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Has anybody broken down a typewriter? (young ones - don't ask what that is; look it up) I got four in a house clean-out and can't keep avoiding them much longer. They're heavy and one at least has a cast aluminum shell. But looks to be not worth tearing apart. Any insights?
a while back was a post about some fad, can't recall it's name now, but they said old typewriter keys were worth listing on ebay using that word in the title
Manual or electric? I smashed apart a last generation Smith Corona word processor once, separated out the few boards and wire, transformer, teeny tiny drive motors, not much there but worth the time to hit with sledge and smack it all apart. Some 1970s era electric typewriters have a decent transformer, which I scrap here as electric motor, some of the IBMs and older SC have ali shells as you found. Manual typewriter I have scrapped seemed to be all ferrous, just tossed in shred.
Be on lookout for old monster IBM Selectric Composer, which looks like a typewriter but is actually a compact electronic typesetting machine. Loaded with old electronics and whatnot. photo here. (edit: added this...) NOT to be confused with Selectric Typewriter. How to tell the difference? when you lift one, you know. Not usually found in homes, but I did haul one out once.
Steam punk suppliesQuote:
Originally Posted by Bear
There were many large word processors in businesses in the early 80's. They looked like large typewriters. They were all that before pc market took off. Those must have some goods in them.
These are WAY older than that picture. At least one manual and electric. The one electric I brought in the garage (I'd thought about selling but it's too rusty) is an IBM (no further name) and weighs 43 pounds. Probably from the Sixties. It has an aluminum shell.Quote:
Originally Posted by volvoscrapper
I tore apart an old electric typewriter a week ago or two. It had a cast alum shell and a few of the pieces were cast on the inside as well. I threw the rest in the shred pile
Just went and got pictures. The one by itself is the electric IBM. The other picture is of a Smith-Corona and a Remington. Also a couple of old, HEAVY sewing machines.
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...writers003.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...writers005.jpg
cool stuff!!! Believe it or not I learned to type on machines like those.
you'll probably find a nice transformer in the electric, but you might need to be a surgeon to get it out. Sewing machines sell for way better than scrap on feebay, if they work. Other than the ali and a few pieces of potential stainless -- which you'll probably need dynamite to get apart -- I personally would shred everything but the electric. Unless the magnet is really coming up empty
i know this thread is about typewriters, but are those sewing machines singers made out of cast ali? if so dont scrap them even if they are siezed.
The electric typewrighter will a transformer, electric motor and it will have a spool of copper right behind the print head. Clip the wires and shred the rest.
I think I checked and both were cast iron.Quote:
Originally Posted by brandon
they look like featherweights to me but i could be wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick
Just now went and checked. Both magnetic.
oh well, if you run across any old singers that are ali cases they can be worth a $100 or more depending on condition.
Could you get dirty alum price for the typewriters as is?
I had that question recently with an old VHS recorder It had a solid Al core wrapped with low grade boards and a zillion screws, took it on a yard run and asked a guy if it could go as dirty aluminum, he said shred! I no longer put much into what he tells me ; ) but I did bring it home and started taking all the boards and screws out. Kinda lost interest for now, the last couple days been tinkering with an old Snapper riding mower, got it running today and changed the oil, cleaned the air filter, rode it around awhile letting it mow, and washed it. Now it's hanging from a tree limb so I can try grease and adjust anything underneath i can findQuote:
Originally Posted by hobo finds
Check those on e-bay before scrapping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I checked ebay and the keys are worth taking off to sell. The problem is that I showed the wife. She's a crafter and now she wants them. Maybe I can still sell one or two sets from the others. I had tried selling an old sewing machine last year that didn't sell and it was in a lot better shape than these two.
I sold an old one back about 6 months ago for $25.00 on ebay. There is a demand if its old enough
What was the term those keys sold best with Mick? There was one suggestion here already, but I think there was another word they usedQuote:
Originally Posted by Mick
Steampunk
ahh, ok, my memory needs an upgrade ; )Quote:
Originally Posted by hobo finds
I used "Typewriter keys". No idea what "Steampunk" even is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear
Good prices... steampunk typewriter keys | eBay
That's about the post I was trying to recall on an earlier comment Mick