[GreenKeys] Rejuvenating the platen on 33?

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charles" <charlesmorris800 at centurytel.net>
To: <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2013 4:43 PM
Subject: [GreenKeys] Rejuvenating the platen on 33?


> The platen rubber on both my 33 ASR's has become very hard 
> and the  surface is quite smooth. So despite the 
> appropriate pressure from the  small spring-loaded roller 
> in the front, neither machine will reliably  line-feed 
> especially in cold temperatures that my shack is now 
> experiencing. The platen is turning, it's just not 
> grabbing the paper.
>
> Is there something I can apply to the rubber to rejuvenate 
> (soften)  it? Or would coating the surface with a frictive 
> material be an  alternate fix?
>
> thanks
> Charles
>
     You might try http://www.jjshort.com/index.php

J.J.Short is taking the place of the old Ames company in 
supplying replacement rollers and platens for typewriters. 
The platen of a Teletype machine is essentially the same. 
Check with them.
    I have never found anything that really rejuvenates 
rubber.  Some of the typewriter people think brake fluid 
works.  If the rubber is just glossy and not too hard you 
can make it stickier with belt dressing from any auto supply 
store but that will not fix rubber that has hardened up or 
shrunk.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com