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1929 Woodstock 5N Serial # N225532 1929 Woodstock 5N typewriter, Serial # N225532 Jestin Stoffel's 1929 Woodstock 5N typewriter. 2023-09-28 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Jestin Stoffel: 1929 Woodstock 5N Serial # N225532 This is a typewriter I picked up in a garage sale in Kansas City circa. 2013. The draw band was broken, and the keys were too stiff to press easily. It sat unused in storage until 2023 when I decided to clean it up and fix it. I replaced the draw band with 50 lbs. fishing line, and after cleaning and working the type bars, the keys began working as well. The draw band was so deteriorated, that it literally crumbled as I was removing it. The platen rubber was also extremely hard, and chipped away in many places with holes, scratches, and blemishes. I removed the rubber, and replaced it with two layers of heat shrink tubing. After these fixes, this typewriter has become the best working one in my collection, and my preferred machine for daily use.

I'm unsure if I have the date correct, because there's conflicting information on the Woodstock serial numbers page (https://typewriterdatabase.com/woodstock.58.typewriter-serial-number-database). For example, the serial number puts this machine as manufactured in 1929, however the closed-in sides shouldn't start until 1932. In addition, the keys are colored like models after 1932 (black and green) rather than being white like they are in previous models. I suspect that this may have been a frame manufactured in 1929, but not assembled until 1932. Either that, or perhaps this machine had been refurbished at some point, and the insides were swapped out and the side panels added.

1929 Woodstock 5N #N225532

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Jestin Stoffel (jestin)
Created: 09-19-2023 at 05:11PM
Last Edit: 09-28-2023 at 06:56PM


Description:

This is a typewriter I picked up in a garage sale in Kansas City circa. 2013. The draw band was broken, and the keys were too stiff to press easily. It sat unused in storage until 2023 when I decided to clean it up and fix it. I replaced the draw band with 50 lbs. fishing line, and after cleaning and working the type bars, the keys began working as well. The draw band was so deteriorated, that it literally crumbled as I was removing it. The platen rubber was also extremely hard, and chipped away in many places with holes, scratches, and blemishes. I removed the rubber, and replaced it with two layers of heat shrink tubing. After these fixes, this typewriter has become the best working one in my collection, and my preferred machine for daily use.

I'm unsure if I have the date correct, because there's conflicting information on the Woodstock serial numbers page (https://typewriterdatabase.com/woodstock.58.typewriter-serial-number-database). For example, the serial number puts this machine as manufactured in 1929, however the closed-in sides shouldn't start until 1932. In addition, the keys are colored like models after 1932 (black and green) rather than being white like they are in previous models. I suspect that this may have been a frame manufactured in 1929, but not assembled until 1932. Either that, or perhaps this machine had been refurbished at some point, and the insides were swapped out and the side panels added.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Here you see the platen with the rubber replaced with heat shrink tubing.
Here you see the platen with the rubber replaced with heat shrink tubing.

The coloring on this keyboard makes me question the date that the serial number seems to indicate.  While the serial number seems to indicate that the manufacture date was in 1929, there doesn't seem to be any black and green keys on the 5N series until 1932.  Perhaps this was manufactured in 1932 or later, but with a frame manufactured in 1929?  Perhaps it was refurbished at some point?
The coloring on this keyboard makes me question the date that the serial number seems to indicate. While the serial number seems to indicate that the manufacture date was in 1929, there doesn't seem to be any black and green keys on the 5N series until 1932. Perhaps this was manufactured in 1932 or later, but with a frame manufactured in 1929? Perhaps it was refurbished at some point?





The spools of this typewriter are not universal.  The odd shaped hole in the top is part of the ribbon reversing mechanism.  When the ribbon is no longer wound around a little tab, it falls out, and allows for the ribbon to be automatically reversed on the next keystroke.  I used the ribbon from a universal ribbon, and just attached it to the custom spools.  It works fine.
The spools of this typewriter are not universal. The odd shaped hole in the top is part of the ribbon reversing mechanism. When the ribbon is no longer wound around a little tab, it falls out, and allows for the ribbon to be automatically reversed on the next keystroke. I used the ribbon from a universal ribbon, and just attached it to the custom spools. It works fine.




Here is the original rubber from the platen.  It is scarred with many blemishes, and as hard as rock, so I replaced it with heat shrink tubing.
Here is the original rubber from the platen. It is scarred with many blemishes, and as hard as rock, so I replaced it with heat shrink tubing.

Here is the original platen rubber tube lain on top of the platen made with heat shrink tubing.
Here is the original platen rubber tube lain on top of the platen made with heat shrink tubing.

Serial number
Serial number


Hunter: Jestin Stoffel (jestin)

Jestin Stoffel's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 262

I'm new to collecting, but have acquired enough machines that I thought I should probably register them here.



RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Woodstock 5N on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Woodstock Serial Number page and the Woodstock 5N By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.