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1905 Continental Standard Serial # 1093 1905 Continental Standard typewriter, Serial # 1093 Jerry Himes's 1905 Continental Standard typewriter. 2024-09-21 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Jerry Himes: 1905 Continental Standard Serial # 1093 A very early example of the Continental Standard. It has a decimal tabulator, paper fingers instead of a paper bail, and no back space mechanism. It has several problems, but I should be able to fix most of them. Some of the typebars seem to be from newer Continentals. I was very surprised to discover that the platen is still soft, making the type action quieter than on my 1928 Continental Std.

Interestingly, it turns out that these 1st generation Continentals used 11 mm ribbons, and the original spools won't fit wider ones. Instead of ordering expensive 11 mm ribbons online, I will just cut a small ~2 mm strip off from a regular black 13 mm ribbon and call it a day. I tested this with an old dried up ribbon; it works and it's not as arduous of a task as it first seemed.

Progress done so far.
1. Missing feet replaced.
2. Keys cleaned
3. Mainspring back in its place and rewound; the machine is now alive.
4. The spools which were stuck in the machine have been removed and cleaned.
5. Platen cleaned

Problems to be solved:
1) Many parts covered in some kind of grease or tar from cigarette smoke.
1.5) Carriage gets stuck in upward position after using shift: the machine needs to be cleaned.
2) Right platen knob missing; its metal skeleton has pointy parts sticking out, which is not ideal.
Non-critical problems:
1) The mainspring wind at the back is missing the piece which secures it in place.
2) All tab stops missing.
3) Detachable paper support missing.
4) Space bar needs to be straightened and repainted.

1905 Continental Standard #1093

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Jerry Himes (JJH)
Created: 09-15-2024 at 01:37PM
Last Edit: 09-21-2024 at 03:20PM

Description Hunter 21 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

A very early example of the Continental Standard. It has a decimal tabulator, paper fingers instead of a paper bail, and no back space mechanism. It has several problems, but I should be able to fix most of them. Some of the typebars seem to be from newer Continentals. I was very surprised to discover that the platen is still soft, making the type action quieter than on my 1928 Continental Std.

Interestingly, it turns out that these 1st generation Continentals used 11 mm ribbons, and the original spools won't fit wider ones. Instead of ordering expensive 11 mm ribbons online, I will just cut a small ~2 mm strip off from a regular black 13 mm ribbon and call it a day. I tested this with an old dried up ribbon; it works and it's not as arduous of a task as it first seemed.

Progress done so far.
1. Missing feet replaced.
2. Keys cleaned
3. Mainspring back in its place and rewound; the machine is now alive.
4. The spools which were stuck in the machine have been removed and cleaned.
5. Platen cleaned

Problems to be solved:
1) Many parts covered in some kind of grease or tar from cigarette smoke.
1.5) Carriage gets stuck in upward position after using shift: the machine needs to be cleaned.
2) Right platen knob missing; its metal skeleton has pointy parts sticking out, which is not ideal.
Non-critical problems:
1) The mainspring wind at the back is missing the piece which secures it in place.
2) All tab stops missing.
3) Detachable paper support missing.
4) Space bar needs to be straightened and repainted.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:






















Hunter: Jerry Himes (JJH)

Jerry Himes's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 825

I have been looking for ways to spend less time on electronic devices, and because of this I started doing my writing and translation work with pens and pencils, and now on typewriters as well. I have noticed that adding typewriters to the process has been beneficial to the quality of the text, plus it's just more fun this way.

I have started selling and giving away some of my machines now that I have figured out which ones I want to keep. Some people have asked me for working typewriters, so I have been on the lookout for machines purely for that purpose as well. As fun and instructive as it has been, soon it is time to finish this collecting and tinkering and move back to my original intention: writing. I hope.

Machines sold/given away:
Triumph Gabriele 20
Hermes 3000 (French 3rd gen.)
Student (Brother) Portable
Optima (Zentronik) Mod. 42
Scheidegger (Olivetti) President
Olympia SG 3 N
Olivetti RITA
Adler Tippa S
Adler Contessa de Luxe
Olivetti Lettera 32 (1972, Barcelona)


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

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