197x Imperial 80 #1G15486
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Richard Wood (Coronaboy)
Created: 12-27-2016 at 10:45AM
Last Edit: 10-28-2022 at 10:13AM
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Description:
Although the quality invariably slipped since the Imperial 50, this is a surprisingly nice to machine to type on. I guess it had to be, it was intended for letters to be pounded out in an office environment.
It types beautifully, lovely comfortable keys with a nice adjustable touch. Really very comfortable typer.
Ribbon spool cover and body of machine, end caps and correction table all steel.
Interesting switch under shell to change touch and ribbon colour. Shows in little window in frame.
Segment shifted and very light.
Huge ergonomic carriage return lever. Other levers are just metal (no rubber protectors), but they are large, comfortable and dead easy to use. Lovely large push and slide margin settings.
Winds paper in like a charm, interesting the use of cork pinch rollers. Perhaps the platen was cork at one point and was changed.
It is a real pleasure knocking out any correspondence on this machine.
My only pet hate is the use of a plastic carriage gear which runs against two adjacent metal linear gears. How this has survived I don't know.
The machine is huge and heavy so only good for a permanent setup and it's not the most attractive machine ever.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Richard Wood (Coronaboy)
Richard Wood's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 873
Typewriter collector, previous sewing machine collector.
Originally from the Garden of England, Kent. I have lived in Sheffield for over fifteen years.
As a young child, I always enjoyed taking things apart and seeing how they functioned.
I have been collecting a range of vintage typewriters for over two years.
Previously, I was interested in restoring sewing machines, then I acquired my mothers Olivetti Dora and looked under the hood and typed, I was hooked on typewriters and how they worked.
I learn something every day from passionate bloggers and typewriter enthusiasts.
Fan of Joe Van Cleave's typewriter video series.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Imperial 80 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Imperial Serial Number page and the Imperial 80 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
