Yep, it's "Seafoam Green" by popular agreement, tho Hermes called it "Light Green Gray F18". The Hermes 3000 only came in that color until 1971 when the shell was changed to blue or off-white plastic. The position of the tab and backspace are reversed between the US market and European markets.
I appreciate Swiss engineering. Paillard also manufactured Bolex movie equipment, which was built to a similar level of mechanical sophistication. I love how the curvytop H3Ks have symbols for tab set, tab individual clear, tab all clear, and backspace. I'm disappointed that Hermes couldn't come up with a symbol for "tab" to avoid having a button with that word on it.
Hi L.T. - I wasn't aware that Paillard also made Bolex. Interesting they didn't have a "tab" symbol - now I'm trying to think if there was a maker that had a symbol for tab...Thanks!
Huzzah! Coming to Always Analog and finding a typewriter review is like going to elementary-school Phys Ed class, and seeing that they've got the big parachute out! And what a magnificent machine! That viewing angle really accentuates that bulbous top; the beluga whale of typing machines! My own Hermes 3000 has a mainspring issue that I really should try to address. It's too nice a machine to collect dust in the closet. Thanks for this wonderful review!
Hi MAMO! LOL - glad you enjoyed the surprise of a typewriter review. I'm really going to try to work other analog technologies that I collect into the rotation a little more. I love the pencils and there are still so many to review, but it's fun to have other things in the mix. I appreciate that about your channel. You'll have to get your Hermes on the workbench so you can enjoy typing with it again! Thanks!
Over two hundred typewriters??!? 😲 No judgments by the way Kevin, just WOW! You could certainly show some more of them from time to time whenever you get a chance or feel up to it. Or show us how you store them! Fawn 😊
Hi Fawn - I'll try to work in more typewriter videos. Yes, I have collected quite a few over the the past 40 years! I have so many pencils to review that I often forget about doing some typewriter videos, but I'll try to remember. Thanks!
Great video! I believe the thing with the position of the tab and backspace key might depend on the country it was sold. I just checked and all 3000s that I have (or have had) have the backspace on the right and the tab on the left. This is across all three variants and they are all machines for the german/swiss/french market. Are all the machines for the US tab right backspace left like yours? That would be interesting. They even mention in the instruction manual that the position of these two keys might be the other way around.
Hi Hamilton - I'm not sure if other US sold Hermes 3000 machines had the tab and backspace keys in the same position as mine, but I see where they would place them differently for other markets. My manual also notes that the keys could be in different positions. Thanks!
My 1965 Hermes 3000 was used by my French father-in-law to write scripts for transmission on radio to Africa. It has the tab key on the left. It also has the French accents: L'accent aigu (é) · L'accent grave (à, è, ù) · L'accent circonflexe or "chapeau" (â, ê, î, ô, û) · La cédille (ç) · Le tréma (ë, ï, ü). The cédille is a separate key key on the far right of the home row under the exclamation mark. The other accents do not move the platen. So the trick is to type the accent first and then overtype the character required which does move the platen as normal. It also strangely has the British Sterling pound sign above the 5. There is no Euro € sign of course and no dollar sign. I am a touch typist having taught myself with a school book back forty years ago on an Olivetti electric for university assignments. In those days nearly all assignments were hand-written. I still touch type on my Micro$oft keyboard. I do find the Hermes manual more difficult than an electric but am learning to hit the keys harder! ps. I hate laptops because the keys are too small.
Hi Jim - that Hermes 3000 of your father-in-law's was made for the French market. Seems they made many variations on the keyboard. Did it have a symbol for the Franc? Manual typewriters do require a little more finger power, but you get used to it after a wile. Thanks!
Unless I missed it, I don't think you mentioned which typewriters you prefer to the 3000. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be interested to know. Thanks for the video.
Hi Mike - in terms of portable typewriters, I prefer the Olympia SM series over the Hermes. That just my personal preference with the touch of the machines. Thanks!
Nice video, thank you! I can see "something" happened around 19:21 after typing the "6". Seemed as if it automatically shifted the carriage a second time, before you hit the backspace to correct. Know why that is? Any hints as to how to fix it? My 1959 Hermes 3000 has the exact same issue and I am struggling with it. Thank you very much!
How do you fix the line spacing lever from drooping? I have a 1961 which has been rubbing the paint off similar to your machine and now it sort of gets stuck in that spot. Doesn't allow me to continue typing through and all the letters are in one spot. Do I bend it? Take it apart and tighten it back up?
Yes, I usually work on my own machines. There have been a couple of times when the issues were too complicated and beyond my level of expertise, but otherwise I do the work myself. Thanks!
Yep, it's "Seafoam Green" by popular agreement, tho Hermes called it "Light Green Gray F18". The Hermes 3000 only came in that color until 1971 when the shell was changed to blue or off-white plastic. The position of the tab and backspace are reversed between the US market and European markets.
Thank you so much, Ted, for the good information on the Hermes 3000 and all you do for the typewriter community!
Another fine video. Love H3K's. Love your Mr. Rodgers delivery and explanations. Good stuff ❤️
Thanks so much, Douglas!
I appreciate Swiss engineering. Paillard also manufactured Bolex movie equipment, which was built to a similar level of mechanical sophistication. I love how the curvytop H3Ks have symbols for tab set, tab individual clear, tab all clear, and backspace. I'm disappointed that Hermes couldn't come up with a symbol for "tab" to avoid having a button with that word on it.
