Monday, 17 December 2012

Hermes knob - a solution

Impatient for a machined aluminium replacement, I tried a softer, more easily worked material. Ready-made shapes sprung to mind: draughtsmen (like you play draughts with),  a wheel from a wooden toy (which I didn't have) or some kind of turnery for cabinet makers. The drawer pull won the day for having a centre guide and I got them from the same shop I get replacement bushes for my Olympia SMs. Wonder if I could get them stock ribbons?
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12 comments:

  1. Adwoa17 December 2012 at 10:59

    That is a fine solution! Best-looking I have seen so far. Of course, the wood does not match the Hermes color scheme, but the natural woodgrain gives the typewriter a rather alluring bohemian look. Besides, wood should be much easier to paint to match if preferred. Looking forward to hearing how it works out over the long run.

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  2. shordzi17 December 2012 at 12:49

    Cute! Well done.

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  3. Richard P17 December 2012 at 14:54

    Clever, and they look good.

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  4. notagain17 December 2012 at 15:18

    That looks great! I like to use corks as you know - especially the ones with plastic tops.

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  5. mpclemens17 December 2012 at 15:28

    Good thinking! Now if you could whittle a suitable platen cover, you'll be a hero.

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  6. Ted17 December 2012 at 15:47

    Heh, Michael, the day will come when you're whittlin' new ribbon spools and carefully cutting a bedsheet into thin ribbon pieces to sew together into a ribbon :D

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  7. maschinengeschrieben17 December 2012 at 17:01

    I imagine this in some dark wood on a glass key Royal.

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    Replies
    1. Rob Bowker17 December 2012 at 17:15

      That could work nicely, especially on a wood-grain painted Royal 'O'. If only Royal's platen knobs were as unfuture-proof as Hermes's.

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  8. Bill M18 December 2012 at 01:39

    Very nice solution. Now to find some Hermes green to paint them, although they look fine as they are.

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  9. Martin A. Rice, Jr.23 January 2013 at 05:02

    Very good! My solution once was to use a plastic top from a milk bottle. But this looks fantastic.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown1 July 2014 at 12:57

      Martin A. Rice, Jr. How did you use a milk bottle top?

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    2. Rob Bowker1 July 2014 at 14:15

      Elliot, you can find Martin here: http://johnstowntypewriterconservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ also, Bill has a solution: http://offountainpenstypewriters.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/tale-of-hermes-3000-substitute-platen.html

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