1977 Olympia Report electric #7122886
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brent Wegher (bwegher)
Created: 10-31-2022 at 01:23PM
Last Edit: 09-23-2024 at 11:50AM
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Description:
Working after replacing drive belt. Elite 12 typeface slugs "7" translates to "popular elite" in 1970 RaRo catalog
Service sticker applied to bottom from original retailer dated 8-17-1982
Serviced 12-85
The retailer may have had this machine for years before it was sold.
This machine was found with the motor drive belt melted, took some time to remove the goo. Found that a 4 inch diameter O-ring with 1/8 inch cross section can be a workable substitute. An O-ring is not a drive belt, so I can't predict how many hours of working lifespan can be expected.
This is a very basic machine made by Nakajima in the late 1970s
The typeface specimen was made after I manually re-inked the ribbon without waiting for complete drying. After some time, the imprint became sharper.
I do like this machine, even if it is mostly plastic.
Update Sept 2024
"O-ring" is not a durable replacement drive belt, it broke after a few hours of operation.
Purchased a circular cross-section drive belt for small equipment called "OC12.8" available online from several vendors.
The OC refers to the cross section diameter of 1/8 inch or 3 mm of the black rubbery material.
The 12.8 refers to the outer circumference of the belt in linear inches (about 325 millimeters)
Fits perfectly.
This size drive belt has been tested and found to be fully functional at this time, sounds very quiet in operation.
Who knows how long this will last, but it seems to me that it should last a very long time.
As a final note, this machine is certainly a product of the Nakajima factory of Japan, but I've observed that the listing in the Olympia (Nakajima) section has the same machine listed as made in 1987 which can't be correct, My machine has a retail sale sticker dated 1982 and serviced in 1985
The conclusion is that the year of manufacture must be before 1982, and that other listings under "Olympia" Report Electric models made in 1977 is likely correct since retail stores might have a new machine sitting on a shelf for years before it is bought and placed into service..
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Brent Wegher (bwegher)
Brent Wegher's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 932
Retired to the quiet of rural Nebraska to contemplate nature.
Typing down thoughts, prefer that to handwriting.
Not really a collector, just like to tinker on mechanical things.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olympia Report electric on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olympia Serial Number page and the Olympia Report electric By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
