The case for my Spanish Lettera 32 was in a sorry state, with a hanging zip and a loose base inside. Not to mention filthy on the outside. A scrub with Cif and a sponge got it smelling nice before I started on the zip.
Saggy seams. Someone not impressed! This is not up to standard for holding secret documents. Or typewriters.I appear to be sewing it to my knee. This is because you can’t hold the thing and take the picture at the same time.
The holes from the broken stitches are still there, so make a good guide for the mending. I used a strong linen thread and a big fat sturdy needle. Ordinary sewing thread and needles will not be up to this. The best stitch to use on bags and cases is the shoe-stitch: do a running stitch, all the way to the end of the line and then turn back on yourself and fill in the gaps with another running stitch. (Back-stitch is messy and awkward!)
Yuk. Just, yuk. But interesting to see the slap-dash way in which the original glue was applied.
I was outside doing this fix because the next bit was very smelly. I’ve used Bostick Fast-Tack to successfully glue another case back together. Spray it on all over on both surfaces, wait a couple of minutes and then press together. It will bond in a few minutes or less depending on your surfaces.
The Stuff.Ready to go.
It’s not the prettiest, but now it works fine, and smells a lot better. There’s no discernible odour from the glue.
I’ve been having some fun with another Lettera 32. This one was made in Spain.
The sugru stuck fast to the body, but did not like the shell paint.
I thought there might have been some grease, stopping adhesion, but it was as clean as I had thought I had made it. So I sanded the paint down to the metal to try for a better grip. I kept the original sugru in there, and added more, this time, up to where the screw should be. Before it set (you get 30 minutes’ play) I put the ribbon cover from the other Lettera 32 on to check clearance. It was fine, but I noticed the difference in paint textures.
Maybe this time…the ribbon cover is from my Italian-made L32
Actually, Brian, it was made in Belgium!Tasty, just you know, not Pi.
what the jings crivens happened here?!
The connections were loose here. fiddlesome but straightforeward to fix.Holding the typebar right up, position the loose part and pry open the connecting end a little with a small tool to slide the two back together. (The tiny bolt is held in place on one side, so a gap will open up.)Space bar not working. At. All. Found the place where it was jammed – and unjammed with sewing machine oil. yes, this thing is still filthy in this picture! More cleaning is needed, but for that I need to remove the body shell. Aurgh. Lots of screws!
I should say that I removed the ribbon cover (easy, four screws) before cleaning the type segment, and that I was very careful not to drip the cleaning fluid onto the painted surfaces.
On Monday morning, my youngest was practicing her French, “Il pleut, et pleut, et pleut…” it turned into a sort of chant, or song. Later I was convinced she had performed some kind of rain spell. My shoes are still drying out.
gathering gloom, precipitation within sight.A study of rain on window, as the view was non-existent for the rest of the day.
From the Adler Tippa 1, at the Mad Hatter’s Typewriter PartyFrom the Lettera 32 at the Mad Hatter’s Typewriter PartyFrom the Monarch Pioneer at the Mad Hatter’s Typewriter Party
We each started a piece of writing on our chosen typewriter, and then a caller (not typing, tsk!) shouted out “All change!” at a random moment and we moved on one place at the typing table. Some of us were able to type faster than others, but everyone contributed and we had a great time! Happy Typewriter Day!
You know how it is on a Wednesday lunchtime, when your tiny bit of dust removal turns into a thing with screwdrivers. Here is what happened with my Lettera 22 and Lettera 32. A few days ago I was gnashing my teeth over how on earth to get the base (and body) off the Lettera 32. Thanks to Uwe on Typewriter Talk and to Tom Lucas The Typewriter Man (who also sold me some spiffing grommets for the Lettera 32 which have ended up on the 22 because it needed them more in the end) I finally got the 32 (and 22) naked. The simplicity of the 32’s base attachment foxed me. You literally lever it off with a screwdriver, and I should have been able to see that for myself. The evidence of others’ levering is there on the base where excessive force was used and the corners bent up slightly. But there I was, thinking, “Hmm, I wonder what blasted secret typewriter mechanic tool I need to get those bolts off.” (yes, I’m laughing now, too) Onwards.
Side by side. not so different?Lever it up gently, with the typewriter on an old cushion.Lifts off the rubbery fat grommets and bolt arrangement. See the previous gbh?!
Once this is done, you lift the back end up and the front end of this kind of base has two tabs that fit into slots and it all comes off. Simple! The lettera 22 has a more obvious 4 screws on feet on the base which even I could fathom.
Ok, next foxy bit. Extend carriage all the way to right to wriggle the shell off. Goes back same way.
I found that for some reason the Lettera 22 wanted its carriage extended to the left to get undressed.
The screws are different. In fact once the shells are off, everything starts to look very different…
Lettera 22Lettera 32
Just a cursory glance tells you the innards are quite different. But then I also noticed when cleaning the type basket that on the 32 I can depress the basket with my little finger. It is a jiggly joggly basket. On the 22 the basket is firm and unmovable until you engage the shift keys. The 32 has a twanging sound, thanks to the shift mechanism springs, while the 22 is solid and silent in comparison, even though the actual typing sound is slightly louder (on mine). Strangely, even though to me the 22 feels more solid in construction, it is actually about 0.4 kg lighter than the 32.
And I don’t fancy having to repair a drawcord on the 32, the 22 looks a lot more accessible. Hope I never have to!
The Lettera 32 had arrived in working order, but then it had developed a sudden zippy carriage and non-functioning escapement. This resolved itself in the process of trying to get the thing undressed, and I hope that my cleaning and sewing machine oiling will keep it from returning.
In the spirit of language diversity in the Typosphere, with my Lettera 32. My French is truly abysmal, but I don’t need to know the way to the station, or how much that sack of oranges will cost.
I tried to make his bow a little less ridiculous. The poet had moments of sartorial madness – but perhaps we’ll forgive him!
*Mackle – vb. to mend in a botchy but successful manner.Lettera 32 bag was sporting a hanging zip on one side. So I mackled it better.
Zipper now goes back onto the teeth using cut as entry point.Sew a stopping point into place with a big needle and strong thread.Done that bit.
The zipper was misbehaving further up the line too, with 2 old rips to the teeth. For this, I got out the Sugru.
Extra big blob.
I was probably a bit over-generous with the Sugru on that bit, but it works. The bag is now a functioning Letttera 32 carrier. Proper mackled job. Now we can gad about town.
Type The Clouds 