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Electronic Typewriter problems

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Cecile

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Hi, I have an Electronic Typewriter which I love, but have not used in several years. This morning it wouldn't work, even though it turns on, just won't type the letters. This afternoon, I turned it on and off again several times, and now I can type keys from the top row, but nothing else. The Return key doesn't work, nor the others. The space bar works though. This machine uses type wheels, and the wheels are fine and installed correctly. The make is an ALL, model AS 300. If anyone has any ideas as to what may be the problem, or how much it would cost to repair, I'd love to know.

Cecile
Burlington, Ontario Canada
 
I'm afraid the typewriter has mostly gone the way of the buggy whip and the dodo. I doubt you could find anyone to repair it.

It sounds like there is a contact problem between the keyboard and the electronics. If you can open it up and unplug and plug any connectors between the keyboard and the electronics to clean the contacts, that might solve the problem.

Good luck.
 
I'm afraid the typewriter has mostly gone the way of the buggy whip and the dodo. I doubt you could find anyone to repair it.

Not necessarily true, but it depends on where you are. Here in my neck of the woods, there's a local business that specializes in such dinosauric equipment and does excellent repair work. I suspect there may be such specialists here and there on the planet; probably need a little research to find them.
 
Old Typewriter

Thanks to both of you. Yes, I know the typewriter is very obsolete now, but after having paid $600 for it back in the day, it's so hard to part with it. My grandkids today asked me what this was! I'd like to get it working so I can give it to the one who wants it. I bet my son can probably fix it, but for now, I'll keep trying it, maybe it'll 'wake up' soon.
 
Wait for a few more years, then sell it as an antique piece to a museum. I had a manual typewriter (Olivetti make) but I gifted it to a guy who wanted to learn typing, I would have loved to keep it.
 
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I have a Diablo Spinwriter. Built like a TANK. I have some film ribbons for it but only one Daisy wheel. It was the computer printer after the modified Selectrics. Fast with excellent quality. It's been an overgrown paperweight,
 
I agree with Crutschow: most likely just bad keyboard contacts. Could try some switch-cleaner spray perhaps?
 
If it's anything like my sister's antique mechanical monster Rock-Ola jukebox from pre-1970, the entire mechanism needs to be dismantled, the old oil-turned-to-gum lubricant cleaned off, and reassembled/lubricated. This long job won't be cheap to have it done. --or you could just spray and soak the innards with whole can of WD40 for a quick and dirty fix.
 
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Or, alternatively, we could just ignore this 18month old thread which was pointlessly resurected by a one-post wonder.

Jimb
 
One place I worked at did office equipment repairs, it was right at the end of the type writer era.
The most common faults were dusty keyboard contacts, just blow it out with an airline, next thing could be the motor/mech that positions the disc with the letters on, make sure its in properly and maybe squirt some wd onto a screwdriver and transfer tiny drops to the moving parts and just keep pressing keys, if it doesnt come back to life then the assembly is dead, you used to be able to get the heads, but I think there long gone now.
 
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