https://www.facebook.com/sameeranff/posts/pfbid027ztMHDpviDq8p4rQrAyLHoAuEnBZkEfqWJff2iRGf3HHYJM9g1LCCcfVa1xXZ3Ztl

uncommonly large typewriter spools

reply to u/Minimum__Dot1795 at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1rx45d7/imperial_70_can_i_use_any_spools_wanting_to_try/

I'm not sure of the internal diameter of yours, not having used Imperial spools before, but some of the cheap plastic "Universal Spools" have removeable plastic cores that may allow you to pop them out and be compatible with your machine. The one's I've got have a 3/4" or 19mm diameter hole and are meant to be used with Remington machines instead of their metal spool hubs. (Example: https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Typewriter-Typewriters-Replacement-Compatible/dp/B0D9P2P2Q7/?th=1)

https://torontotypewriters.com/products/black-dog-typewriter-ribbon-black-cotton

Holy shit, their typewriter ribbon is expensive! $21.00?!? They are giving you what look like 3-D printed spools with it, so that's where a lot of the value proposition is hiding.

Could be made by some ribbon company like Alpad who sold Olivetti compatible ribbons/spools.

6mm diameter center holes on spools are indicative of a Gr4 typewriter spool.

via u/Koponewt at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1qcocn1/does_anyone_recognise_this_spool/

https://makerworld.com/en/models/1470635-remington-typewriter-ribbon-spools

reply to u/14Papa19 at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1q0dt1e/new_to_us_remington_streamliner/

Try spooling the ribbon manually in one direction or the other for a foot or so to get to ribbon that's not dried out and you may be in luck and not need to replace it right away.

Ribbon purveyors: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-faq.html#q1

If you've got the original Remington metal hubs (which are needed for the auto-reverse functionality), keep those as they're expensive to replace. Spool your new ribbon (1/2" wide and typically comes on 2" diameter plastic universal spools) from cheap plastic spools onto your originals.

If you don't have the original metal hubs, you can call around to repair shops for replacements (which may be the cheapest route) https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html. Ribbons Unlimited also sells these hubs with ribbon attached, but it's more expensive to do this, but once you've got them, you can buy ribbon by itself for much cheaper in the future and just wind the new ribbon onto existing spool hubs.

Here's some useful videos which might help you out in terms of how to spool up your ribbon:<br /> - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTFM54VKKc4 (Slightly different model to yours, but same spool mechanisms) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWQTa4b7jPs (This one has some advice about using a Remington without the spools.)

If you needs some tips on color matching your typewriter to a desk or your fountain pen: https://boffosocko.com/2024/03/22/acquisition-remington-streamliner-196x-portable-typewriter-in-metallic-mint-blue/

For more on use and maintenance: https://boffosocko.com/2025/06/06/typewriter-use-and-maintenance-for-beginning-to-intermediate-typists/

Good luck and happy typing!

https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1p42tr1/typewriter_ribbon/

It's a small metal ring/hub that fits onto the ribbon spindle. You can call around to repair shops for replacements (which may be the cheapest route) https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html. Ribbons Unlimited https://ribbonsunlimited.com also sells these hubs with ribbon attached, but it's more expensive to do this, but once you've got them, you can buy ribbon by itself for much cheaper in the future and just wind the new ribbon onto existing spool hubs.

Here's some useful videos which might help you out: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTFM54VKKc4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWQTa4b7jPs (This one has some advice about using a Remington without the spools.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1p1w0vx/what_type_of_ribbon_would_this_need/

Off-label uses for linewinders as typewriter ribbon winders?

