Smith Corona Classic 12 ribbon won't stay in place
Hello!
I bought a Smith Corona Classic 12 manual typewriter on Ebay and the seller included a twin-spool ribbon. I have tried several times to thread the ribbon according to the manual, but every time I begin to type, the ribbon slides downward or upward, as if the ribbon carrier is too far from the platen and transparent line indicator, leaving too wide a gap. There appear to be no grooves or catches to hold the ribbon in place. Also, It seems that the spools are not winding/unwinding, but just staying in place.
I thought that perhaps the ribbon included has the wrong specifications. I saw a distributor online that sells ribbons for this typewriter, but I haven't bought one because I am worried that I may have already wasted my money and don't wish to waste more.
Thank you to all who read my problem and give it consideration!
I bought a Smith Corona Classic 12 manual typewriter on Ebay and the seller included a twin-spool ribbon. I have tried several times to thread the ribbon according to the manual, but every time I begin to type, the ribbon slides downward or upward, as if the ribbon carrier is too far from the platen and transparent line indicator, leaving too wide a gap. There appear to be no grooves or catches to hold the ribbon in place. Also, It seems that the spools are not winding/unwinding, but just staying in place.
I thought that perhaps the ribbon included has the wrong specifications. I saw a distributor online that sells ribbons for this typewriter, but I haven't bought one because I am worried that I may have already wasted my money and don't wish to waste more.
Thank you to all who read my problem and give it consideration!
Office Equipment & Supplies - Smith Corona
Answers & Comments
Okay...i had the same problem when I replaced the original ribbon that came with my Classic 12. I think it was the ribbon that came with the typewriter.
Anyway, on the ribbon carrier, there are two sets of metal prongs on top of one another. If you get the ribbon behind both of them, it will pop up and not go back down or won't come up at all.
You have to get the ribbon between the two sets of prongs. There's isn't much room and you have to kind of pull the bottom of the ribbon taught and slide it down from the top.
It isn't easy the first time, but after you get it, you won't forget.
As for your ribbon not feeding...take the spools out and make sure the pegs that go into the holes in the spools are rotating when you type. This is what moves the spools. Then make sure you're getting the pegs in the hols when you put the spools back in.
Also, make sure the ribbon isn't twisted anywhere and that it's threaded correctly. Both spools should look identical with the ribbon coming out of the top toward the carrier.
To ensure you have the correct ribbon, got to the Office Depot online store and do a search for Smith Corona Classic 12 and you will get a pretty generic, double-black ribbon that fits and works perfectly...and is so soaked in ink you can reuse each side three times. I don't recall the brand name, but the box is grey with red lettering.