Hi L.T. - I wasn't aware that Paillard also made Bolex. Interesting they didn't have a "tab" symbol - now I'm trying to think if there was a maker that had a symbol for tab...Thanks!
Huzzah! Coming to Always Analog and finding a typewriter review is like going to elementary-school Phys Ed class, and seeing that they've got the big parachute out!
And what a magnificent machine! That viewing angle really accentuates that bulbous top; the beluga whale of typing machines!
My own Hermes 3000 has a mainspring issue that I really should try to address. It's too nice a machine to collect dust in the closet.
Thanks for this wonderful review!
Hi MAMO! LOL - glad you enjoyed the surprise of a typewriter review. I'm really going to try to work other analog technologies that I collect into the rotation a little more. I love the pencils and there are still so many to review, but it's fun to have other things in the mix. I appreciate that about your channel. You'll have to get your Hermes on the workbench so you can enjoy typing with it again! Thanks!
Over two hundred typewriters??!? 😲 No judgments by the way Kevin, just WOW!
You could certainly show some more of them from time to time whenever you get a chance or feel up to it. Or show us how you store them!
Fawn 😊
Hi Fawn - I'll try to work in more typewriter videos. Yes, I have collected quite a few over the the past 40 years! I have so many pencils to review that I often forget about doing some typewriter videos, but I'll try to remember. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog No rush, and no pressure Kevin. Whenever it's feasible for you and you feel up to it! Much appreciated 😊
Very nice review. The pitch of the typeface is metric on Hermes; in this case it is 2.3 mm per caracter. Thanks, Daniel
Hi Daniel! Thanks for the info on the metric size!
Great video! I believe the thing with the position of the tab and backspace key might depend on the country it was sold. I just checked and all 3000s that I have (or have had) have the backspace on the right and the tab on the left. This is across all three variants and they are all machines for the german/swiss/french market. Are all the machines for the US tab right backspace left like yours? That would be interesting. They even mention in the instruction manual that the position of these two keys might be the other way around.
Hi Hamilton - I'm not sure if other US sold Hermes 3000 machines had the tab and backspace keys in the same position as mine, but I see where they would place them differently for other markets. My manual also notes that the keys could be in different positions. Thanks!
My 1965 Hermes 3000 was used by my French father-in-law to write scripts for transmission on radio to Africa. It has the tab key on the left. It also has the French accents: L'accent aigu (é) · L'accent grave (à, è, ù) · L'accent circonflexe or "chapeau" (â, ê, î, ô, û) · La cédille (ç) · Le tréma (ë, ï, ü). The cédille is a separate key key on the far right of the home row under the exclamation mark. The other accents do not move the platen. So the trick is to type the accent first and then overtype the character required which does move the platen as normal. It also strangely has the British Sterling pound sign above the 5. There is no Euro € sign of course and no dollar sign. I am a touch typist having taught myself with a school book back forty years ago on an Olivetti electric for university assignments. In those days nearly all assignments were hand-written. I still touch type on my Micro$oft keyboard. I do find the Hermes manual more difficult than an electric but am learning to hit the keys harder! ps. I hate laptops because the keys are too small.
Hi Jim - that Hermes 3000 of your father-in-law's was made for the French market. Seems they made many variations on the keyboard. Did it have a symbol for the Franc? Manual typewriters do require a little more finger power, but you get used to it after a wile. Thanks!
No, it does not have that funny symbol for the French Franc.
Unless I missed it, I don't think you mentioned which typewriters you prefer to the 3000. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be interested to know. Thanks for the video.
Hi Mike - in terms of portable typewriters, I prefer the Olympia SM series over the Hermes. That just my personal preference with the touch of the machines. Thanks!
Great video. You sound exactly like Tom Selleck. 😉
Thanks, Delilah! I appreciate you watching!
Nice video, thank you! I can see "something" happened around 19:21 after typing the "6". Seemed as if it automatically shifted the carriage a second time, before you hit the backspace to correct. Know why that is? Any hints as to how to fix it? My 1959 Hermes 3000 has the exact same issue and I am struggling with it.
Thank you very much!
Hi liesus720 - I'm not sure what causes that problem. It doesn't do it every time, but I'm not sure what the fix is. Sorry.
Hey AA - great review! Is this the one we found at John & Michele’s “Trash to Treasures” ?
Hi Ralph! No, that was an Olympia portable. Once I get it cleaned up and tuned up I'll have to do a video on it - thanks for spotting it!
Hey I see you posted I love your content of pencils and pens you should do movie reviews
Thanks, TOPBLAZEZ - I think I'm going to stick to pens and pencils...I like them more than movies! Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog okay that sounds great
How do you fix the line spacing lever from drooping? I have a 1961 which has been rubbing the paint off similar to your machine and now it sort of gets stuck in that spot. Doesn't allow me to continue typing through and all the letters are in one spot. Do I bend it? Take it apart and tighten it back up?
As I recall, there is a screw underneath that can be tightened. This was a common problem - but I would not attempt to bend the lever, it may break.
@@AlwaysAnalog Thank you!
Mine does the same thing. I’m going to look and see if I can tighten it. I assumed it was bent, I’m glad I saw this before I tried to bend it back
Do you service and repair your own machines?
Yes, I usually work on my own machines. There have been a couple of times when the issues were too complicated and beyond my level of expertise, but otherwise I do the work myself. Thanks!
I am curious if this typewriter company is affiliated with HERMÈS handbags
Hi RugbyFootballer - no, there isn't any relation between the typewriter and the handbags other than the name. Thanks!