Hermes 3k is by no means the easiest typewriter to just dive into...there's a lot of ways to have things go wrong rather quickly, and just one way for most everything to go right. If you haven't already attempted the repair...DON'T!! I'll make a video either tonight or tomorrow showing how it's done (really, it's not a hard repair if you know how to go about it, but some of the steps are rather counter-intuitive & will scare the living bejeebus out of you right up until you finally get it all back together & have one of those "IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIIIIVE! IT'S AAAALLLIVVVVE!!!" sort of moments when it all works. I love those moments) In the meantime, keep your chin up & check my channel over the next day or so - help is coming!
+TypewriterJustice I will be keeping my eye on RUclips just for you! Yes, you are absolutely right...this machine is very intimidating. But to me, they all are. The vendor who shipped it did NOT secure the carriage like you suggest in your video. The carriage was locked and the release hook seemed jammed. I suggested that he watch it. Not sure he appreciated my advice. Ha.
@@TypewriterJustice I love this.
I recently found a Hermes 3000, and it's been reduced because the keys don't reach to the roller- none of them. They are all about a 1/2 inch away. I am new to typewriters but mechanically inclined, so I am guessing this is a simple fix where the roller/bar needs to be raised or released from some type of compression? Could you give me some advice, as I am really interested in buying. Otherwise it seems to be in excellent condition!
Where can you get a hermes 3000 with a good price because people want to much money
Beautiful machine. I used to own one; I gave it away, unfortunately..
Could you upload a Buying tips and "general overview" video about the IBM Selectric(s)? I am looking for one, not only for my collection, but mainly to work with on a regular basis. I don't really have a lot of information about the variants, models and their differences. What's the most reliable and "highest quality" version, which one offers the best typing experience?
I know that the later Selectric II & III offered a correction feature, but for me personally, the overall quality and reliability of a machine is much more important.
+Olumin Alas, I haven't often touched a Selectric since my typing class in high school, years and years ago :) They are incredibly complicated machines with very, very fine tolerances and a much steeper learning curve to service them than manual typewriters; your best bet for a solid working machine will be to check with the typewriter repair shops in your area and find someone who was factory trained that still sells them(I know of at least three shops in the US that work on them, so surely there are more). It'll cost a bit more, but it will be very well worth it! My personal favorite is the Selectric ll, but that's mostly just nostalgia - all three versions are amazing machines. Finicky, but amazing.
Hi, nice video. Very good tips that weren't suggested in articles I've been reading. I was just wondering if you would mind answering a few questions I have? I want to get a typewriter. I have for years, ever since my mom told me how great they were. The problem is, I have no idea where to begin. I want it for writing, not just to sit on a table for displaying, so it needs to work (I would have no idea how to repair one). Do you have any more suggestions for a first time buyer? I found an Underwood on ebay that I can afford, but I'd hate to buy it only to find out it doesn't work (the seller said it should, but I've realized through research that most sellers don't know what to look for in a decent typewriter any more than I do). Any amount of help would be great, and sorry if this comment is a little forward.
first suggestion would be to buy locally if possible - craigslist & a little patience will go a long way; you should also check the map to see if there are any typewriter repair ships near you - they might be masquerading as office supply shops, but the old guy working there is going to be your best friend. If eBay is your offered option, I would suggest only bidding on machines which either have a type-sample pictured, or which the seller specifically states that the machine is tested & functional - and there aren't many of either! A lot of factors go into making a typewriter work smoothly, and most sellers on eBay barely even know how to load a sheet of paper, let alone properly evaluate a machines functionality. If a machine is clean, it will perform better - pictures can help here, as any machine that's dirty on the outside is likely dirty on the inside too. Which machine should you choose? well, the Hermes 3k is excellent, as is the Olympia SM3, Royal Quiet Deluxe, the Remington QuietRiter, and the Smith-Corona Sterling or Silent. The Sterling or Silent would likely make the best 1st typer as they are rather common(which means cheap!), extremely durable, and have an excellent typing feel - also, the rubber they used on them seems to have stood the test of time much better than most brands, a serious consideration on a working machine. Whichever machine you choose, have your seller Google the phrase 'a typewriter is not a bowling ball' to find an essay by John Lewis on properly shipping a typer; often shipping is not kind to typewriters. I hope this helps! feel free to message me if you'd like more specific advice.
Hey!
Nice voice.
What is that button with the 2 opposite arrows?
Each type I type with mine, I have to push that button to carry on.
It's pretty annoying
that's the margin release key; it should only be used when you need to exceed your current margin settings, so you might want to check where yours are positioned. Check out my other H3k vid at ruclips.net/video/A_OG6qaGjk8/видео.html to see how this is done. If you don't have an owners manual for yours, I highly suggest you download the pdf of it at site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html and give it a good eyeball. If you still seem to be having trouble with it, you can find a repair shop at site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html - the Hermes 3000 is not a very friendly machine for beginners to attempt their own repairs, so finding a shop within driving distance would be ideal(shipping them is a nightmare). Best of luck!
Very helpful overview. Thank you!
Hello! I'm looking to buy a Hermes 3000 in the Future, but i can't seem to find a good one since i live in the PH. I'm choosing whether to Buy the Curvy Model or the Boxy Model. Any Ideas? Thanks in Advance.
MorganO First off, prices on them have gone up quite a bit since i made this video; lately if you can find a decent machine for under $175-200USD then it’s a pretty good deal. Regarding the difference between models, the METAL boxy version is every bit as good a machine as the curvy version...the PLASTIC one is a piece of junk :)
@@TypewriterJustice Thanks so Much. I'll try saving up to be able to Afford a Hermes 3000. Keep up the Good work!
