My corona silent is back from US Office Machines!! It’s one of the last meccas for typewriters.

Ruben Flores was in the area and dropped it off just a couple hours ago. Talk about service!!

He stayed and chatted for about 45min. I showed him my collection and he did some estimates on future repairs. He said his favorite typewriters are Olympias and Olivettis. He doesn’t care much for Hermes.

He has 2 or 3 Groma Kolibris but none of them are in perfect shape. He said he has one in all magenta that he’s been meaning to fix for years. The other two would be parts machines possibly. I showed him mine and he thinks mine was dropped. One of my keys is detached. Also some of my type bars are bent. Lastly, he thinks my carriage is depressed a bit. My platen is good and everything else.

He estimates costs for labor, parts, cleaning an repair to be at least $250. He said German typewriters are fun to fix.

So $370? If you’re curious, it breaks down like this:

– $250 labor

– $80 feed rolls

– $30 bail rolls (3) (from his own stash)

– $0 ribbon

– the rest: tax

I was also supposed to get a new or redone platen for $90 but then Ames shut down.

I don’t mind the $370 too much. Good experience: I got to meet him and see his shop and hear his stories. Plus I plan to do my own repairs in the future (except for truly difficult ones which I will likely leave in Ruben’s capable hands).

I wish I could download the information and experience he possesses into my brain. He’s lived a lifetime of typewriters. Very cool.

pics:

Looks like Ruben not only cleaned my typewriter, but he cleaned both the inside and outside of my case. Before it had this ridiculously disgusting stench, seriously like a rotting corpse. I think a lot of these older coronas unfortunately have this smell, the the dozen or so ive come across at least. Seems like Ruben also somehow tightened my front latches bc it closes and opens easily now.

Here is my typewriter all shiny. Before, it was covered in dirt and grime, spiderwebs, hair, dead grass, and probably lots of other unmentionables. It is completely clean inside and out and it smells like fine american engineering.

This is my typeface… not the best pic bc im using my iphone.