Wednesday, October 15, 2014

A Trio of Teutonic Typers Part I

Tony's Typewriter Toot - Part 1 of 3 - Adler Junior 3

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That screw, held snug by a lock nut, is duplicated at the other end of the carriage. They control how high the carriage lifts when the shift key is pressed.
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Loosen it with a 5,5 mm socket - if you dare ...
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...then hold the lock nut from turning while diddling with the screw. It needed to get loosened (counterclockwise turn) just the right amount to allow the platten to rise to meet the type slug just right. Repeat on the other side. Then test. Then diddle more ... repeat ... and finally H's and I's print clear, top to bottom. But we're not done yet - there is a matching pair of screws underneath. They control the resting position of the carriage, i.e., the lower case position. These screws needed to go in (closkwise turn). I worked with both pairs of adjustments to get the platten raised to the sweet position where the type slugs hit just right. 
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At some point I discovered this adjustment - that black screw in the center controls the downward range of the shift key. It prevents an over-energetic typist from jamming the carriage against the stops. It needs to be set to limit the travel of the shift key just at the point where the carriage rises to meet the height adjustment screws. It has a companion beneath the right hand shift key. So there were three pairs of adjustment screws, and their lock nuts, to deal with.

6 comments:

  1. Nice looking Adler. Next to an Underwood I find Adler to have the best machines. I love the carriages, absolutely frictionless and silent (and very easy to remove and reinstall). While I can out type all Olympia machines (Except my SM4) I find I cannot out type an Adler. I prefer my J4 Adlers over the J5 Adlers though. Adler used very nice script type slugs too.

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  2. Look forward to finding one of these earlier Adler portables! Useful adjustment tips too. ;)

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  3. Very nice machine! It reminds me of a Triumph Gabrielle 2 I once owned; never got used to the QWERTZ keyboard layout and parted ways with it earlier this year. But it was a very nice machine indeed.

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    1. I know what you mean, Miguel. I have a pretty little Olympia SF that came all the way from a German eBayer, which I thought would make a good typer for our RV outings. But I soon gave up on adapting to the keyboard. So it sits on a shelf. I'll have to give it another chance, else let someone else enjoy it.

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  4. Nice instructions for adjustment, and a beautiful typeface! (:

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  5. Just like I told you Tony, the best of the best.

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