1046 Brands 3093 Models 20131 Galleries 12411 Typefaces 6273 Patents
Home » Optima » Humber 88 » 1961 #1981597
1961 Optima Humber 88 Serial # 1981597 1961 Optima Humber 88 typewriter, Serial # 1981597 David Vandergucht's 1961 Optima Humber 88 typewriter. 2023-02-25 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of David Vandergucht: 1961 Optima Humber 88 Serial # 1981597 Bought this machine locally. After I cleaned it up, it types pretty well. For now, it only works on the red setting. The black setting doesn't raise the ribbon vibrator high enough to make a full impression.

Some things I like about this machine:

1. Good typing action. Everything moves smoothly and fairly easily with nice snappiness.

2. Tabulator. Many of my machines don't have these. How am I supposed to include tables as part of my letters without a tabulator? I also like to leave multiple line indents for drawing/painting large initial letters. Tabs let me do that easily.

3. Line spacing options. One-and-a-half is always welcome. It's too bad more machines don't have it.

4. Base of the case functions nicely as a platform for lap typing. The case also has a nice place to store some papers. Experience has taught me that it isn't fun to carry the typewriter more than a block or so.

5. Paper support. I love the way you can set the length of the support to indicate the end of the page. How did this system not become the standard way to indicate the end of the page? It seems so much smarter than gimmicky methods like the Smith-Corona page gauge (fun though those are).

Some might prefer if it were basket shift. I don't mind the big up and down motion of the carriage shift. The thunk is satisfying.

1961 Optima Humber 88 #1981597

Status: My Collection
Hunter: David Vandergucht (davidv)
Created: 01-08-2023 at 07:11PM
Last Edit: 02-25-2023 at 02:20PM

Description Hunter 6 Photos 2 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

Bought this machine locally. After I cleaned it up, it types pretty well. For now, it only works on the red setting. The black setting doesn't raise the ribbon vibrator high enough to make a full impression.

Some things I like about this machine:

1. Good typing action. Everything moves smoothly and fairly easily with nice snappiness.

2. Tabulator. Many of my machines don't have these. How am I supposed to include tables as part of my letters without a tabulator? I also like to leave multiple line indents for drawing/painting large initial letters. Tabs let me do that easily.

3. Line spacing options. One-and-a-half is always welcome. It's too bad more machines don't have it.

4. Base of the case functions nicely as a platform for lap typing. The case also has a nice place to store some papers. Experience has taught me that it isn't fun to carry the typewriter more than a block or so.

5. Paper support. I love the way you can set the length of the support to indicate the end of the page. How did this system not become the standard way to indicate the end of the page? It seems so much smarter than gimmicky methods like the Smith-Corona page gauge (fun though those are).

Some might prefer if it were basket shift. I don't mind the big up and down motion of the carriage shift. The thunk is satisfying.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:





I love this paper support/end of page indicator device. Typewriters should always have these.
I love this paper support/end of page indicator device. Typewriters should always have these.

I suppose the margins settings aren't the most elegant here at the back. I don't mind though, they're simple enough in use.
I suppose the margins settings aren't the most elegant here at the back. I don't mind though, they're simple enough in use.

Hunter: David Vandergucht (davidv)

David Vandergucht's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 314

I'm a dad with young kids. I work as a lake ecologist. Some of my non-typewriter interests include: Calligraphy, fountain pens, letter writing, gardening, cycling.


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Optima Humber 88 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Optima Serial Number page and the Optima Humber 88 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

Typewriter Hunter Merch!