Investigation into replacement of missing feed roller parts on 1053

MISSING PARTS ON 1053

The console printer, a 1053 I/O Selectric, was missing the parts that fit under the platen and press the paper against the surface of the platen. There were quite a few parts missing as you can see from the diagram below. I drew over the few parts that were still in place using a grey aerosol brush effect.

Greyed out the few parts that are not missing

These are essentially pivoting levers that are spring loaded to swing up against the underside of the platen. Shafts with rubber feed rollers are inserted into these parts - the shafts/rollers were not missing nor was the platen. A Selectric has front and rear feed roller shafts, which fit into a cradle that pivots on the larger lever that in turn pivots on a heavy rod. 

These must be able to move out of the way when releasing paper thus the mechanism has additional pivots and springs compared to a design that might have a fixed position under a platen. The paper release lever on the side of the typewriter connects to these parts. 

CHECKING WITH OWNING MUSEUM

I asked the museum which owns the 1130 to look for the missing parts as it is possible they are on a shelf near where the machine was being worked on before it was transported to me. Hopefully they will find those parts, still assembled into groups I imagine, and ship them to me. 

ALTERNATIVE DONOR MACHINE

The donor office Selectric machine I have uses a very different and less rugged feed system that does not appear compatible at all with the 1053. I would have to get lucky finding a machine from which I could harvest the needed parts. The donor is a 11" machine while the 1053 is a 13" model. That might result in the use of the different design even on office machines, but I needed to do some research.

What I discovered was that the paper feed mechanisms are divided into two types - A-frame and tie-rod. The donor typewriter had an A-frame but the 1053 uses the tie-rod feeds. The parts look like they will be much more widely available as long as I find machines with tie-rod paper feed mechanisms. 

The original Selectric, retroactively called Selectric 1 by collectors, came in three widths, 8 1/2", 11" and 13" although some very specialized office machines for banks had much wider carriages. The 1053 is a 13" model. Apparently all I need is to find a 13" tie-rod machine, probably a Selectric 1. 

I can figure out whether a typewriter is a 13" model by looking at the inch markings on the paper entry guide. What I can't tell from most of the pictures is what kind of paper feed mechanism is under the cover. I might have to drive to several and look inside before buying.