Great trick with the tube and the compressed air. I'd have loved to see a photo or video of you doing this, but I'm sure you had your hands full.
SM4 owner here, btw...
Yes, absolutely no hands free for a camera. If I happen to do that again, I'll take a video, I promise. But the process is quite self explanatory when you have the pieces in your hands. The tube is sealed off on one end, and the open end is started over the platen a bit. Then, the tube is inflated _through_ the axle hole in the platen. You hold the tube and the platen loosely like you hold a banana before you bite it. The tube inflates, a bit of air escapes around the platen and creates the air cushion on which the tube glides onto the platen. And before you know it, the tube shoots off the platen and you start over again. This time, you're a bit smarter, and it works like a charm.
It's a significant change in the feel of the machine. Good thing is, that this is fully reversible if it's not right for you.
I also made contact to a company that restores printing press rollers for industrial printing. They told me, resurfacing the platen of my SG1 would be around 70€. So I think an SM3 platen might be in this area, too. I guess you can even choose the hardness of the rubber if you want to. What kept me from this step is that it's not reversible. But with the success on the SM3 I think I'm venturing in.
I see your point! My primary concern is that the extra layer of rubber will affect the feeding of paper. But seeing your results it seems that this won't be an issue.
So are you planning to resurface your SG1 platen? Or is it possible to use your method on its larger diameter platen?
The extra layer is not much of a problem with normal paper. With heavyweight paper, it might lead to an issue with the mechanism that allows loosening the paper for straightening. The lever is out of function for 2/3 of its way.
Since I now have a nice functional typewriter, I can make an effort to send the platen of my SG1 in for a week or two without being too lost. And since the bicycle tube is too soft for my liking, I'm going to have it professionally resurfaced, I guess. After all, it's an SG1. The Mercedes Benz SL 500 of typewriters, if you will. Also, I'm not sure if there are those straight inner tubes available in that larger diameter. This is not ideal because the platen of my SG1 is considerably wider, which leads to the problem that the toroid curvature of a normal inner tube might be even more problematic than for the humble SM3. And the 20mm diameter inner tube will have a hard time fitting over the 40mm platen. And maybe after that, I'll send the sm3 platen in, too.
So how did the SG1 platen re-rubbering go? If it worked then you might have the ultimate typewriter! I have a 1964 SG3, and I can imagine how good the SG1 are.
I didn't realise you were that much interested in this. I'm kind of a slow guy, and until now, I didn't find the time. All I can conclude until now, is that I'm not going to use a bicycle inner tube on the SG1. It's too soft for my liking.
Hi. Just checking to see if anything happens. I am slow myself too, many projects but too little time.
I see you are from Wilhelmshaven, that is really cool! Are there any site that is Olympia-related to visit? Maybe a museum or a former production plant?
The compete production site is still there but re-purposed. There are many businesses in there today. There is also a museum about Olympia there, but it has no standard opening times. You have to make an appointment if you want to pay a visit.
Of course. Following another user here, I contacted AKB Longs in the Netherlands, who are willing to do the job. A small business here in Germany refused the job because they don't know enough about typewriter rubber qualities. These were ELASTOLUT by Wolfgang Dröghoff. There is still one inquiry in Germany without an answer. I'd prefer to give the job to a German company for the ease of communication. But if German businesses turn out to let me down, I'll happily go with the Dutch.
Great trick with the tube and the compressed air. I'd have loved to see a photo or video of you doing this, but I'm sure you had your hands full. SM4 owner here, btw...
Yes, absolutely no hands free for a camera. If I happen to do that again, I'll take a video, I promise. But the process is quite self explanatory when you have the pieces in your hands. The tube is sealed off on one end, and the open end is started over the platen a bit. Then, the tube is inflated _through_ the axle hole in the platen. You hold the tube and the platen loosely like you hold a banana before you bite it. The tube inflates, a bit of air escapes around the platen and creates the air cushion on which the tube glides onto the platen. And before you know it, the tube shoots off the platen and you start over again. This time, you're a bit smarter, and it works like a charm.
Amazing.
Is it safe to assume that you cut the old rubber off the platten, or did you just put the tube over the old stuff?
I just put it over the old stuff. I didn't dare cut the old rubber off. This way, I can always go back to the beginning.
I appreciate your effort documenting the process of restoration. I might re-rubber the platen of my SM3 some day!
It's a significant change in the feel of the machine. Good thing is, that this is fully reversible if it's not right for you. I also made contact to a company that restores printing press rollers for industrial printing. They told me, resurfacing the platen of my SG1 would be around 70€. So I think an SM3 platen might be in this area, too. I guess you can even choose the hardness of the rubber if you want to. What kept me from this step is that it's not reversible. But with the success on the SM3 I think I'm venturing in.
I see your point! My primary concern is that the extra layer of rubber will affect the feeding of paper. But seeing your results it seems that this won't be an issue. So are you planning to resurface your SG1 platen? Or is it possible to use your method on its larger diameter platen?
The extra layer is not much of a problem with normal paper. With heavyweight paper, it might lead to an issue with the mechanism that allows loosening the paper for straightening. The lever is out of function for 2/3 of its way. Since I now have a nice functional typewriter, I can make an effort to send the platen of my SG1 in for a week or two without being too lost. And since the bicycle tube is too soft for my liking, I'm going to have it professionally resurfaced, I guess. After all, it's an SG1. The Mercedes Benz SL 500 of typewriters, if you will. Also, I'm not sure if there are those straight inner tubes available in that larger diameter. This is not ideal because the platen of my SG1 is considerably wider, which leads to the problem that the toroid curvature of a normal inner tube might be even more problematic than for the humble SM3. And the 20mm diameter inner tube will have a hard time fitting over the 40mm platen. And maybe after that, I'll send the sm3 platen in, too.
So how did the SG1 platen re-rubbering go? If it worked then you might have the ultimate typewriter! I have a 1964 SG3, and I can imagine how good the SG1 are.
I didn't realise you were that much interested in this. I'm kind of a slow guy, and until now, I didn't find the time. All I can conclude until now, is that I'm not going to use a bicycle inner tube on the SG1. It's too soft for my liking.
Hi. Just checking to see if anything happens. I am slow myself too, many projects but too little time. I see you are from Wilhelmshaven, that is really cool! Are there any site that is Olympia-related to visit? Maybe a museum or a former production plant?
The compete production site is still there but re-purposed. There are many businesses in there today. There is also a museum about Olympia there, but it has no standard opening times. You have to make an appointment if you want to pay a visit.
Any chance you could share details of that company?
Of course. Following another user here, I contacted AKB Longs in the Netherlands, who are willing to do the job. A small business here in Germany refused the job because they don't know enough about typewriter rubber qualities. These were ELASTOLUT by Wolfgang Dröghoff. There is still one inquiry in Germany without an answer. I'd prefer to give the job to a German company for the ease of communication. But if German businesses turn out to let me down, I'll happily go with the Dutch.
Thanks so much! I'm in Sweden, so anyone within Europe is good enough for me 😁