u/rodeotoad67

My carriage is stuck. The thing my finger is on doesn't move. Any idea what is wrong with it? I can't see the mechanics of the mechanism.

The ribbon spindles (probably not the proper name) don't revolve, so the ribbon does not advance. The reversal mechanism works, but regardless of which side it's set to, the spindle for that side wiggles a bit but does not make revolutions. Shouldn't it?

Second question: even if it did revolve, how would the ribbon spool turn with it? On other machines there's one or more prongs that anchor the spool. This one doesn't have anything like that. Is that the job the top nuts do on an Olivetti?

Photo is of the left spindle looking down from above.

Can someone please tell me what this black bar where my finger is resting is? The photo is taken with the machine removed and upside down, so it's the left side of the machine. The bar pivots slightly from side to side but I don't see that it's attached to a key or what its function is. When I move it, it wiggles a piece on the front of the machine that has teeth like a comb, the typestems in the slots.

Got this Safari --I think it's a 1964-- today along with a Silent and a Classic 12 from a woman whose father owned them. I haven't checked the other two out very close yet, but the Safari is pristine. I know these aren't rare or sexy, but the typewriter I use daily is a 1979 Safari, and I love these machines.

I got up the nerve to tear into my machine to try to figure out why I can't set tabs or release the margin. All I've done is remove bottom and the housing. I haven't removed carriage (which for some reason now won't move at all, though the carriage lock is not on) or anything except body. But as I was picking up the machine I saw this tiny spring lying on the towel. Any idea where it goes?

I bought this yesterday with plan to give it to my daughter. It has script typeface. It is in great shape and types beautifully, but I cannot figure out how to set tabs and find no information online, etc. Most sites assume it has dedicated tab set and clear buttons like the Classic and Galaxie models, I think. I find no place on back of the carriage either.

How does one identify typeface? Do you just have to learn how to recognize them? Is there a database that gives names and examples? This photo is from a Smith Corona Galaxie Deluxe I got a couple of days ago (and am really loving.) I assume the typeface is nothing special, serif elite of some sort, but I dig it.

Got this today on Marketplace. The database doesn't really provide any information. It's a 6MLB series. What does that imply? 70s model, not as highly regarded as the 5 series models?

I just got this at a junk shop. It functions really well, though a tuneup and cleaning is in order. Serial number is not where Internet says it is. Any ideas?

I bought this yesterday from someone on Facebook Marketplace. I'm sure I overpaid for it, and it needs some work (I haven't been at this long enough yet to have honed my discerning buyer skills), but no regrets. I'll have Charles Justice at Justice Typewriter in Keller fix it up. It has problems with the ribbon vibrator and a few creaky keys, but I can tell that the action is smooth and powerful. (This is my first post. It's telling me my post "must have flair." Not sure what that means. I guess if you see this I will have figured it out.)