As you can see, what's left of the graphics is incredibly difficult to make out. This is not the entire collection; it is missing the Aristocrat, the Erika (still en route) and one I'll not disclose but am going to win tonight. I wasn't smart enough to remember to bring a camera either time that we went out, either. And if nobody snags that Lettera, I may just end up going back for it. If anyone wants to go rescue some typers, I'll send you shop names and locations; I'm loath to do so on the blog because I don't want a keychopper swooping in on them at some of the prices these lovely old machines are marked.
Discuss and enjoy!
Can anyone actually read the typecast? Let me know how you guys make yours so easy to see so I can do the same!
ReplyDeleteTo enlarge the pictures just after clicking on them, you'll need to disable the Lightbox feature. See this. Oh, and the Standard Folding is cute!
DeleteThank you! That's very helpful! I didn't know they were doing that, so I'll make sure to disable it for the next blog.
DeleteHee, thank you. I'm still in awe of how tiny the keytops are!
That is an interesting acquisition. The 18" machine is a beast! I could read your typecast fine, but I have a huge screen. The tricks I've learned: set the margins in a bit, leave out most of the margin when setting the scanner, use fresh ribbon or select higher contrast with the scanner software.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the folding typewriter restoration project. I'm curious about the incoming Erika and will watch for the post.
Thanks Dwayne! Good pointers, all. I don't have much scanner software to speak of;my new laptop has no CD-ROM drive at all so I had to just follow the hardware wizard. >< The Erika is really fantastic and I'm ecstatic about it; it has Cyrillic keys!
DeleteAlso forthcoming: OLIVER NO. 3!
Isn't that Underwood a monster!? It has many names: Bertha, Behemoth, the Flying Fortress...we love her. She's another restoration job in the works.
DeleteI can read it if I click on it to enlarge. It's a bit faint, though, so try messing with the contrast and levels (using Photoshop or the like).
ReplyDeleteWhen you add an image, Blogger should give you several size options: small, medium, large, and original. Choose original.
I didn't know that! I've never seen an image option size so I'll have to remember to look for it. Thank you!
DeleteYes I can. I had to click on it and make it full size of course. Personally I use a scanner, then modify the image with paint.net where I crop it and resize it so it is 700 pixels wide. That seems to be a good size, my photos are all also that width.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection, very cool little folding machine. I think that is a very lucky find indeed. Keep posting!
Thank you Mark! Paint.net? I'll have to try it out. I do have a Photobucket account; I guess I could use that, too. 700 pixels. I will make a note of it.
DeleteThank you for the compliment! The new laptop doesn't hate Blogger like the old one did, so I will be posting more frequently again.
I most certainly can read it. I've seen those folding standards before, and Rob Messenger did an excellent write up on them a little while back.
ReplyDeleteYou play nice with that machine! Thinking of Platen recovering?
I'll have to go find Robert's post on them; he always has such great information!
DeleteI promise I will play nice! Yes, I am thinking of platen restoration. It wouldn't take much to get in working order again and I would love to make it happen.
I'm having trouble reading it. One thing I do is type half pages (looks like you did too) to fit the width of my blog, then scan it in, upload and set it for extra large size, or the largest size that fits the width comfortably.
ReplyDeleteI indeed did. I tear drawing paper in half before I type on it. I didn't mess with any settings however; I will be doing that for the next one. I'm sorry you had trouble reading it!
DeleteA very nice collection so far. I would love to come across one of those Standard Folding's in the wild. Good find!
ReplyDeleteAs for the typecast, I upload all of my pictures through imgur.com
It is free, and allows you to resize, crop, and everything else.
Good luck!
Thanks Ken! I didn't know what it was when I first spotted it, but I knew it had to be a keeper!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea, too. As I mentioned before, I wonder if I could do the same thing on photobucket, since I already have an account. I'm going to play around with the nex tone and see what happens. I may end up setting up an account on each host just to see which one does the best job!
Nice collection. The display is wonderful and it looks like a place to write also.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bill! Yes, you are correct, it is a bookshelf/secretary desk/cabinet. It's different from any other secretary I've seen because of the bookshelf. It's just particle board, but I really like it; the desk area is lighted, it holds all the typers, all the writing and tinkering supplies and I can use it for my laptop or as a drawing desk, plus it makes a cool display! It was a local Craigslist find and I'm very happy with it.
DeleteI LOVE THE PICS!!! AND I'M JEALOUS...
ReplyDeleteI just posted on my chalkboard. Looking for suggestions on this project, so feel free.
Love Ya
G.W.
I am so excited to read that, and I'll cross-post it here! I think people will be very interested to se a blog done in such a manner.
DeleteLove you too!
A Standard Folding in any condition is a fantastic find! I'm envious.I hope you can get the platen fixed up and restore the metal parts to functioning condition.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think the platen is going to be the hardest part; the keys all move freely, since it's mainly aluminum there isn't much to rust, so the platen and carriage advance belt and it'll be singing again in no time! That platen is a really big problem though, so I'm researching how I can resurface it.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteAnother page sizing suggestion: Set your typewriter margins to no more than 50 characters for your typecasts. Then size the scanned images to 500 pixel width, more or less depending on size of typeface. (My previous post was 475.)
This works well for me on Blogger and renders the typed pages at actual size (using "original size" as Richard pointed out). Then I size accompanying photos the same pixel width.
Thanks Cameron! I didn't even consider changing the margin width on the typewriter! I probably should anyway; I'm sure it was painfully obvious to all that I ran off the page in a couple of places. I'm certain that, coupled with the other tips, will help a great deal. Thanks again!
DeleteCongratulations on the Standard Folding Typewriter. I found one a few years ago in a garage sale for $5.00!! It works beautifully too. It was the fore-runner on the Corona series. To replace the drawband is fairly easy, just use strong cord, not too thick, The platen could be a bit tricky, I have heard there are people who will recover it, if I come across them again I will let you know. Cheers, John
ReplyDelete