• https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fishing-Line-Winder-Spooler-Aluminum-Alloy-Spooling-Station-Adjustable-Rotating-Axis-Steel-Frame-Clamp-Workbench-Fishing-Line-Spooler-Machine-Multipl/17084510284?classType=REGULAR
• https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fishing-Line-Spoolers-Adjustable-Fishing-Line-Winders-Spoolers-Machine-Spinnings-Baitcasting-Reel-Spooling/17886252799?classType=VARIANT
• https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apooke-Spinning-Reel-Fishing-Line-Fishingline-Winder-Equipment-Winder-Spooler-Machine-with-Suction-Cup-Fishing-Line-Spooler/5648376830?classType=REGULAR

https://www.trianglesport.com/

Potential off-label use cases for their line winders with respect to spooling typewriter ribbon?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1098284832490290/

Both Baco Ribbon and Fine Line offer black/red bichrome ribbon in most of these materials for an incredibly reasonable price:

• nylon ribbon $0.10 - $0.15/yard
• silk ribbon $0.33 to $0.40/yard
• cotton ribbon $0.25/yard

If you're going to buy even 3-6 spools of ribbon at individual prices of $9-20 per spool, you may as well make the investment in a half or full reel of inked typewriter ribbon and save yourself a lot of hassle. This will bring your spool of ribbon price down into the $2-4 range.

Ribbons Unlimited is great, but their prices on most ribbon is comparatively really high because part of what they're selling you is the information about which spools will fit your machine. This is fine if you get a typewriter without spools at all, but if you've got original spools, you can get really great ribbon for a fraction of the price and spool it onto your extant spools.

reply to https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1n58ivm/working_on_my_first_restoration_royal_arrow/

reply to u/Ill_Tear8308

Not so much that they're proprietary, but the Zephyr, Skyriter, and later Corsairs used the 1 5/8" diameter spools, which fit about 12 yards of ribbon versus the more common universal 2" spools which will hold 16 yards of ribbon.

1/2" wide ribbon should work on this. Sellers include: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-faq.html#q1

If you wind it onto pre-existing spools keep in mind that Smith-Coronas typically used eyelets in the ribbon to effect the auto-ribbon reverse, though you could certainly do it manually if you needed to.

There aren't a lot of examples of Empire-Coronas in the typewriter database, so be sure to include your example with photos:

https://typewriterdatabase.com/empire.24.typewriter-serial-number-database

https://typewriterdatabase.com/Empire.-Corona+Skyriter.24.bmys

With respect to your spools, the side you show in the photo should go face down and the "v" cut side should face up. If you don't have one you can find a manual at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/RoyalKHM.pdf The Royal standards from the X onward are broadly the same so manuals for the X, KH, KHM, KMM, KMG, HH, FP, Empress, and FP should all be useful too: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html

reply to u/actualwoey at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1gqhied/recommendations_for_reliable_new_small_spool_1_58/

You could see if a local repair shop is parting out a machine or has spools that would work for you. iirc the Corona Zephyr, Skyriter, and the later versions of the Corsair all used that smaller spool size, usually described as 1 5/8" or 1 2/3". https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html Once you've got the correct sized spools, you can wind your Amazon ribbon onto them, but you'll likely have to trim it down to fit. (2" spools usually have 16 yards of ribbon while the 1 5/8" accommodate about 12 yards.)

If you can't come up with original metal spools to respool your 1/2" ribbon onto, you can try https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/category-s/12779.htm which will sell you both in one go.

Some other ribbon options: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-faq.html#q1. I've had good luck buying bulk ribbon from both Baco Ribbon and Fine Line.

I've heard some have successfully re-juvenated old ribbon by spraying it (unspooled into a box) with WD-40 or glycerine to re-wet it and then respooling it.

A Primer on Typewriter Ribbons & Spools by [[Damon DiMarco]]

Typewriter ribbon is 1/2" wide (12.7mm) which has been standardized as DIN2103.

The DIN 32755 spool, aka a Universal spool, or a Group 1 spool.

Olivetti typewriters use Group 4 spools.

Faster Remington Noiseless 7 Typewriter Spool Covers by [[David Randall]]

Brass Typewriter Spool Covers by [[David Randall]]

via u/guneeyoufix at https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1amo13f/cheap_ribbons_for_uk_typists/

A list of typewriters that have general exceptions to the broad categories of typewriter spools. One will want to keep and use the original metal spools for these.

https://www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com/en-us/blogs/news/which-typewriter-ribbon-do-i-need-for-my-typewriter

Lists of the primary spool types and typewriters which fit them.

The three most common typewriter spools:

• GR1 (Group 1)

  • Used by most German machines.
  • Sometimes known as DIN 2103 or 32 755.
  • 50-54mm Diameter.
  • 5mm center hole.
  • Usually 1, 3, 4, or 6 round drive holes.

