I've owned all three models of the 3000 over the years. I like the styling of the second series the best, but they all had superb typing 'feel' for a manual portable. Not surprised that McMurtry loved his so much!
Thanks Joe, another fine article from inside the typosphere. That 3,000 sure is a nice machine. Hermes do make some doozies, one of my favorites is the 'Ambassador', a large standard that challenges the Olympia SG1/SG3 for top of the heap. One version has the usual fabric ribbon, (with four levels or tracks) and an auxillary Carbon ribbon system, for astonishing clarity in the printing. If you get a chance, snaffle a Consul 232 for a time, these Czechoslovakian made machines are something very special in the slim portable genre. Not as immediately attractive as a Lettera 22, but take a little time and get close, and they have some compelling magic. Lift the ribbon cover and gasp! They have THE most astonishing clarity of design layout, seemingly sweeping the board clean and then putting everything in the most logical place, and making all other typewriters look crowded and cluttered! Then there is the action. Yowsa! The speediest, snappiest, crispest, shortest, lightest, most delightful action of any portable. But that is only the half of it, because this thing can really print, great accuracy and evenness and alignment, creating excellent copy. Wonderful keytop shape too.
I have the same color blue model that you are typing on. completely agree about the feel of these machines. have never typed on a 1st gen 3k machine. I have a 2nd gen 3k but I like the action on the 3rd gen the best. great reviews!
At the 0:16 markpoint, I started to wonder if the person on the bicycle was thinking to themselves "what's up with that tray table in a field with a roll of toilet paper attached to a typewri... oh wait, never mind, it's Joe Van Cleave."
Nice review Joe and great writing spot you got there ! I was able tracking down a 1959 Hermes 3000, arrived in non-working condition. Carriage did only move 2 inches on the far left side and then stopped, took awhile to figure out why, but found a + & - adjustment screw on each side. Was curious as the right one were kind of loose, so tighten it up and checked the left side, screw were really tight so loosen it half turn and carriage started working again ! Then it was time for cleaning the basket, all key-slugs scrubbed and blowing cob webs out from the bottom. A small amount of spray-lube where the center gears are for the carriage, not sure what the actual part is called Joe. But little by little this Hermes came back to life, same font as yours. I like it ! Discovered 2 feet were missing and small brackets on the right side for attaching to the frame, but cut and made 2 replacement from a reel to reel side-cover. Also mounted 4 good rubber feet from a Sony TC-377 reel to reel deck, same metric size as Hermes, so a win win solution. Outside has a couple of scratches in the front below key bar but I don't care, 59 years years old some battle-scars is allowed I think. What a nice machine, it types perfect, did 7 pages straight yesterday and didn't miss one time, even straight line, nice black color, no smudges in any of the keys. Like you said, this is the perfect machine on a desert island, without no doubt. The Royal Safari I have types good but nothing compared with a Hermes, much less noise, nicer font and just a pleasure sitting down writing a letter or a story on. It's a keeper Joe,
Gonna love this video Joe. I just got one like this today. Angular Hermes 3000, AZERTY. I'll have to hoover and wipe the dust a bit ... Shall be extra careful with this one too ;) Your videos are really resorsful and helpful. Cheers
"HERMES" was the brand of choice for DECADES amongst news correspondents working "In the field" right up until the dawn of the "LAPTOP" computer era. They were reported to be ABSOLUTELY reliable and virtually INDESTRUCTIBLE! (Despite NOT always being handled as "gently" as they should've been by their human partners.)
Joe, could you please explain why hermes 3k typewriters from any year, are always priced so high? I think I understand but I'd really like your input Thank you
They’ve gained a certain reputation, kind of how German automobiles enjoy a reputation of engineering that may or may not relate to a user’s actual experience. I think that, once adorned with a legendary reputation, it’s hard to shed. They’re good machines, but are still mechanical devices and, as such, suffer many of the same issues. I have two H3Ks, one has a chronic skipping issue that, despite repeated attempts to solve, persists. But I gotta say, they do have a nice touch, which not everyone can agree with; some like the feel of the Olympia’s better.
