OLDER MACHINES

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I got a Stenoram II. I'm hitting 200 Q&A right now. I know this writer is about 20 years old. The aoeu (the bottom four keys) seem to have a "flabby or loose" feel when I hit them. It seems like a long way to go to hit the platen. I seem to keep missing the o come out.

Is this my imagination?

[Cathryn Bauer]

Very possibly not. It sounds to me like something that a routine servicing could fix. When you take it or send it in, be sure you tell the serviceperson what you've told us here.

[Kathy Nielsen]

A service person can shorten the depth stroke for you by adding a shim.
The vowel keys may be out of adjustment, also. They may need to be
tightened or the depth stroke shortened.

I would also suggest having the service person add an additional row
of vowel keys on top of the existing vowel keys by gluing them on top
with superglue. This would raise the level of the vowel keys to about
the level of the other keys and your thumbs would not have to go
down as far. I have had double vowel keys for over 20 years and
I would not go back to single vowel keys.

[Tami]

I had no idea double-stacked vowel keys have been around 20 years, Kathy. Did you figure that out on your own?? I put mine on in 2006.

I don't ever want to go back. That's for sure.

[Kathy Nielsen]

I got the double vowel keys put on my machine when
I went to pick it up after being serviced and the guy
that was servicing my machine had me write on a machine
that had double vowel keys on it. After writing on it, he
asked me what I thought of the machine and I didn't know
what he was talking about. When he told me about the
double vowel keys, I immediately said I wanted him to put
them on my machine and I've had them on ever since.
Of course, I keep a tube of superglue handy in case one
falls off while I'm writing!

[Kathy Nielsen]

I don't think I've ever had a problem with my thumb and the
asterisk key and the right R key getting in the way. I use
the asterisk quite a bit when I write and sometimes I'll
just hold down the keys on the left side and lift my right
hand up and hit the asterisk instead of trying to hit the
asterisk and EU together.

Actually, I would think it would be easier with the raised
vowel keys because your thumb isn't down so low.

[Kathy Nielsen]

No, I'm not hitting the EU with my left hand, I use my right hand.
But when I want to use the asterisk, after the initial stroke, still
holding down the keys with my left hand, I pick up my right hand
and press the asterisk key with my right index finger. It's called
a half tap. It's actually faster than coming back for a second
stroke if you can get used to it.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I only got this machine from JM Steno a few months ago. I just started using it. The+ sign comes up with I hit the vowels, so I know they are recording the vowels. Those double vowel keys sound great.

Thanks.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I did adjust my touch. It could be I am just not hitting the lower keys enough.

I opened by case - and I do have a packet of GRIPPERS - Keytop Covers. All you have to do is glue them on - which I will do. Right next to that I had a mouse pad, which is thicker and padded. I might cut a mouse pad into proper sizes and glue them on.

[Kathy Nielsen]

It sounds like you might benefit from a row of extra vowel keys
if you think you're not hitting the lower keys enough.

I have used the key pads in the past but I don't anymore. They
might help on the vowel keys but I think gluing an extra set of
actual vowel keys on top of the existing ones would be best.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

For vowel keys, do you all mean the actual plastic keys?

[Kathy Nielsen]

Yep, that's exactly what I mean. Just like the vowel keys
that are currently on your machine. And like I said in
a prior post, be sure to keep a tube of superglue handy
just in case one pops off while you're writing. It's worth
it in the end. I think you'd like it a lot.

[Kathy Nielsen]

Also, I just wanted to add that when you use keypads on
your keys and they eventually need to be replaced, the
glue can be difficult to remove from your keys. In my
experience, it's quite a job to remove them and get the
remaining glue off, and then apply new ones.