Total Pageviews

Wednesday 15 September 2021

Where Is 'Wasp's Nest' in the Lexikon Typewriter?

Where is “wasp’s nest” in the Lexikon? In our The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, third edition, 1974, it’s under “W” and way back on page 2390. In this Ivrea-made Olivetti Lexikon (no serial number yet spotted), it was found under the carriage. This is a machine that has been brought into my typewriter workshop to see if I can get it typing again. Not alone was the shift key not shifting, none of the other keys would budge. Nor would the carriage. I figured there was some sort of “foreign” matter jammed in between the carriage and the escapement rack. Sure enough, it was a rock-solid wasp’s nest - and I mean ROCK-solid. The wasps had brought the wet red clay into the machine and made the nest – you can see from an emboss on part of the nest where they built it on to the machine.

Watch this space for word on when I get it working again. I’m keen to save it, because it has the embossed brandname on the paper plate and nickel rings on the keytops. But it will take some saving …

3 comments:

Bill M said...

I've never seen a wasp's nest in a typewriter before. It is amazing how strong they make the mud. I know you'll get the typewriter back into great usable condition.

Ted said...

That looks like a bit of work - happy cleaning (:

Richard P said...

I too have found a wasp's nest in a typewriter. Also, a mouse's nest—including the mouse!