I have a Skyriter that I picked up at a local antique/thrift shop and I just love it for travel. I take it on trips and write letters on-the-go. It is still a bit heavy by modern standards, but it works great for me.
The first typewriter I ever used was a Skyriter. When I was a kid, my grandparents had one sitting in their hall closet which they would let me use to keep me out of trouble. I just came back into possession of that machine, and believe it's a '55 just like the one you reviewed. Right now I'm using the Skyriter while getting the platens resurfaced on my Olympia SG3. What I like about it is that it's basically a "minimum viable typewriter." It does away with some features, but honestly for the way most people use typewriters these days, it's perfectly adequate. More things could even be subtracted, like the ribbon reverse switch and line detent release, and most people wouldn't miss them for journaling or writing stream of thought. It's a nice, simple little machine.
Catching on the vids I haven't seen yet this year! That typewriter is definitely cute and small! Another one that I saw online somewhere was a "Groma Kolibri" which looked really small as well. Don't really know anything about them and didn't look up dimensions, but it definitely looked cute and small as well! 😊
Skyriter's my go-to ultraportable when doing street poetry, etc. Much more durable/reliable than any Hermes I ever had, & the keyboard slant & action is comparable to the Super 5s. Also, fun fact: Tom Hanks chose it as his desert island machine. Thx for the vid & happy typing!
My first ultraportable was also a 1955 Skyriter (named Donna). It was given to me by a regular at my coffee shop when she found out I collected typewriters. She bought it in college and was later a banker. It had been stored in the back of a dry closet so it's in beautiful condition.
I also had a "wandering" Hermes Baby. I first thought it was because it was too light and I had to live with it. But someone gave me the advice to put new rubber feets on it. And behold, it really stands still now.
Hello...fellow collector. I just now found and watched your skyriter video, and loved it. Thanks for the information. I have a possible solution for your missing feet. It's something that i used on my 1926 Remington portable: If you find an ACE hardware store, and go to their bolt area, it should have TONS of bins and drawers that you can look thru. And in the drawers, they'll have all sorts of things besides just nuts and bolts. Look for the rubber grommet drawers. There should be 20 to 30 various sizes. And you should be able to easily find some that will fit the holes perfectly. Make sure they fit tight... you have to kind of pinch and fold them in to the holes. Mine were around .66 cents each where i live. So it shouldn't cost you over about $3 to get 4 brand new rubber feet. And the new soft grippy rubber will prevent that little guy from slip-slidin' away.... I hope this helps. And keep up the awesome videos.!👍🏻
Ultraportables are my favorite! I have an Olympia Splendid 66, a Socialite, a De Luxe, and a Hermes Rocket. I really want a Zephyr because I love the round glass keys. If Skyriter had round keys, I'd go for it.
I just got my first typewriter, a ultra portable mikro consul. It is only 6.5 pounds. I am really enjoying writing poems and short stories on it. It’s name is pippin.
I've ended up with a few Empire Baby & Aristocrat machines, which are the British licensed version of the Hermes, and they're a touch smaller and lighter than that - just 11" square in the case by 2.5" deep, and 4kg which I think is under 9lb. They're all a bit broken in one way or another but still fun to have. The later ones seem more reliable.
Love it! I've been traveling with my Skyriter over the past year- Paris, NYC, Amsterdam, West Africa. Question... Does anyone know if it's possible to buy either a new leather case by itself, or the metal case topper by itself? My machine is in perfect shape, but the case has fallen apart.
@@JustMyTypewriter Awesome! Also, one more question. I'm having some trouble with the left ribbon spool mechanism. Basically, the spool mechanism keeps sticking, so the ribbon left ribbon has trouble advancing. When I switch the ribbon return from right to left, it works fine. Every have the same issue?
@@brittonbuttrill Yep! Make sure you have the ribbon wrapped the correct way! That always fixes it for me- look at some photos of other typewriters with their ribbons in. Look at how the ribbon wraps around the spool to make sure it goes the right direction
i have bean thinking about using a type writer to keep a ships log for mhy boats but all of my current type writers are a little to bulky for that so i think i found the solution.
Most of these machines that I have seen have the logo plate in the back, as yours does. However, I have seen enough of them without that to wonder if not all machines were equipped with them. Any thoughts? The typewriter mats sometimes work but even standards can wander. I bought a straight piece of 1/4 inch rubber to try since my table is smooth stone. Haven't had a chance to try it yet but, in theory, as long as the rubber, the table, and the feet on the typewriter are kept very clean, it ought to stick pretty well!
PS--I learned from typewriter repairmen way back when not to ever, ever use those nasty black ribbons that had correction tape on the bottom half. The junk from that flakes into the segment and internals. Far better to use some form of manual correction tape if your typing is inaccurate...
