1985 Hermes Baby #9510746
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Hein Reinders (heinemaat)
Created: 06-08-2022 at 06:20AM
Last Edit: 05-24-2023 at 09:06AM
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Description:
Hermes Baby 64 # 9510746 year 1985
This Baby was born in 1985 as a Baby 64.
It is a child of its time: mass production of consumergoods is transferred to low-wage-countries, selling out jobs from Europe and leaving european consumers to believe that they are wealthy where they are in fact financing their own economic downfall.
This machine may stem from Brazil, see https://sommeregger.name/typewriters/collection/hermes_baby.html#history2
It is in good condition, it is not used much.
As in other consumergoods, designers have switched from metal castings to sheet metal and from metal parts to plastic wherever they can. The designers’ creativity has gone into reducing costs, now that the functionality is mature.
What would Stätler and Waldorf have to say about this?
Stätler: “Older Hermes Baby used to have three aluminium pinheads, anodised to be red, white or blue, riveted into the aluminium housing of the machine”.
Waldorf: “ Yeah, yeah. just beside the colour selector lever. That was excellent, great, that attention to detail”.
Stätler; “Here, today, there is a 0, a 1 and a 2 moulded into the casing just beside the colour selector“”.
Waldorf: “yeah, boo The colour selector lever is not even chromed or polished, boo!”
After this grumbling, back to reality: the machine works perfectly, no repair nor cleaning required. The old rubber feet has melted and new rubber feet were "reversed engineered" and 3D printed.
Recently, the main spring came loose from it's central bolt. It has been repaired after removing the machine from its plastic jacket. Removal of the back piece maybe would have been enoough and that would have saved a lot of time. Removing the plastic housing is pulling a foot out of a rubber boot: it is a tight fit. It seems impossible to do, it hooks on all corners but the plastic can be bend without breaking. Find the places where the metal frame is held in de plastic housing.
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
Photos:
Hunter: Hein Reinders (heinemaat)
Hein Reinders's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 750
As a retired product development engineer, I am fascinated by the design of electro-mechanical products in which parts move, make noise and, preferably, radiate a little heat. Most preferred are products that are operated by keys, like typewriters, accordeons and pianos.
My genetics and statistics on lifetime expectancy suggest that it is time for me to let you know about the fantastic design, product engineering and manuacturing skills of the generation before mine. I salute mr. Munk for the opportunity that he has created for me to show it to the world. Okay, a bit bombastic.
Comments? Email me at hreinder1950@gmail.com
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Hermes Baby on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Hermes Serial Number page and the Hermes Baby By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
