Hermes Baby / Rocket 50’s (crinkle) or 60’s (smooth)

50’s Model

60’s Model

Hermes Baby Case Tutorial

These are beautiful machines. They're one of my favorite ultraportables.

They keyboard profile is small, great for nimble fingers. The action can be quick and light, requiring just a little pressure.

These come in a host of keyboards, often with European keys (as they come from Switzerland). It takes some time to memorize the positions of the special keys on any typewriter. I always send one in the QWERTY keyboard layout, which is most familiar... and the US version wherever possible. The 'extra' keys just vary a little. 

The 50's green crinkle finish versions have a beautiful engraved logo, which either says 'Baby' or 'Rocket.' It is usually an oval, sometimes a rectangle.  They evolved from the earlier gray versions, with the round keys. Though those ones look cool, they aren't as reliable.

IF you get a 60's machine, it'll be a smooth finish, with a two-tone ribbon selector and a rectangular logo.

These are fairly self explanatory; I'm attaching the manual for your reference. The left carriage knob is a little eccentric, as is the line spacing mechanism. There is a way to turn the knob to release the line ratcheting. This isn't needed, and I don't recommend it, because those knobs can crack easily. Just know that if anything starts acting weird in line advances, it's that knob coming loose or the screw on the end.

The shell is very thin and 'delicate'. You can bend it with extreme ease, especially the gull-wing ribbon covers. Just be mindful and gentle.

When ordering ribbon, make sure to specify this model. Sometimes, when the ribbon spool is too large, the gull wing covers will not close correctly, or the ribbon will fall off of the spool, or won't spin.

I sell ribbons here.

I sell the paper your note came on here.

These spools I sell are a universal size, though you can wind the ribbon onto your metal spools if the spools do not operate properly. 50’s models only type in black: 60’s ones can do black or red.

This machine is equipped with an automatic ribbon reverse mechanism, as well as a manual switch to reverse it as needed (if it gets hung up or something).

Loading the ribbon is not always easy on these machines, so takes a little practice. I mean, loading it through the ribbon vibrator (the thing that lifts the ribbon to create the imprint when the key is struck) needs to be done precisely as the manual says, or there will be issues (dragging on the paper, not advancing, etc). 

There is a carriage lock, which is near the line spacing selector. It's a fairly weak design, if you ask me, though it does the trick. Mostly the case keeps the carriage from flopping around.

Oh, the case is either a hard clamshell that clamps over the top, or a soft faux leather case with an embossed 'Hermes' insignia. I like those, though they don't keep the machine quite as secure, and sometimes the vinyl innards fall apart.

Please let me know if you have questions.

Here is the manual for the crinkle 50's version and here is the manual for the smooth 60's version.