Facebook group for Index Card Planner Ideas and Inspiration

Index Cards that ACTUALLY WORK Well With Fountain Pens

https://www.ebay.com/usr/nichols2389

Chenoweth, Katie. 2021. “Faute de Frappe: Derrida’s Typos.” Research in Phenomenology 51(1): 61–77. doi:10.1163/15691640-12341464.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/influential-french-philosopher-jacques-derrida-founder-of-news-photo/852304754

Potentially one of the Coronamatic line: 1200 or 2200.

Might be a Coronet XL, but his looks like it has the Smith-Corona badging/name on the front left where the Coronet XL name was typically placed. https://typewriterdatabase.com/Smith+Corona.Coronamatic+Coronet+XL.86.bmys

The shape of the top of the 2500 isn't quite right: https://typewriterdatabase.com/Smith+Corona.Coronamatic+2500.86.bmys

The shapes of the Coronamatic 7000 and 8000 are wrong for this.

See also guesses at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wzwzvi/what_typewriter_did_derrida_use/

https://web.archive.org/web/20070411202436/http://www.jamesnormanhallhome.pf/indexen.html

From the James Normal Hall home museum. James Norman Hall is an American writer best known for The Bounty Trilogy, a series of historical novels co-authored with Charles Bernard Nordhoff: Mutiny on the Bounty (1932), Men Against the Sea (1934), and Pitcairn's Island (1934).

This photo appears to show him at a different machine that looks more like a standard:<br />

It's an early 40's Royal Quiet De Luxe (it appears to have a tabulator key in the top right). Compare with: https://typewriterdatabase.com/Royal.Quiet+De+Luxe.72.bmys Note the rectangular shift keys which didn't start until late 1940.

Henry Dreyfuss death via the Associated Press

via u/ahelper at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wxxhpa/i_need_help/

Reply to u/Bonkzzilla at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wx4l50/desk_pickiness/

You'll be hard-pressed to find a modern desk with heights specifically for typewriters.

Most mid-century typewriter specific furniture was designed to put the tabletop for a typewriter at 26 inches off of the floor, but the average modern desk is typically at 28 inches.

Your best bet is either a wooden or metal executive tanker desk with either one or two pedestals. They often have writing drawers which pull out and you can put a typewriter on them to lose an inch or two. Some also had spring-loaded platforms which allowed you to open a door and pulling your typewriter up and out at a better/lower height. Other desks had a rotating desktop to which you could bolt your typewriter and allow you to flip the typewriter upside down for storage underneath the desk. Some also came with a desk return which was attached to the side at a height a few inches lower that had space for a typewriter.

There are also some small vintage typewriter stands, usually with wheels to allow for some modest mobility. These can be found for about US$50 these days.

Examples: - https://boffosocko.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/wp-17169128054434698029806415884065.jpg<br /> - https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F51bda2fe-c049-4b48-a057-87457a49e01a_902x882.png<br /> - https://www.google.com/search?q=typewriter+stand

reply to u/orionis1 at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wxhe3q/bloquer_lavanc%C3%A9e_du_chariot_sur_une_underwood/

I presume you're going the route in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1upTPepErTY and miming/pretending all the typing with the carriage stuck at a set point by setting the margins so that the carriage doesn't move at all? The typist is then the tenth chair percussionist who is really only playing a desk bell.

I think the illusion is best when the bell is hidden from the audience in front of the typewriter and the typist actually only spaces and machine and does (quiet) carriage returns. The typing sound is then done by electronic keyboard and the carriage returns are played by wooden guiro, washboard or something similar.

You'll notice by watching any dozens of versions of performances of Leroy Anderson's "The Typewriter" that they're ALWAYS CHEATNG on the actual use of a typewriter. As an example, the bell on the typewriter in your video has been disabled/removed and the performer is using a separate bell mounted on the table next to it. It appears that he's finger pecking only two keys and/or only using the spacebar which moves the carriage. Many performances don't even attempt to properly time the carriage returns to the sound. Half of the "performance" is the attempt at comedy in the playing or presentation . You're trying to one up Jerry Lewis in 1963's Who's Minding the Store, which is never easy.

