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Home » Hermes » Rocket » 1960 #5807862
1960 Hermes Rocket Serial # 5807862 1960 Hermes Rocket typewriter, Serial # 5807862 Stephen Hanafin's 1960 Hermes Rocket typewriter. 2021-07-12 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Stephen Hanafin: 1960 Hermes Rocket Serial # 5807862 This is my first Hermes machine. I've wanted one for a while because of those mint keys, but can't afford to pay the Hermes 3000 tax. This Rocket showed up on Facebook marketplace for $100 from a seller about 20 miles away and I snagged it right away. It required no repairs at all, just some cleaning of ink smudges on the typewriter's shell. It has a pica typeface, and is from one of the first model years where the Rocket gained bichrome ribbon support. It has no tabulator, and is currently the smallest and lightest typewriter in my collection, standing just a hair under 3 inches tall even with its case/lid attached.
The typing action is not bad at all from such a slim machine, but can't compete with larger portables like the Olympia SM3. I haven't got to try a larger Hermes like the Hermes 2000 or 3000 yet to compare to them. It really likes to skate around my table, probably because it's feet are worn smooth. It would benefit greatly from a typewriter pad.

Purchased on 2021-07-09.

Update 2021-07-12: Replaced the smooth-as-glass original feet - which crumbled into dust when pried at - with some 8mm inner diameter rubber grommets, which appear to be a perfect fit. Feels even better to type on now! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite machines.

1960 Hermes Rocket #5807862

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Stephen Hanafin (st3ph3n)
Created: 07-11-2021 at 09:03AM
Last Edit: 07-12-2021 at 02:14PM

Description Hunter 6 Photos 1 Like  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

This is my first Hermes machine. I've wanted one for a while because of those mint keys, but can't afford to pay the Hermes 3000 tax. This Rocket showed up on Facebook marketplace for $100 from a seller about 20 miles away and I snagged it right away. It required no repairs at all, just some cleaning of ink smudges on the typewriter's shell. It has a pica typeface, and is from one of the first model years where the Rocket gained bichrome ribbon support. It has no tabulator, and is currently the smallest and lightest typewriter in my collection, standing just a hair under 3 inches tall even with its case/lid attached.
The typing action is not bad at all from such a slim machine, but can't compete with larger portables like the Olympia SM3. I haven't got to try a larger Hermes like the Hermes 2000 or 3000 yet to compare to them. It really likes to skate around my table, probably because it's feet are worn smooth. It would benefit greatly from a typewriter pad.

Purchased on 2021-07-09.

Update 2021-07-12: Replaced the smooth-as-glass original feet - which crumbled into dust when pried at - with some 8mm inner diameter rubber grommets, which appear to be a perfect fit. Feels even better to type on now! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite machines.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

The Rocket's case, which is really more of a lid that snaps onto the top of the typewriter. The underside of the typewriter is covered in a flat metal panel to keep it protected. This makes the case as slim as possible, but also leaves no room to store anything else, such as paper or supplies. You press the two circular buttons to release the typewriter from the case. The carrying handle pushes back into the case to make it as compact as possible in storage also. Hermes really were going for ultraportable here.
The Rocket's case, which is really more of a lid that snaps onto the top of the typewriter. The underside of the typewriter is covered in a flat metal panel to keep it protected. This makes the case as slim as possible, but also leaves no room to store anything else, such as paper or supplies. You press the two circular buttons to release the typewriter from the case. The carrying handle pushes back into the case to make it as compact as possible in storage also. Hermes really were going for ultraportable here.

Serial number, which lives under the right hand side of the carriage.
Serial number, which lives under the right hand side of the carriage.

Top down view with the ice-cream cone/rocket nosecone shaped ribbon covers flipped open. Spools are standard two inch universal spools. These are metal spools that came installed in the typewriter when I got it, although the ribbon on them was completely dry. I tried using some of the commonly available plastic universal spools that you get with new ribbon today but they wouldn't feed the ribbon properly for some reason, so I respooled it onto these and it has worked just fine since. You can see the tiny folding carriage return lever on the left.
Top down view with the ice-cream cone/rocket nosecone shaped ribbon covers flipped open. Spools are standard two inch universal spools. These are metal spools that came installed in the typewriter when I got it, although the ribbon on them was completely dry. I tried using some of the commonly available plastic universal spools that you get with new ribbon today but they wouldn't feed the ribbon properly for some reason, so I respooled it onto these and it has worked just fine since. You can see the tiny folding carriage return lever on the left.

Old owner's label just above the Hermes Rocket badge.
Old owner's label just above the Hermes Rocket badge.

These mint keys are what made me want to buy this machine. Ribbon position selector is here too. Notably, this machine doesn't have a stencil setting. The middle/yellow one just makes it use the center of the ribbon, like on an Olympia SG1.
These mint keys are what made me want to buy this machine. Ribbon position selector is here too. Notably, this machine doesn't have a stencil setting. The middle/yellow one just makes it use the center of the ribbon, like on an Olympia SG1.

Rear decals. The ugly black lines you see above those two holes are from the case being put on and taken off - it locks into those two holes. Margin system and deployed paper rest visible here too. The paper rest is spring loaded and folds out of sight when not needed.
Rear decals. The ugly black lines you see above those two holes are from the case being put on and taken off - it locks into those two holes. Margin system and deployed paper rest visible here too. The paper rest is spring loaded and folds out of sight when not needed.

Hunter: Stephen Hanafin (st3ph3n)

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I have learned that I'm a fan mostly of mid-century european portables


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

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