• GR4 (Group 4)

  • Used by Olivetti and some other Italian machines.
  • Early models require a separate spool nut to fasten.
  • 50-52mm Diameter.
  • 6mm center hole.
  • 3 rectangular or half-moon drive holes.

• GR9 (Group 9)

  • Used by most Japanese machines after 1970, Hermes, some portable models from Royal and Underwood, and Olympias made for the US market.
  • 51mm / 2" Diameter.
  • 4mm center hole.
  • Usually 1, 4, 6 or 8 round drive holes.

via u/Koponewt

Typewriter spool size variables: - ribbon width (almost always 1/2" or 13mm) - spindle size<br /> - ribbon reversing mechanism (gromets, mechanical, tension, etc.) - spool/proprietary cartridge (electrics) - outer diameter - core diameter - center hole diameter - drive hole diameter - drive hole radius (distance from cernter to center of drive pin) - number of drive holes

Variations by: - brand<br /> - model - year of production - world location

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/18vupsa/database_of_spool_sizes/

LD Ribbon (T677BR, compatible with Olympia) are good ribbons Joe Van Cleave recommends as being inexpensive for about a $1 per spool from Amazon. Although they're DIN spools compatible with Olympia machines, he's used them in his Smith-Corona Galaxie 12. [timestamp 20:37}(https://youtu.be/fwk1jTH5bLA?si=QePpvzF_o80Yq6T3&t=1237)

These have been selling at auction sites over the past several months for $45-$75 plus shipping based only on pictures and without any information at all about their working condition, so all-in you probably got a great deal. I'm just finishing up work on cleaning up a 1951 2Y series Skyriter myself, and I really like its typing action. Don't throw away the spools if it came with them as they're non-standard and slightly smaller than the ubiquitous universal spools. This being said you can buy the standard 1/2" ribbon and manually spool new ribbon onto your existing spools. Mine didn't have spools at all, but I found some replacements (with ribbon) at https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/. Take note that it's not a bichrome machine, so you can buy a single color ribbon.

There are two screws that hold the chassis of these into the bottom of their case. They're hiding just underneath the carriage. Once removed, the typewriter lifts back and up and out of the base. You'll find the serial number on the right hand side of the frame underneath the platen and can use it to date your machine with the database: https://typewriterdatabase.com/smithcorona.86.typewriter-serial-number-database. Based on appearance alone, I'd place it as a 1960 3Y series based on the color, the badging and the white keys. You can look at others' individual models and notes at https://typewriterdatabase.com/Smith+Corona.Skyriter.86.bmys. If I'm right about the date, Richard Polt has online manuals available for the 1960 as well as others at: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjumGF9NFE8 is a pretty solid cleaning primer. Searching YouTube will uncover some potential additional advice in addition to what you can find at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html or in his book. I will say that in cleaning mine, the mineral spirits dissolved the glue holding the felt on underneath the typebars, but it was in terrible shape anyway and needed replacing. The foam strip underneath that felt came out unscathed without much effort on my part to be careful with it.

Most of the mechanics are pretty basic and easy to clean/service. Unless there's something dramatically wrong with it, you could very likely clean and service it yourself. (As an example, I had to re-slot the mechanism for the margin release which was almost too easy.) Even the mid-level repair issues for it can be easily found on YouTube if you're handy with a screwdriver (Joe Van Cleave and Phoenix Typewriter in particular have several model specific videos on the Skyriter). The platen and rollers come out fairly easy with a small screwdriver and removing one half of a spring on the back of the paper tray. This gives you great access to clean the escapement from above as well as to potentially send them off to JJ Short Associates for replacement via https://www.jjshort.com/typewriter-platen-repair.php. If you're less handy, Polt's website has a list of repair shops around the world that could clean/repair it for you.

Good luck with it. I hope you like yours as much as I like mine. They're one of the most solid and sought after ultra-portables out there.

https://amzn.to/3ywkwm1

Speedy Inks with typewriter ribbon with DIN spools for European typewriter spools (eg: Adler, Olympia, Adler, Facit, etc.).

12 pack for about $10.

Recommended by Joe Van Cleave