Harvesting lead from typewriters

[302w]

Do all typewriters (up through the electric word processor types) contain linotype?

I'm not going to scrap a 1920s Smith Corona but if the 1980s electric machines have lino... I'll do it.

[Snakeoil]

If I remember right, the IBM electrics that used a ball for the type, the ball was plastic.

[imashooter2]

I don’t think there is any lead at all in typewriters.

[Winger Ed.]

The individual letters are soldered onto the steel levers that swing up to type a letter.
It'd take a lot of work to get the tea spoon or so of solder out of a old typewriter..... but it can be done!

[Outpost75]

Linotype metal was used in the old letterpress casting machines which produced one column line width of type at a time, which were stacked to make newspaper and magazine copy. The process was replaced by offset lithography in the 1960s.

I am still using linotype metal salvaged when the Washington Evening Star went under.

[GregLaROCHE]

If there’s any lead in a typewriter, it wouldn’t be much. Better to search elsewhere.

[uscra112]

Best to preserve those typewriters. we may need them someday.

[Sasquatch-1]

Manual word processers without all the bells and whistles. OK, maybe they have the bell.

[Rickf1985]

I scrapped several of those old, old, OLD manual and electric typewriters I found on my property when I moved here They were huge and they were heavy! But most of the weight was the motor, and the cast iron frame. I think the 5 horsepower motor on my compressor now is smaller than the 1/4 horse or whatever they were was on those typewriters weighed. Each typewriter was well over 100lbs.

[405grain]

I have a 1928 Smith Corona. It is invaluable for writing my untraceable manifestos and epic novels. I can assure you that if there's any lead in it at all, it would be less than a tiny fishing sinker. There is a special place in Hell for people that destroy nice old things for the momentary gain of a trinket: (not you Rickf1985 - I'm talking about other people) it's called the "Spilling dollars to pick up nickles" department. Anything that's nearly 100 years old and still works has a special value all its own.

[Bloodman14]

I've worked for a few companies that would 'spend a dollar to save a dime' and b**** about the 90 cents they lost in the process.

[elmacgyver0]

Best to preserve those typewriters. we may need them someday.

If things keep going the way they are, we most likely will.

[GONRA]

GONRA agrees - BUT SEZ "lottsa phun finding ribbons"? ???

[Larry Gibson]

I think you missed April Fools Day.....

[Rickf1985]

I have a 1928 Smith Corona. It is invaluable for writing my untraceable manifestos and epic novels. I can assure you that if there's any lead in it at all, it would be less than a tiny fishing sinker. There is a special place in Hell for people that destroy nice old things for the momentary gain of a trinket: (not you Rickf1985 - I'm talking about other people) it's called the "Spilling dollars to pick up nickles" department. Anything that's nearly 100 years old and still works has a special value all its own.

Yea, these were outside half buried for probably 25 years when I found them. I was not even sure what they were at first and a buddy kicked the dirt off of one and said it looks like a typewriter. So I pressure washed it off and sure enough you could see the keys and the arms, All rusted but you could tell what they were. I actually did not scrap them for money, I just needed to clean up the yard. I gave them to the junkyard I always dealt with since they were always good to me. There are probably more of them buried out there but I am not digging for them unless I have to dog for something else and run into them.

[lightman]

Like the others have said, Linotype is from an entirely different process. I don't know of any lead in typewriters. If you want Linotype it comes up for sale in the Swapping and Selling section occasionally.

[rockshooter]

sorta along the line...years ago when those newfangled office computers were getting popular I was working for Burroughs Computers and one of my jobs was to take the traded-in mechanical comptometers, adding machines and such to the local dump and beat them to death with sledges so they didn't turn up at garage sales. Now I still see them in antique stores.
Loren