I loved it!! :D Joe, so you also agree with Tom Hanks. I had been told the font was called techno font. I am not sure if it's accurate though. I got her from a man who sold his late uncle stuffs. He aske the ridiculous amount of 15 €. I gave him 20 ans said keep the change. Of course I felt I ripped him off a bit. But he choose the price. The only thing is she did bot come with her box. So, I'll have to keep her home till I find or make one meself. How hard can it be to find a Hermes 3000 case or box? Kind regards from Brussels
Hey, Joe! I have seen on videos with older models from the 60s, and I noticed the typer didn't have to press the margin release button. On my also from the 70s I have to press that 2 arrows button aka margin release to pass through the middle of the line. It is very annoying. While I am typing a word I am suddenly interrupted by that, have to press that button. Do you know how to disable that annoying feature, Joe? Thanks a lot and greetings from Brussels! ;)
The "two arrows" key is the margin release, to type beyond the right margin (or before the left margin when doing backspace from the left margin). If you're having to press the margin release to get beyond the middle of the line, it sounds like the right margin is set to the middle of the line. Try moving the carriage to the right edge of the paper using the margin release key, then press the right margin button and see if the margin moves out to the right edge. If not, the machine might have a problem with setting the margins. Also, sometimes the carriage lock (used to lock the carriage for transport) can cause this issue if it's still engaged.
Just bought one - thank you for the review :)
I feel so lucky to have my grandfathers! Great video :)
Wonderful!
I've owned all three models of the 3000 over the years. I like the styling of the second series the best, but they all had superb typing 'feel' for a manual portable. Not surprised that McMurtry loved his so much!
Thanks Joe, another fine article from inside the typosphere. That 3,000 sure is a nice machine. Hermes do make some doozies, one of my favorites is the 'Ambassador', a large standard that challenges the Olympia SG1/SG3 for top of the heap. One version has the usual fabric ribbon, (with four levels or tracks) and an auxillary Carbon ribbon system, for astonishing clarity in the printing.
If you get a chance, snaffle a Consul 232 for a time, these Czechoslovakian made machines are something very special in the slim portable genre. Not as immediately attractive as a Lettera 22, but take a little time and get close, and they have some compelling magic. Lift the ribbon cover and gasp! They have THE most astonishing clarity of design layout, seemingly sweeping the board clean and then putting everything in the most logical place, and making all other typewriters look crowded and cluttered!
Then there is the action. Yowsa! The speediest, snappiest, crispest, shortest, lightest, most delightful action of any portable. But that is only the half of it, because this thing can really print, great accuracy and evenness and alignment, creating excellent copy. Wonderful keytop shape too.
I have the same color blue model that you are typing on. completely agree about the feel of these machines. have never typed on a 1st gen 3k machine. I have a 2nd gen 3k but I like the action on the 3rd gen the best. great reviews!
At the 0:16 markpoint, I started to wonder if the person on the bicycle was thinking to themselves "what's up with that tray table in a field with a roll of toilet paper attached to a typewri... oh wait, never mind, it's Joe Van Cleave."
Can't wait to get mine in! Hopefully I can break it in for one of your typing assignments. Thanks for the review :)
Loved the "chipmunk voice" segment 😁
Nice review Joe and great writing spot you got there !
I was able tracking down a 1959 Hermes 3000, arrived in non-working condition.
Carriage did only move 2 inches on the far left side and then stopped, took awhile to figure out why, but found a + & - adjustment screw on each side.
Was curious as the right one were kind of loose, so tighten it up and checked the left side, screw were really tight so loosen it half turn and carriage started working again !
Then it was time for cleaning the basket, all key-slugs scrubbed and blowing cob webs out from the bottom.
A small amount of spray-lube where the center gears are for the carriage, not sure what the actual part is called Joe.
But little by little this Hermes came back to life, same font as yours. I like it !