If you've got a practiced enough percussionist/typist, you can do the typing in reality though you may need to mic it up for volume/projection, but I recommend putting the paper up a few inches and not using the paper bale to get a louder percussion of the slug hitting the paper. If you go this route, I would recommend not using a machine with Perspex card guides, removing/disabling the paper fingers if there are any. It's impossible to get carriage returns done properly via sound as there are a few points at which the carriage hasn't moved enough to go more than a space or two.

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wwrsir/refinishing_a_wooden_typewriter_case/

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1www974/the_mecca/

Left to right: Nick Campano Jay Schweitzer, Scott Connors

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1m44es6/great_visit_to_gramercy_typewriter/

Left to right: Jay Schweitzer, Scott Connors, Nick Campano

Jimmy Carr: A Deep Dive into His Life and Career<br /> by [[The Carr Tell Blog]]<br /> accessed on 2026-10-03T14:10:11

https://thecarrtell.blog/booklist/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWv8JnhiE-p/

Roses are Red<br /> Violets are Blue<br /> One Typewriter is enough,<br /> I mean each week or two :)<br /> —Mr. & Mrs. Vintage<br /> at https://www.instagram.com/p/DNI6GORsee8/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNgjOPSMUJG/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdEUDBsIIel/

reply to u/Proud_Illustrator266 at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wvx18t/manual_vs_electric/

We can't absolve you of your guilt, but you can choose to use what works best for you.

Pretty much none of us are offline (look where we're discussing this). No one is really choosing to type with their heating or air conditioning off, or type by candlelight. You have options about where your analog line could be, just choose one and start banging away.

If you want to talk about guilt, tell us about your 70 typewriters that you're constantly rotating because you feel guilty that they're not all getting enough use.

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wvrlad/best_typewriters_for_school/

Advice from a self-identified high school teacher with manual typewriters in their classroom.

"Undervetti" as a derogatory term for poorly made Underwood typewriters under the Olivetti regime. —via u/strestle at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wvb2l8/is_an_olivetti_underwood_just_a_postmerger/

https://www.deluxe.com/shopdeluxe/pd/straight-tab-card-file-pocket-4-1-2-x-6-1-8-buff/_/A-1643<br /> Straight Tab Card File Pocket, 4 1/2 x 6 1/8, Buff

https://5forms.com/products/100009n-a-z-index-guides-set-tabs-11-x-11

https://5formsbags.com/products/100004n-ledger-posting-tray-one-write-9-1-8-capacity-11-x-11

https://5formsbags.com/

https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-pay/

With caveats, this is what Ezra Rosensaft uses for external typewriter cleaning using modest amounts on a clean damp cloth.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1386689876983116

Andy Morris reports that Jay Schweitzer of Grammercy Typewriter uses this cleaning formula for cleaning the exterior of typewriters to be applied to a soft cotton cloth and not directly on the machine.

Morris further suggests staying away from decals with this.

Second hand advice, but no reason to doubt it. https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1386689876983116

"That's the sound of typing. It's the cadence of creativity. It's the percussion of punctuation. <br /> That sound you'll get lost in it. It becomes a rhythm. It becomes a music that will not only tell you—and the other people in the other room—that you're working, it will also spur you on to other areas of imagination that you will eventually create and record forever on your typewriter."<br /> —Tom Hanks in _Secret Talent Theatre" episode "Tom Hanks Changes the Ribbon on a Typewriter" for Vanity Fair on 2018-02-28 [00:02:16]

A typewriter pro would switch the ribbon selection switch to the red setting and jam two keys together in front of the typing point. This raises the ribbon vibrator to it's highest position and makes taking the ribbon out and replacing it much easier.

Tom Hanks does not demonstrate this finer feature.