Thanks for this video. Just to be clear, the first two years of production, '58 & '59, with out the holes for the case, are more desirable or less desirable? I found a '59 on Craigslist that might be worthing checking out. Thanks for your time!
desire is a difficult thing to quantify…but the latch mechanism on the second generation case/lid (WITH holes on the front of the machine) is more reliable, but some people prefer the clean appearance of the machine WITHOUT holes that the first generation case/lid affords. different strokes for different folks! personally, i prefer the second gen deluxe case - it’s much more livable than most :)
@@TypewriterJustice I knew the word choice of "desirable" was a mistake as soon as I started typing it. Thanks for seeing past my laziness. Perfect explanation to my question. Cheers!
Hello! I recently bought a typewriter and discovered your channel, and though it wasn't a Hermes 3000, I have been looking into getting one in the future. I did have a question for you though: do you know if there's any significant difference between the one you have here, where the logo just says "Hermes 3000" and other machines where right underneath that it says "Made In Switzerland?" I've seen both floating around and was just wondering if there was any real difference in quality or anything like that between the two.
BooksAndStuff - so far as i know, the curvy model 3000's were all made in Switzerland. Mechanically they are are all pretty much identical except for the very last iteration (plastic-bodied boxy one) which had significant design changes & was an inferior machine(i think a lot of that iteration were made in Brazil)
@@TypewriterJustice I was hoping the newer boxy ones were mechanically the same, it would help in my search. But if they are not, I'll stick to looking for a curvy one.
I have a Hermes 3000 and was wondering if you could tell me where or how to find the serial number. All I have found is US patent and GR BRIT patent on back of machine. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you for your time sir.
pull off the ribbon cover (lid with the Hermes 3000 logo) and you will find it inside on the chassis, upper left side just in front of the ribbon spool. you can determine the year by looking it up at typewriterdatabase.com
Awesome... I looked everywhere but there lol. Thank you sir. 👍👊✌
Move the carriage over to the left and look under where the carriage was and there is the S/N. It is very near the metal sign that says Swiss Made.
Hello, do you have any idea of how to adjust the platen on the 3000? I'm getting some fade on the lower portion of letters. It probably is the age of the platen, but then again, this one looks pretty good. Is there a vertical adjustment I'm missing somewhere?
losing the lower portion of your letters is normally a sign of type being out of alignment, though sometimes it can also be a sign that the shift rails & shift travel stops on each side of the segment simply need cleaning. Something else to consider is that your machine might have had its type adjusted in the wrong method, where the caps & caps lock are set to match the lowercase, when it should be the other way around; often simply raising the shift stops a bit & realigning the type will take care of it. The problem can also often be exaggerated by a hardened platen, which almost all Hermes suffer from(unless you're lucky enough to have one that's been recovered - if not, contact JJ Short & Associates for pricing & info on getting yours recovered; they do excellent work, and are reasonably priced (and they're one of the few companies in the world that still recover platens...just saying). All in all, it's not a huge problem to fix - be patient, observe your machine closely, and if you are in doubt of what you're doing...don't do it! Contact a local repairman instead. If you're ever near Dallas, drop me a message & I can fix it for you, no matter what.
Thank you for the reply! I wish there was a repair guide of sorts for these machines. I've been able to make some progress, but I know I'm missing a few basics. I know I've made more progress than the $200 "repair" for which I paid! My platen is fairly decent, it seems to be just an alignment issue. He actually suggested I use three sheets of paper while typing. Some people you pay just to never see again... that would be one of those instances. Just shoddy work and no results.
Ian Scott Osborne On machines with hardened platens, I normally use 2 sheets of paper - but this is for mechanical reasons. The extra sheet of paper helps to soften the impact of the typeslugs on the platen, which otherwise can lead to loosened typeslugs, cracked typebars, and a chewed up platen. Now, that said, for $200 i would expect my repair guy to tell me he had the platen recovered with fresh rubber, not that i need to double up my paper :) This is one of the largest reasons I became my own repair guy!!
Do you have a favourite typewriter in the world?
It depends on the task & situation. For coffee shop/bar writing I normally bring my Lettera 32, but for most home writing tasks I rotate between my Erika 5T, my Torpedo 18b Deluxe, and my Hermes 3000...all of which is subject to change if I happen to have a crush on some new fling, which given the rather hefty number of typewriters flowing through my house & across my bench it's bound to happen...but I always seen the come back to my Hermes 3000(which my particular one is a wonderful beast of a thing, tuned & tweaked & somewhat customized)
I'll have to do another video to show you :)
+TypewriterJustice Cool, yeah make another:) They are nice and relaxing to watch. Feel lucky about the hermes media 3 I have. Found it in a thrift shop and gave 200 norwegian kroners for it, which is about 18-20 bucks. And I bough a kolibri yesterday in very good shape. Nice machines.. Nowadays everything is plastic. Yuck...
Very helpful. THANK YOU! By the way, do you happen to have an owners manual for the Hermes Rocket? I bought one in very good condition last year in South Australia but no manual :-(
you're very welcome :) regarding the manual, you can download it from site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html#manuals
Hi Sir, Can you tell me the difference between this and the media 3 ? I am picking up a media 3 tomorrow (kinda got excited about typewriters and rushed into a purchase lol.)
the Media 3 is a 3000 without a tabulator, otherwise identical - same great feel, design, curves, and performance
thanks for the reply. turns out the media 3 is pretty beat up. gonna try return it. but I found a local guy who's been repairing typewriters for 40 years who sells them. gonna go check those out.