Discovered 2 feet were missing and small brackets on the right side for attaching to the frame, but cut and made 2 replacement from a reel to reel side-cover.
Also mounted 4 good rubber feet from a Sony TC-377 reel to reel deck, same metric size as Hermes, so a win win solution.
Outside has a couple of scratches in the front below key bar but I don't care, 59 years years old some battle-scars is allowed I think.
What a nice machine, it types perfect, did 7 pages straight yesterday and didn't miss one time, even straight line, nice black color, no smudges in any of the keys.
Like you said, this is the perfect machine on a desert island, without no doubt.
The Royal Safari I have types good but nothing compared with a Hermes, much less noise, nicer font and just a pleasure sitting down writing a letter or a story on.
It's a keeper Joe,
Good work!
Thanks Joe.
I got one of these off Craigslist, in seafoam green. Absolutely love it, writes like butter
Gonna love this video Joe.
I just got one like this today.
Angular Hermes 3000, AZERTY.
I'll have to hoover and wipe the dust a bit ...
Shall be extra careful with this one too ;)
Your videos are really resorsful and helpful.
Cheers
"HERMES" was the brand of choice for DECADES amongst news correspondents working "In the field" right up until the dawn of the "LAPTOP" computer era. They were reported to be ABSOLUTELY reliable and virtually INDESTRUCTIBLE! (Despite NOT always being handled as "gently" as they should've been by their human partners.)
Joe, could you please explain why hermes 3k typewriters from any year, are always priced so high? I think I understand but I'd really like your input Thank you
They’ve gained a certain reputation, kind of how German automobiles enjoy a reputation of engineering that may or may not relate to a user’s actual experience. I think that, once adorned with a legendary reputation, it’s hard to shed.
They’re good machines, but are still mechanical devices and, as such, suffer many of the same issues. I have two H3Ks, one has a chronic skipping issue that, despite repeated attempts to solve, persists. But I gotta say, they do have a nice touch, which not everyone can agree with; some like the feel of the Olympia’s better.
Nice!
Muito legal! Parabéns
I loved it!! :D
Joe, so you also agree with Tom Hanks. I had been told the font was called techno font.
I am not sure if it's accurate though.
I got her from a man who sold his late uncle stuffs. He aske the ridiculous amount of 15 €.
I gave him 20 ans said keep the change.
Of course I felt I ripped him off a bit.
But he choose the price.
The only thing is she did bot come with her box.
So, I'll have to keep her home till I find or make one meself.
How hard can it be to find a Hermes 3000 case or box?
Kind regards from Brussels
Both of mine (the 1970s boxy style) came with snap-on enclosures.
Hey Joe, thanks for the video. Has the Hermes 3000 1971 the same quality as the one you're writing on? Thanks from Belgium.
They are very close to feeling like the same machine.
Joe, how much was it and I wish I had one
Hey, Joe!
I have seen on videos with older models from the 60s, and I noticed the typer didn't have to press the margin release button.
On my also from the 70s I have to press that 2 arrows button aka margin release to pass through the middle of the line.
It is very annoying. While I am typing a word I am suddenly interrupted by that, have to press that button.
Do you know how to disable that annoying feature, Joe?
Thanks a lot and greetings from Brussels! ;)
The "two arrows" key is the margin release, to type beyond the right margin (or before the left margin when doing backspace from the left margin). If you're having to press the margin release to get beyond the middle of the line, it sounds like the right margin is set to the middle of the line. Try moving the carriage to the right edge of the paper using the margin release key, then press the right margin button and see if the margin moves out to the right edge. If not, the machine might have a problem with setting the margins. Also, sometimes the carriage lock (used to lock the carriage for transport) can cause this issue if it's still engaged.
Ok.
Thanks 500 000 X, Joe!
I did what you instructed and it workded :)
Cheers so much!
I can now really enjoy my Hermes 3000.
It types so well.
Hi There!! Where di U get a ribbon so black and crisp???
Ribbons Unlimited