The operators could have sent LTRS (all holes punched) but they never did -- their finger was already on CR, so they would just hit it a couple of times. Same

The operators could have sent LTRS (all holes punched) but they never did -- their finger was already on CR, so they would just hit it a couple of times. Same net effect - delay until the carriage could return. Which, BTW, was an indication that your machine needed service. The spring should have been wound tight enough and the track clean & oiled well enough to get the carriage back to the first column in time to not drop any characters. A pneumatic piston ("dash pot") slowed the carriage down as it approached the first column so it wouldn't crash into the stops and get damaged.