Facit 1620
Post-Script: Finding this machine was a pleasant surprise. Finding it for $8 was even better. And finding out that, after being serviced, it types remarkably smooth and clear was an added bonus. This initial round of typing impressed me even more, especially the smoothness of the carriage return, as it uses a peculiar design of tubular bearing housing with radial ball bearings mounted inside a large diameter tube.
Be sure to check out Episode 42 of the Typewriter Video Series for details on how I serviced this machine back to life.
Labels: Facit 1620, typewriter collecting, Typewriter video series
posted by Joe V at 8:30 PM
16 Comments:
Great find. I've been looking for one of these (I came across one but it was in poor condition and a lot more than $8) :)
I have the Facit 1620 service manual, if you want a copy. Also, I *think* it's pronounced "fasset" not "fackit", but i've only heard it pronounced by other non-swedes. (:
I was debating how to pronounce it, then recalled someone's video where they used the "fackit" pronunciation, which reminded me how all the Irish folk I've known use the F-word in their daily vocabulary but pronounce it like "Fek," friendly like, not the way us yanks use it more in anger.
I need to get this entered into the database. Thanks for reading and watching.
Eight bucks! Wow.
Oh Joe, I love the way you have hidden a tiny-teeny French Flag beside the keys!
According to some online pronunciation guides, the name "Facit" should be sounded something like "faucet".
Joe - where did you get those mascara brushes? I'd use my wife's but don't know how well that would go over. That's a great idea.
I got them at a local beauty supply store, that supplies beauty salons.
My TP2 is similar, and it certainly does operate smoothly as you say. However, mine makes such a powerful strike it almost cuts through the paper. Have you noted any method of adjusting these for clearances between the striking mechanism and the platen assembly?
This can be caused by the platen rubber cylinder being too hard, or the "ring and cylinder" adjustment, which if properly adjusted stops the type slugs from hitting the platen by about a paper's thickness.
If the platen is too hard, some reconditioning with isopropyl alcohol or rubber rejuvenator can sometimes help. Typing with a backing sheet of paper behind your front sheet can sometimes also help.
I haven't made any adjustments to the "ring and cylinder" on my Facit. I don't know if it is adjustable. But here's a link to a typewriter forum discussion about this problem.
http://typewriter.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?pid=10306
The half-circle shaped plate below the ribbon is what the type bars should be striking, before the slugs actually hit the platen too hard. I removed mine to clean behind it; I didn't note any adjustment screws.
Hi Ted! Could you please tell me where to find a service manual? We are desperatly in need of one! 😅
Kind regards Lotta
Btw.. it's pronounced "fasit"
// Lotta
Hi Ted, could you please send a copy of the service manual to typewriter@aikido.berlin
Much obliged, mate!
Foegive the reply to this ancient post.
I used a Facit back at school (UK) along with big Olympia SG1's and they were fantastic machines that I had forgotten.
I just snapped and bought one which has a seized escapement... hoping it's not too tough to fix. I have had cameras from Sweden with the same problem. Awful lubricant... It just turns to glue given enough time.
Got One. They Were Made in Ã…tvidaberg Sweden. High quality.
The name is faaasit. 😎
Faaasit
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