The original 30% mechanical keyboard (1910-1913 Bennett typewriter)

Here I present the Bennett typewriter, probably the smallest keyboard typewriter ever, as was produced between 1910 to 1913, making this machine around 110 years old! This was the 38th addition to my collection. It wasn't in the nicest condition, but I found the price reasonable ($150 USD plus shipping) and was indeed able to get it fully working and performing. This, like the Blickensderfer discussed in detail in    • All about the 1914 Blickensderfer Alu...  , was designed to use a "type cylinder" in order to reduce the number of parts and hence manufacturing costs compared to the typebar typewriters you usually see on my channel.

This video covers the Bennett's features as well as the mechanisms that allow it to work in such a compact form factor more in line with modern 30% or 40% keyboards. And yes, there were technically plenty of "30% typewriters", called "three bank" as opposed to "four bank", but the Bennett was the first to implement it so compactly.

0:00 Introduction. Removing the cover. The "Junior" was the predecessor to the Bennett, having been originally produced in 1907. See https://typewriterdatabase.com/bennet..., https://www.antikeychop.com/bennettty..., and https://oztypewriter.blogspot.com/201... for more information.
0:28 30% keyboard layout
1:45 "Screen" (feeding paper). Pull the paper bail fully so that the paper can clear it.
2:23 Typing demo
3:13 Regarding "single-element" typewriters and cost saving
5:23 Pressing letter and shift keys
6:28 Removing the keyboard and ribbon assembly
7:24 Condition
7:44 Replacing the key lever springs
9:22 ***HOW IT WORKS***: Shift keys (caps and figs)
9:55 Shift locks
10:12 Lifting the type cylinder
10:23 Removing the type cylinder (changing typefaces)
10:29 Sector gear, pinion, and sliding rack
11:06 Shift return spring
11:11 Polishing the bell
11:22 Bell striker adjustment
12:11 Carriage way repair
12:50 No need for a carriage release. There is also no backspace; you have to push the carriage back to the right and press the spacebar to realign it.
13:49 Regarding escapements
14:21 Left margin. Fixed positions. No right margin; just a fixed position bell strike.
14:47 Removing the carriage
15:09 Feed rollers. No paper release.
15:43 **Escapement and carriage advance**. "Pawl" is is the word.
16:32 *Keyboard and type cylinder rotation*
18:35 *Character indexing and impression mechanism*
20:19 Alignment pins
21:15 **Ribbon advance mechanism**. For the rusted spool, I needed to carefully heat the spool with a butane torch while applying torque with pliers. I then lightly sanded the rust away and polished that surface to turn smoothly
22:34 Actuation pin and ribbon advance pawls
24:12 Ribbon reverse
25:00 Performance limitations. The spring for the 'Z' key had popped out, causing it to droop.
26:28 Key feel. This footage was inserted after reinstalling the 'Z' spring.
27:50 Reinstalling the carriage
28:15 No paper release
28:44 Reinstalling the cover
29:23 Weight
30:38 Conclusion

What you can expect to see on this channel:
Soon: Typewriter, switch, and keyboard collecting, Romantic Era piano performances (Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Alkan etc.), "perfectionist" Lego builds and mods.
Within a year: Programming, computer architecture, model ship building, worldbuilding?, conlangs?, philosophy?
In the following years: Independent watchmaking, making a unique typewriters from scratch, "revolutionizing" the concert grand.