DINOPlaten

I wasn't very active in April because I was secretly working on a new service for my store. For some time I was looking for a producer who would undertake regeneration of platen in Poland. Sending it abroad, especially overseas, would mean weeks of waiting and double the costs.



From a dozen or so queries sent, only two bidders responded altogether.

And with one I decided to try.

Olympia SM3 was chosen as the prototype, and more specifically the one I bought for parts. So I had no fear that the item would be damaged or lost.



After dismantling the element and getting rid of the rubber layer (which turned out to be quite simple), I sent the whole thing to the company

Japanese weirdos.

I'm not sure when and why Japan manufacturers begin to brand their typewriters with european names. Apart from Hermes I've also came across Olympia, Brillant Neckermann (one at my shop for example), and at least few others.

It had to be around 80's, since all of the factories made their own typewriters since 70's with more or less success.
I'm not sure if this was even legal, but after the personal computers hit the market I can imagine that most manufacturers could sold the name at least in the terms of typewriters.
And japanese could sold their products not only back to europe (I found few machines in v.good condition... as unused), but mostly to poorer parts of the world.

They are far better than many clones or licensed products made in europe for example, whitch were also part of selling off what they could (classic manufacturers), before it will be worth nothing...
Mechanics is working v.good, the aligment is straight, and typing isn't a problem... I can't say that about UNIS or TBM products that I came across (Olympia, Olivetii licensed models, made in Jugoslavia).

If you want something fresh and reliable I think these japanese models are still better option that new "made in china" typewriters.

Sculpture

Some time ago (fall of 2018), small bronze sculptures depicting the symbols of Radom (one of Polish bigger cities), incl. the legendary "Łucznik" sewing machine and typewriter, a telephone from Radom Telephone Factory, a Vis pistol and shoes from "Radoskór" appeared in the city center. The project is implemented as part of the civic budget.

The objects are made in 1:1 scale, and are placed around city center for turists to discover :)

It looks that typewriter had at least one monument around the globe!
Or there are more?

Inspiration Cube

Over 1000.

In isolation...

Next days...

This time not typewritten, since I'm after 12 hr shift, there is late and my kids have hard time to go sleep.

I'm a driver and thanks to that I can look further than most folks around :)

Today I drove through few cities, and one with big number of sick people (~20)

In all those cities you can see that people are behave according to the rules. There is a lot calmer on the streets, there is no groups wandering.

Sometimes I've seen queues with people standing in separation outside the shops. My wife stood today in 4 queues like that... half hour outside pharmacy (cheapest around), 15 mins outside post office, few minutes outside bakery and another almost half hour outside Kaufland supermarket (the security guy counted people entering the shop!) There usually is a limit of people that could enter the shop at one time, the pharmacy that I visited had 3 people allowed inside, big market 50 (maximum allowed by government at one place)

At my gas station there is small counter OUTSIDE the main doors with pay terminal, pen and through small opening in doors seller provides other goods (It's v.small station). I've seen this patent in some other locations.

Lot of service providers are simply closed, especially those small.

You can order some food by takeaway or home delivery - but restaurants and fast-foods are closed for guests.

After the first days of panic, there is full stock on the shelves :)

There is a lot of mess around borders. The queues at Germany-Pol border are up to 40 km, and people wanting to enter the country often wait for around 19 hrs. There is a problem with water/food and fuel there since all roads are closed around that queue. And at the border every go trough control post.
People from nearby towns and truck drivers (they usually have food and water for few days with them) are providing help for all stuck in that jam. Authorities are not yet up for the task...


WOT is mobilized (Polish National Guard - Territorial Forces) to help guarding the borders, to help with logistic at hospitals, also to provide help for veterans.
Probably there will be more work for them soon...

People are doing lot of good to help med staff - restaurants are providing free meals, or people are organizing food for them and/or their families.

At the places that are open all staff are trying to work in safe environment. Mostly it's gloves, sometimes a barriers from glass/plexi at the height of face build around counters, masks etc.

People behave calm, are understanding the need to all this precautions.


There is sometimes uneasy looks when somebody coughs, or looks sick. But there still is a season of flu and other winter sickness here.