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1903 Blickensderfer 5 Serial # 83132 1903 Blickensderfer 5 typewriter, Serial # 83132 Fumitaka Hayashi's 1903 Blickensderfer 5 typewriter. 2026-10-17 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Fumitaka Hayashi: 1903 Blickensderfer 5 Serial # 83132 A Blickensderfer No. 5.

Acquired from Mark Schrad.

This example has some modifications - there is a bell mute in place of the right carriage stop, and there is a torsion spring added to the ink roller. There is also a piece of sheet metal on the top of the type element, which seems to be there to protect the top part from getting inked.

There are some problems - the platen has a crack, and it's missing the left carriage stop. But most frustratingly, some of the keys do not work correctly. The s becomes an e, the n sometimes is an e, the c is an r, the comma is an m. I believe there needs to be some adjustment or perhaps further cleaning to get it working better.

I have done some work to it - the carriage release needed to be adjusted, and I have replaced the feet. Somewhat interestingly, the rubber feet had not gotten hard, but they have gone soft. Pulling it off was bit of a chore, and the original material seemed to be off-white color, I wonder if it may have been gutta-percha?

As I could not get it working well, I put effort into fixing up the case. It was originally in somewhat rough shape. I was able to put the partly detached internal dividers back into place, and replaced a missing edge reinforcement. Then I refinished the outside surface. I left the bottom surface of the case un-refinished to demonstrate the un-refinished state.

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Acquired from Mark Schrad. I got to see his office, which is more like a typewriter museum. Also purchased a Hammond No. 12 and an Oliver No. 11 on that trip.

1903 Blickensderfer 5 #83132

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Fumitaka Hayashi (fhayashi)
Created: 10-17-2026 at 07:16PM
Last Edit: 10-17-2026 at 07:23PM

Description Hunter 11 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

A Blickensderfer No. 5.

Acquired from Mark Schrad.

This example has some modifications - there is a bell mute in place of the right carriage stop, and there is a torsion spring added to the ink roller. There is also a piece of sheet metal on the top of the type element, which seems to be there to protect the top part from getting inked.

There are some problems - the platen has a crack, and it's missing the left carriage stop. But most frustratingly, some of the keys do not work correctly. The s becomes an e, the n sometimes is an e, the c is an r, the comma is an m. I believe there needs to be some adjustment or perhaps further cleaning to get it working better.

I have done some work to it - the carriage release needed to be adjusted, and I have replaced the feet. Somewhat interestingly, the rubber feet had not gotten hard, but they have gone soft. Pulling it off was bit of a chore, and the original material seemed to be off-white color, I wonder if it may have been gutta-percha?

As I could not get it working well, I put effort into fixing up the case. It was originally in somewhat rough shape. I was able to put the partly detached internal dividers back into place, and replaced a missing edge reinforcement. Then I refinished the outside surface. I left the bottom surface of the case un-refinished to demonstrate the un-refinished state.

----
Acquired from Mark Schrad. I got to see his office, which is more like a typewriter museum. Also purchased a Hammond No. 12 and an Oliver No. 11 on that trip.

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

Photos:

#362
#362







A close up of the bell mute/right slide stop. The mute doesn't do much to the sound, as the bell has a sad 'click' whether the mute is there or not.
A close up of the bell mute/right slide stop. The mute doesn't do much to the sound, as the bell has a sad 'click' whether the mute is there or not.

A close of the metal sheet on top of the type element, and the torsion spring holding the ink roller.
A close of the metal sheet on top of the type element, and the torsion spring holding the ink roller.



Hunter: Fumitaka Hayashi (fhayashi)

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