u/throneofashes

It come as a surprise to many that I use a typewriter almost everyday in my day job. As a compliance inspector, it is one of my roles to issue disciplinary notices, something which for the sake of confidentiality and correct process would necessitate a return to the office to formally fulfil. The site may not have internet access, or I may not be able to directly link my laptop to the site printer.

This issue is neatly circumvented by producing a type-written notice on a standard template, and using a portable bar scanner to attach it digitally to my inspection reports. As a result, I can produce and issue these infringement notices within minutes rather than having to wait a few days, and being a physical form, it cannot be edited or changed following the recipient’s signature being applied.

The Erika featured above is my carry of choice. Being the most modern looking machine I currently have, and featuring a very standard Pica typeface, it fits well in my setting and produces clean results.

Does anyone else here use their machines in a professional setting?

The first two machines are out in the wild, waiting for buyers.

- Olivetti Dora/Underwood 318
- Olympia Traveller (No, not the DeLux - just the basic boy)

If anyone would like to have a closer look, feel free to drop a comment below and I’ll link you over - I understand this isn’t a sales page, so I won’t be posting it freely here. Mods please notify me if this is going against policy already.

I have composed three sales videos for the machines going up - Anyone care to weigh in before I commit to them?

I’ve reached 17 typewriters, and my aim is to get back down to about six. As previously threatened, everything seen here will be going to auction. The list so far is as follows:

- Olivetti Dora (elite)
- Imperial Safari (elite)
- Olivetti Studio 46 - Spain (elite)
- Adler Contessa (Techno)
- Remington Streamliner (pica)
- Underwood 18 (cursive/script)
- Lemair (ABC) 3002 (elite)
- Adler Tippa - west Germany (pica)
- Adler Tippa - Holland (pica)
- Olympia Traveller - west Germany (elite)
- Olivetti Lettera 32 - Spain (Congress)

All machines are in excellent mechanical order and will come with a comprehensive servicing checklist, along with repairs made and issues outstanding.

These will be going up two at a time on eBay at open auction in lieu direct interest - wish me luck.

I’ve noticed in just about all the Olivettis I’ve handled this odd wire that runs below the spool shaft. On some machines it’s on both sides, others just one side. Does anyone have any insight into what task it performs? I imagine it’s to add tension somewhere on the mechanism

I’ve got about six too many machines (a dozen if I’m being honest) and as per a post I made a year ago now, I’m not prepared to sell them on Facebook Marketplace. These machines will be going to auction on EBay, and to help a prospective buyer with their decision, I’ve decided to include a comprehensive checklist.

This will describe the machines condition, servicing performed, outstanding issues, etc. It’s a tough ask selling a machine that the buyer can’t touch until they commit (pretty much the story with every machine I have/had) so giving some sort of guarantee to their condition is something I know *I* would appreciate.

Is there anything you’d like to see added to this assessment that’s not already present? What would you want to have checked?

*This is an OCR transcript of my typed page*

After much work adjusting the space between the carriage and segment, as well as re-tensioning the mainspring, this machine is finally in working order.

First impressions are positive. The action of the keys is pleasing, and the imprints appear clear and legible. I have not yet gone to the effort of cleaning the type slugs, and from what I can see, it’s the usual culprits that need the attention (anything with a closed loop).

On the subject of servicing, something I did _not_ expect was how easy it is to work on the machine. Two screws are loosened to remove the entire carriage, allowing me to service the escapement, tabulator, and mainspring all without removing the body. I can also adjust the proximity of the carraige to the segment (as earlier mentioned), happily negating any shrinking of the platen.

I have just quickly gone over the keys with a pick and some watch cleaner - the impressions are much improved already. I will continue to play with the carriage distance until I am 100% happy with the impressions, but I think what I'm getting is pretty close to perfect.

So, what's the verdict? Has Tom Hanks himself sailed down from up on high and personally blessed me with the most divine, incomparable writing experience since the advent of ink & quill?

It's pretty good. Not going to lie, this is a pretty lovely machine to use. I know there's people out the who are yet to acquire one, and may perhaps never acquire one, who live in hope that the experience is somehow worse than an Olympia or an Olivetti. I'm sorry to say that the Hermes really doesn't leave me wanting for anything.

It's a full-fat machine, boasting touch control, four ribbon positions, a slick margin device and stupid-easy servicing. The alignment looks as good as I've ever seen, and I haven’t seen any mechanical issues since my service this morning. The bottom line is that the Hermes 3000 is a machine that is well deserving of its praise, and I'm very pleased to have one this clean and smooth in my posession.

Is it worlds apart from any other typewriter of the period?

No, not in the slightest. I have an Olympia Monica that types just as clean as this, and every Olivetti in my collection boasts just as nice of a touch. My tank of a Facit TP2 absolutely flies compared to the speed I get from the Hermes, and the Remington Quiet-Riter (which predates this machine by almost twenty years) is just about as quiet as a computer keyboard.

No, the Hermes 3000 does not put every other typewriter on the market out to pasture with its performance, nor its aesthetics. It _is_ however, a very good typer that leaves nothing on the cutting room floor.

Buy one - just don't go spending $800+ on it.

Throne of Ashes
04/05/26