Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 18:06:28 -0700
From: John & Amy Hern
To: wjs@portals.org
Subject: Linotype 14

Bill:

Better bring a big trailer.

When we were loading your linotype, the shaft that drives the
distributor got bumped and cracked some castings on the auxilliary
magazine. I have a spare "parts" model 14 Linotype that I will give
you, as a source of replacement parts for any broken pieces off yours,
so you can take both of them home with you. It also has a aux keyboard
and a quadder, which you would like if you got really ambitious and
wanted to install it on yours.

I am finding lots of spares as well, I'd suggest some strong boxes to
carry them in for the return journey.

Let me know what kind of skids you want, or we can make them when you
get here.
--

John A. Hern Jr. 1900 Millview Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814
mailto:hern@nidlink.com Dipl.Ing. Mechanical Engineer
Foundry: http://www.nidlink.com/~fouronkey
Greyhounds: http://www.greyhoundpetsinc.org


Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 08:22:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: William Spurling
Subject: RE: Linotype 14
To: hern@nidlink.com
Cc: wjs@portals.org

John,

I have several concerns.

How difficult will this repair and swapping of parts be for
someone who has not yet ever dealt with a linotype? I have
been told by several people Tom Conlon included that if I
don't get a functioning machine that there is a pretty good
chance that I will never get it going. Do you have documentation
beyond the "Linotype Machine Principles" book for the repair - or
is it so simple that its obvious what needs to be done? After
the parts are swapped, are there complicated adjustments that
need to be made before it will function correctly?

What kind of total weight are we talking about. I don't know
what the capacity of the trailer I intend to borrow is, I
will check. Its a tandem axle but it sounds like we are
starting to approach 5000 lbs.

Regarding the strong boxes for spares, what do you have in mind?
Just cardboard boxes? My pickup has a short-wide box as well
as a crew cab where I could stack parts. The weather forecast
at this point looks pretty good. I may forego what I was
planning on for Saturday and head that way sooner than I was
planning as this is sounding more involved especially the
unloading when I get back here.

I don't care what kind of skids, just something I can pry up
and stick a few lengths of 3/4 inch iron pipe under for getting
it off. I can bring some 4x4s or 2x6's or whatever you think
is best.

Bill


Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 08:40:01 -0700
From: John & Amy Hern
To: William Spurling
Subject: Re: Linotype 14

Bill:

I'd agree wholeheartedly that you don't want a machine that's not
running, or one that has had parts taken off. That's the reason I call
the other 14 a "parts" machine. The stuff that's broken on the good
machine is not critical and does not require any adjustments.

This looks to be a very simple repair, remove the drive shaft from the
parts machine, remove a couple of brackets, and install them on the good
machine. I'd get it running at that point, and worry about getting the
auxillary magazine going later. Most small shops don't need the aux
magazine anyway, you have four magazines on the main machine anyway. I
think the aux magazines were used for doing advertizements in
newspapers. It's just something nice to have, like the quadder.

No problem in putting parts in the back of your truck. Best place for
them anyway. Boxes are handy to keep them from rolling around.

Sure, come over early; if we take too much time, you can spend the night
here. I have a big house and always plenty of room for printers and
greyhound people.

I have some parts books that I will be giving you, and some other Lino
literature to make things easier for you. Also, I am sure there are
still a few "machinists" around the Portland area if you find you need
some help.

I think you are just about right at 5000 pounds for the two machines.
The rest of the weight can go in the truck, as you suggest. Will make a
better ride, anyway. I had about this much weight on my car trailer the
other day, and it rode just fine, even without much weight in my truck.

Tell you what: why don't you bring whatever skid material you think
best, and some lag screws to fasten it with, and we will put it on
here. I'd suggest something like good fir 2x6's or 2x8's, and 3" x 1/2"
lag screws with some big washers. Anything you can't find, we can get
here.