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| 1991 Любава 223054 |
(there is a lot of white space here to show how different these typewriters are)
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| 198X Robotron Erika 120 6403411 |
Apparently the Lyubava had good alignment when it was new…hard to believe.
The Lyubava/Любава is so bad we could never, ever part with it.
My Russian is really horrible.
Sent from my Optima Super, Любава, and Robotron Erika 120
I have some pretty bad typewriters... I'd run my Royal Roytype ME25-Extra against your crummy one any day :)
ReplyDeleteMy Cyrillic machines are both nice, and neither were made in the USSR. A 1949 Underwood standard and a SM-3.
At least the alignment on it seems to be as bad (from tw-db) as the Lyubava's. XD There's a chance that when new, it could have been a better machine, but it hasn't aged well at all, with no signs of damage or abuse. Or use, for that matter.
DeleteNice, but be careful with your 'etot' and 'khudshiy' ... where it might be 'eta', 'khudshaya', etc. And 'bukvie' take an adjective, not an adverb.
ReplyDeleteI've been out of practice for a while; month ago I wouldn't have made those silly errors.
DeleteNo worries, you've done well. A typewriter is a fine way to practise. Try to do an entire post in Russian. That in itself would warrant a tutor's full marks. (And apologies for my error of bukvie instead of bukvie: I, too, am out of practice.)
Deletebukvy, I mean. Oh, I'll just give up.
DeleteI've sporadically written short letters in Russian (on typewriter of course) and I'm going to set a goal to write at least a few sentences every day, as well as practice and review more.
DeleteMy God, the profile shot of that Erika! Is this typewriter amphibious? Although, the more I look at it, the more I begin to like it.
ReplyDeleteIt's like a bucket…haha. Convenient handles on the sides for lifting it in and out of water, too.
DeleteThe Lyubva is reminiscent of my Erika 105 - which is quite nice to type on, so I imagine the 102 is too - even if it does look like the back of a tipper truck, It's only fair you should have at least one dud in your impressive collection. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's such a special dud anyway. Everybody should own a last-effort item manufactured in the USSR in 1991, haha.
DeleteThat Erika looks like some sort of bathtub!
ReplyDeleteThe Lyubava actually looks pretty nice, but it sounds like it's a terrible typewriter. Here's my 1993 Ortekh for those interested. Also, the alignment on my brand-new Royal Scrittore II is worse than on the 1991 Lyubava.
Let's have a horrible-typewriter-type-off some day!
I'm almost positive than it's better than that Scrittore. I am just so thrown off by the (lack of) quality of the plastic housing that it biases me.
DeleteHmmm… so many horrible typewriters to choose from!
The Erika sure is a strange design. Funny how the Lyubava looks nicer and types worse.
ReplyDeleteErika had a design that looked almost exactly like the Lyubava ( http://typewriterdatabase.com/197x-robotron-erika-105.1638.typewriter ) and I'd really like to get an English keyboard Erika 105
DeleteThis is an interesting post, thanks, Nick.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad the Lyubava is a horrible performer, it looks quite cool. The worst I've had was an ABC/Cole-Steel, I couldn't stand the typing action, I only had it for a few hours before I returned it. Where on earth did you find it? I don't suppose this was just sitting around in some Tacoma thrift shop.
Your description of the Erika is spot on- startlingly ugly, captivatingly beautiful. I think the quirkiness is interesting.
I rather like my Cole-Steel but at the same time, I never ever use it.
DeleteI was the only bidder on eBay, $50 free shipping. (totally not worth it yet worth so much more at the same time XD ) It came from California, I believe.
That Erika is fascinating! Really, I think it's a great looking typewriter. Just something about it..
ReplyDeleteNow, to find one with an English keyboard!
I agree! We bought it just to have one Russian typewriter without regard to the looks, but I've grown to like it a lot.
DeleteJust looked something about Lyubava typewriter and read your post. Just bought one with English keyboard and I think the plastic is horrible. But it types pretty well. Also I have Erika 100 with English keys from 1977 which is great machine.
ReplyDeleteIf your Lyubava is from the 1980s, chances are it'll be a better machine. I've heard the decline really began around 1989.
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