As many typewriters as I refurbish, I find it kind of odd that I NEVER take 'before pictures.'  Now if I was in the habit of only buying well-preserved typewriters and simply cleaning them and reselling them, then that would make sense.  But that's not how I operate.  I don't flip.  Every typewriter I touch gets completely stripped down, and every part is cleaned, tested, oiled, etc.,.  So I tend to pick up the ones that look crappy, but have solid parts in them.  And to be honest, I kind of enjoy seeing the fact that my work is noticeable.

But I'm the only one who notices it--because I'm the only one who sees the BEFORE.

So just as I was digging into this week's project, I thought I'd take a few shots.

You can see that the Royal KMM is pretty old and scruffy looking.  But if you'll look at this pic, you can tell that it actually hasn't been used very much.  Typewriters get verticle lines in their platens as they wear because the strikers smack into them so hard over and over again.  This platten is pretty fresh.  And the rollers do not have flat spots, so I will not have to put new rubber on them. 

Aside from the dust and cobwebs, I do see a little rust on the striker arms.  I'll get most of that off, but the metal is pitted, so it's never gonna look shiny.  But it'll be every bit as functional as the day it came off the assembly line.

I think it will turn out nice.

I'll post the 'after pictures' in a few weeks, and then link to the finished product sales page.