After much effort, this Hermes 3000 has been made whole again, thanks to help from the Typosphere. As per usual, I ended up with some cuts and bruises along the way. I wonder how many of our typewriters carry our DNA within their mechanical parts. Is this part of the ritual? We bleed and they come back to life?
Video mentioned in post: https://youtu.be/oSrU4sh4V6Y
The Untimely Typewriter:Daily Writings Against the Tides of Distraction 
I have the same model, I think. The knobs don’t like anything like those, however. Do both the old and new style knobs fit? The left knob on mine finally broke off after being held together with superglue and tape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s a link that might help: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpMSIk_LWhI/XLsuiWf_qhI/AAAAAAAAHi8/YCQ6IOn-2gM6HBqqz-_5XTycTyKQAFinwCLcBGAs/s1600/part1.jpg
My new knobs fit very well and the grey color somehow complements the typewriter. One thing I noticed is that the case became a bit too snug, which likely was caused by how much room I left on the knobs. Then I simply stretched the metal case a bit and everything worked well. The cheap knobs were a weird oversight by Hermes, but, if something had to break, the knobs would be my preference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just watched the video. My knobs look exactly like the ones on that machine — right down to the damaged left one! I’m always amazed at how the Hermes 3000 had such awful platen knobs. It would be the equivalent of a Bentley only being available with a vinyl interior. (Although I guess that’s the deal with Tesla!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on the repairs. Your H3k looks good. I’ve had the case get snug also. The case is easily fit to the new knobs, and the tiny bit of stretch is not noticeable.
L.T. ,
BTW Superglue is one of the worst to use on the H3k knobs, It’ll oxidize them at the glued joint. Superglue does that on many plastics. I use Duco Cement or Testor’s Model Cement on 99% of the plastics I repair. Takes longer to set and dry, I’ve never seen it oxidize.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Bill. I think it’s time give this machine a snazzy new ribbon.
LikeLike
I’ve never had issues with my 1970 body plastic body H3K’s knobs. Luck, or did they improve them by the time of that later model?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good question. Beats me. Mine was manufactured in 1967. How’s yours handle in general?
LikeLike
Joe,
I’ve been wondering for years how the H3k knobs on some typewriters seem to disintegrate while others stay perfectly fine.
I do not recall seeing any of the round body ones with broken knobs. I have several round and square body ones where the knobs are fine. Seems green or white plastic does not matter. Only it seems the plastic is different from the change from round to square bodies in 1966 onward. This change seems also to affect the Rocket/Baby knobs. Then I have a few, and have seen many more, where the knobs are in pieces. Again seems not to matter which color, green or white. A Hermes mystery to which we may never have an answer.
LikeLiked by 1 person