@@loveisall5520 Well, they were designed for the We R Memory Keepers machines which really aren't built for much use. I'm sure like with most colored ribbons, it was a marketing ploy of some kind. I just bought them all out because they were on sale and I figured I could use the black and silver on single color machines
First: Sticking Gecko Pads on the old rubber feet will stop any slipping with any typewriter. Second: An ultra-portable is the way to go (quite literary), I just have to find the the right one. Hermes? Two slow. Groma Kolibri? Almost, but actually quite sluggish - but what a cool typewriter that is. Olympia 66 (Splendid) or Traveller De Luxe? These I could settle for, as they are very snappy, consistent but also somewhat boring (Olympia is like the Mercedes of Typewriters: Perfect but boring). What else is there? I cannot go for the US models as I have to use a German layout and there is not that much interesting anyways. Maybe a Brother or Silver-Seiko sleeper I have to discover?
I have both the Zephyr and the Skyriter and I much prefer the short return arm on these earlier models. The long arm that came later is a compromise IMO on the original design and concept of the machine.
I have a Skyriter that I picked up at a local antique/thrift shop and I just love it for travel. I take it on trips and write letters on-the-go. It is still a bit heavy by modern standards, but it works great for me.
The first typewriter I ever used was a Skyriter. When I was a kid, my grandparents had one sitting in their hall closet which they would let me use to keep me out of trouble. I just came back into possession of that machine, and believe it's a '55 just like the one you reviewed.
Right now I'm using the Skyriter while getting the platens resurfaced on my Olympia SG3. What I like about it is that it's basically a "minimum viable typewriter." It does away with some features, but honestly for the way most people use typewriters these days, it's perfectly adequate. More things could even be subtracted, like the ribbon reverse switch and line detent release, and most people wouldn't miss them for journaling or writing stream of thought. It's a nice, simple little machine.
The best looking manuals are almost always ultra portables. Love the look of the Skywriter.
Catching on the vids I haven't seen yet this year! That typewriter is definitely cute and small!
Another one that I saw online somewhere was a "Groma Kolibri" which looked really small as well. Don't really know anything about them and didn't look up dimensions, but it definitely looked cute and small as well! 😊
I found a pair of rubber grommets that fit perfectly in the empty holes on mine and this works great as replacement feet.
Skyriter's my go-to ultraportable when doing street poetry, etc. Much more durable/reliable than any Hermes I ever had, & the keyboard slant & action is comparable to the Super 5s. Also, fun fact: Tom Hanks chose it as his desert island machine. Thx for the vid & happy typing!
My first ultraportable was also a 1955 Skyriter (named Donna). It was given to me by a regular at my coffee shop when she found out I collected typewriters. She bought it in college and was later a banker. It had been stored in the back of a dry closet so it's in beautiful condition.
One of my favorite typers. My only complaint is the carriage return lever being too small. Great machine!
See- some seem to like it! I happen to have trouble with the carriage lever on the right side being too small and hard to reach near the knobs
My 3Y Skyriter 1959 has a longer carriage return arm.
Some just swap it out with a larger return.
I also had a "wandering" Hermes Baby. I first thought it was because it was too light and I had to live with it. But someone gave me the advice to put new rubber feets on it. And behold, it really stands still now.
Hello...fellow collector. I just now found and watched your skyriter video, and loved it. Thanks for the information.
I have a possible solution for your missing feet. It's something that i used on my 1926 Remington portable:
If you find an ACE hardware store, and go to their bolt area, it should have TONS of bins and drawers that you can look thru. And in the drawers, they'll have all sorts of things besides just nuts and bolts. Look for the rubber grommet drawers. There should be 20 to 30 various sizes. And you should be able to easily find some that will fit the holes perfectly. Make sure they fit tight... you have to kind of pinch and fold them in to the holes. Mine were around .66 cents each where i live. So it shouldn't cost you over about $3 to get 4 brand new rubber feet.
And the new soft grippy rubber will prevent that little guy from slip-slidin' away....
I hope this helps.
And keep up the awesome videos.!👍🏻
Thanks so much!
Ultraportables are my favorite!
I have an Olympia Splendid 66, a Socialite, a De Luxe, and a Hermes Rocket. I really want a Zephyr because I love the round glass keys. If Skyriter had round keys, I'd go for it.
I just picked up one, a Skyriter with the stripes and I'm so happy to know its an early model! I can't wait to check on the database!
Congrats!
@@JustMyTypewriter Thanks Sarah!!
I just got my first typewriter, a ultra portable mikro consul. It is only 6.5 pounds. I am really enjoying writing poems and short stories on it. It’s name is pippin.
