1958 Facit T1 #T1-119304
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Kewin Sanfridsson (JoxSoup)
Created: 04-21-2024 at 09:57AM
Last Edit: 04-21-2024 at 11:55AM
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Description:
Here we got a completely working Facit T1 typewriter from Sweden made in 1958. The first desktop typewriter made by Facit and it's a mountain of a machine in both weight and size. The platen width of this one is 33cm/~13". It's huge but it sure is quite a awesome experience to type on! As it's the first desktop machine from my favorite brand. And don't get me started on the service ability on the T1, the carriage lifts right of after releasing the two levers at the bottom for easy access to clean and repair. (But beware of the awful ball baring in it! As this what made me accidentally ruined my first T1 about two years ago when I just started out fixing and collecting typewriters.) Then it is just four screws on the top of the case to remove it and another four screws on the bottom to remove the rubber plate pad underneath it. I felt that this time around was such a learning experience and really rewarding to be able to be able to fix it and get it up and running (or typing again!).
This particular machine had a new problem I have never encountered before. One of the typing bars (the "G" one) wouldn't quite get enough force when pushing the key. And I found out after some looking around on it that a small metal ball had fallen out of a hole where it held the mechanism of the key in place. Luckily the metal ball was the same size as the ball baring on my TP1 that have the same ball barring problem as I mention above to be aware of. I will probably try to fix that one too but I will need to order new metal balls first. Anyways it was quite tricky to get in place but I placed a q-tip on both sides of the lose metal element and placed the tiny metal ball with a plier and then held the ball in place with a tweezer until I could carefully push the metal element back in place. It sure was hard but very satisfying fixing it. Then there where the usual fixing up, fasten the spring in the draw band wheel, oiling the typebars, cleaning the slugs? Yeah the usual. I'm very pleased with this one actually.
Conclusion: It's a nice machine to work on and to write on but a bit too heavy and clunky to move to often. I recommend it, but not to a beginner typewriter fixer just because of the ball barring system otherwise it's not a bad design and construction. Easy to understand and fallow what is going on with it.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Kewin Sanfridsson (JoxSoup)
Kewin Sanfridsson's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1305
Hi my name is Kewin and I'm a 24 years old from Sweden. I have a few hobbies like drawing and playing guitar but I do also like myself some project here and there which is where my interest in typewriters fits in. I have always collected things through my life but I did not expect typewriters to be my next big passion in collecting. I started collecting typewriters in the beginning of 2022 and so far I have 80* of them (3 of which is currently disassembled) . I find it really enjoyable to pickup a typewriter at a thrift store/second hand and starting to clean it up and get it to a working condition to the best of my ability and knowledge. (Excuse all the dog hairs in my pictures, I do actually try to remove the hair before taking the pictures. xD) Cheers!
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Facit T1 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Facit Serial Number page and the Facit T1 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
