Replacing a single typewriter key legend:

The keys on these are metal bases with a cardboard legend (with the glyph printed on it) which is typically covered by a clear acetate lens and held on by a metal keyring. Fortunately you've got the keyring. If you can't source a single acetate lens from a repair shop you can buy a set from https://mytypewriter.com/products/hello-qwerty-replacement-keytop-disc-set

Richard Polt has some of the process described here as well as as high resolution scans that you can use to print out the key legends you may need. https://writingball.blogspot.com/2016/10/legendary.html

Ames Supply Company used to sell keycards for doing this. Some of them had colors including green, so keep this in mind if you try something like creating rainbows across your keyboard or other visual fun. https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-Ames_Gen_Cat_10-March.misc-supplies.manual

Our friend Lucas Dul of Chicago Typewriter has a great YouTube video of the tool and some of the process, though you can probably get away without a pair of custom pliers since you only need to do one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYHrBjfQxpM

As a fun example, Heiko Stolten recently did a whole keyboard on a Remington using custom made legends that use the font from the Netflix series Wednesday: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TypewriterCollectors/posts/10163537426144678/ If you ask nicely, they've got the original files if you need them for printing out.

Good luck!

reply to u/saved_rae at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1uvehmb/missing_period_key_repaint/ who was missing a period legend and the acetate lens.

https://mytypewriter.com/products/hello-qwerty-replacement-typewriter-keycard-legend

Tom Hansen has used these before: https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1310021417983296/

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=26964309966542201&set=p.26964309966542201&type=3

Print at 1:1. Via Everett E. Henderson Jr. of Austin Typewriter Ink.

reply to Zachary Thede at https://www.facebook.com/groups/721704878218903/posts/3075801049475929

It's definitely doable! The only way to do this is to remove the keyrings (preferably with a keyring pliers, otherwise it's incredibly tedious) and to physically replace the key legends with new ones. Richard Polt has some of the process described here as well as as high resolution scans that you can use to print out keys. https://writingball.blogspot.com/2016/10/legendary.html

Ames Supply Company used to sell keycards for doing this. Some of them had colors including green, so keep this in mind if you try something like creating rainbows across your keyboard or other visual fun. https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-Ames_Gen_Cat_10-March.misc-supplies.manual

Our friend Lucas Dul of Chicago Typewriter has a great YouTube video of the tool and some of the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYHrBjfQxpM

As a fun example, Heiko Stolten recently did this on a Remington using custom made legends that use the font from the Netflix series Wednesday: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TypewriterCollectors/posts/10163537426144678/ If you ask nicely, they've got the original files if you need them for printing out .

Good luck!

https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-Ames_Gen_Cat_10-March.misc-supplies.manual

Cross reference: https://writingball.blogspot.com/2016/10/legendary.html

The Typewriter Revolution blog: Legendary!<br /> by [[Richard Polt]]<br /> accessed on 2026-04-28T13:31:05

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TypewriterCollectors/posts/10163553004084678/

Ames Supply Company apparently sold replacement green colored key legends for replacing the originals if necessary.

This Royal 10 has some as an example.

For those curious about some of the history behind these, check out: <br /> - https://typewriterdatabase.com/1960-Ames_Gen_Cat_10-March.misc-supplies.manual <br /> - https://writingball.blogspot.com/2016/10/legendary.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TypewriterCollectors/posts/10163537426144678/

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/3wut0f/rotating_keys_on_smith_corona_silent/

See also: https://hypothes.is/a/QSmmGAuyEe-liOcGXnKxOA

A New U: Replacing a key legend on a Royal KMM typewriter<br /> by [[Richard Polt]] on The Typewriter Revolution blog<br /> accessed on 2025-11-04T10:16:51

A good, short tutorial on how to replace the key legends of a glass key typewriter with photos and tools. Also includes a .pdf template for the legends of a Royal KMM typewriter.