What a perfect name! I got to try a Consul typewriter recently- they have such a cool style! Congrats on your first machine!
I've ended up with a few Empire Baby & Aristocrat machines, which are the British licensed version of the Hermes, and they're a touch smaller and lighter than that - just 11" square in the case by 2.5" deep, and 4kg which I think is under 9lb. They're all a bit broken in one way or another but still fun to have. The later ones seem more reliable.
I do like the look of those ones
Love it! I've been traveling with my Skyriter over the past year- Paris, NYC, Amsterdam, West Africa. Question... Does anyone know if it's possible to buy either a new leather case by itself, or the metal case topper by itself? My machine is in perfect shape, but the case has fallen apart.
You can look for a parts machine- use a case from that!
@@JustMyTypewriter Awesome! Also, one more question. I'm having some trouble with the left ribbon spool mechanism. Basically, the spool mechanism keeps sticking, so the ribbon left ribbon has trouble advancing. When I switch the ribbon return from right to left, it works fine. Every have the same issue?
@@brittonbuttrill Yep! Make sure you have the ribbon wrapped the correct way! That always fixes it for me- look at some photos of other typewriters with their ribbons in. Look at how the ribbon wraps around the spool to make sure it goes the right direction
One of my favorite typewriter. My only complaint is the return handle is to small!!
You're in Washington, D.C., right? I remember your video of you and your boyfriend antique hunting in the Capitol.
Wow- that video is from a few years ago! It's been a while since I've been to DC. I'm actually based in PA!
i have bean thinking about using a type writer to keep a ships log for mhy boats but all of my current type writers are a little to bulky for that so i think i found the solution.
An ultra portable may be the way to go- this little skyriter is only 9lbs and very compact
I just bought the model you're sitting next to for $30 on FB! It's my first typewriter.
Congrats!
Most of these machines that I have seen have the logo plate in the back, as yours does. However, I have seen enough of them without that to wonder if not all machines were equipped with them. Any thoughts?
The typewriter mats sometimes work but even standards can wander. I bought a straight piece of 1/4 inch rubber to try since my table is smooth stone. Haven't had a chance to try it yet but, in theory, as long as the rubber, the table, and the feet on the typewriter are kept very clean, it ought to stick pretty well!
I've had a few that are later models that have more of a sticker logo which can peel off over time - maybe that's the case!
@@JustMyTypewriter No, I mean, the plate is missing.
@@bwhog That is odd
PS--I learned from typewriter repairmen way back when not to ever, ever use those nasty black ribbons that had correction tape on the bottom half. The junk from that flakes into the segment and internals. Far better to use some form of manual correction tape if your typing is inaccurate...
It's good advice- this is actually not a correction type ribbon! It's a silver and black ribbon from We R Memory Keepers!
@@JustMyTypewriter Educate me: in sixty years of buying typewriter ribbons I've never seen or used a silver ribbon. What's it for? Play?
@@loveisall5520 Well, they were designed for the We R Memory Keepers machines which really aren't built for much use. I'm sure like with most colored ribbons, it was a marketing ploy of some kind. I just bought them all out because they were on sale and I figured I could use the black and silver on single color machines
The olympia splendid is even more portable
Very nice
Nice video!
I just got my first ultra portable too-a Hermes Rocket. But it’s in much worse condition than I first thought. :-(
Can anyone tell me how to remove this model from the case for cleaning?
very similar to my Antares Compact from the 60s
Such a nice piece. Does it move a lot when you type?
It does- that's why I use a typing matt!
Muito linda! Parabéns
First: Sticking Gecko Pads on the old rubber feet will stop any slipping with any typewriter. Second: An ultra-portable is the way to go (quite literary), I just have to find the the right one. Hermes? Two slow. Groma Kolibri? Almost, but actually quite sluggish - but what a cool typewriter that is. Olympia 66 (Splendid) or Traveller De Luxe? These I could settle for, as they are very snappy, consistent but also somewhat boring (Olympia is like the Mercedes of Typewriters: Perfect but boring). What else is there? I cannot go for the US models as I have to use a German layout and there is not that much interesting anyways. Maybe a Brother or Silver-Seiko sleeper I have to discover?
I have both the Zephyr and the Skyriter and I much prefer the short return arm on these earlier models. The long arm that came later is a compromise IMO on the original design and concept of the machine.
I quite like the look of an older Zephyr model!
Why do you just type with your index fingers?
Because I'm bad at touch typing. I'm a very unskilled typewriter user. Hoarder- no problem. Using- I've got issues.
I hunt Remington junior in Croatia he, he (americano in EU) :-)