Though Tom Hanks suggests that you can re-ink your typewriter ribbon, in practice, it's difficult to do and almost no one does.

Tom Hanks Changes the Ribbon on a Typewriter - Secret Talent Theatre - Vanity Fair

Students at Cornell Daily Sun Pursued Sexual Assault Case for Two Years<br /> by [[Emma Goldberg]] in The New York Times<br /> accessed on 2026-10-01T09:18:29

amen

College rape culture is too set in stone. There's a way of doing things that doesn't help prevent future incidents and people just "move on" without addressing the systemic problems that allow it to continue. In hundreds of cases the same script plays out both in colleges and in public life.

Colleges and their surrounding cultures need to dramatically change the script to prevent these incidences. Accountability is the watchword.

The Cornell Rape Investigation: Five Takeaways<br /> by [[Sharon Otterman]] in The New York Times<br /> accessed on 2026-10-01T09:08:38

A reasonable overview of the case of the Cornell Seven for the date.

This Air Purifier Is the Most Popular Wirecutter Product of All Time<br /> by [[Rose Maura Lorre]] in Reviews by Wirecutter in the New York Times accessed on 2026-10-01T08:59:03

Statement Written by Police in Cornell Assault Case Omitted Her Claim She Was Raped<br /> by Hurubie Meko in The New York Times<br /> accessed on 2026-10-01T08:31:05

Example of a university sweeping another campus rape under the rug.

So the police didn't manage to track down all the students involved?! WTF?

The fact that a "designated sober sister" even exists really tells you everything you need to know about college rape culture.

Why do Universities conduct their own investigations?

Is it to help the victim feel "heard" in a "process" which inevitably almost always ends up papering over the harm and the continued issues?

Is it to make it seem like they're doing something while maintaining the status quo?

Is it to cover their ass in some sense?

In this case of the Cornell Seven, the fact that they didn't relay the ultimate harm to the district attorney is highly suspicious.

Who do university police actually represent? Do they represent the "corporate" University or the community? How do they treat victims as a result?

How a Cornell Student Went From Shame to Anger<br /> by Debra Kamin, Matt Flegenheimer, Amy Julia Harris, Sharon Otterman in The New York Times<br /> accessed on 2026-10-01T08:20:45

Christa Pike Live Updates: Tennessee Pauses Future Execution After Botched Attempt<br /> by [[Billy Witz]], [[Emily Cochrane]], [[Rick Rojas]], [[Yan Zhuang]] in The New York Times <br /> accessed on 2026-10-01T08:14:35

https://www.bcwsupplies.com/postcard-box-dividers

1/2 cut tabbed dividers for 4 x 6" cards

https://www.shopbrodart.com/Archival-Microform-Storage-Sale/_/Microfiche-Divider-Guides/?=

Microfiche Full Cut Divider Guides which might be used in a zettelkasten practice as mini folders or pouches for 4x6" index cards

Reply to u/BigZibby at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wuaui0/serial_number_location/

In fact, I do! You've probably asked the one person who's spent the time delving into the typewriter database to try to puzzle something out on this front.

I've not seen it in official sources, but the following pattern seems to fit:

Royal Standard serial numbers are generally of the form [MMM][P,E,S]-XX-YY-#######, where:

• MMM is the model designator (X, KHM, KMM, KMG, HH, FP, etc.);
• P is for 10 pitch/Pica, E is for 12 pitch/Elite, and S is for Special (typically special order typefaces);
• XX is the platen length, when not the standard/default size;
• YY is for other special features, typically the number of glyphs in the typeface; and
• ######## is the serial number.

Yours has a YY=86 which typically indicates that the machine has 86 glyphs on the slugs in the typeface and thus 86/2 = 43 character (typing) keys on the keyboard. There are also examples of other YY numbers like YY=88 with 44 keys and YY=92 or 46 keys versus the standard 42 keys. You may notice under your machine that the keyboard has a metal "comb" which may have some empty slots into which addition keylevers and typebar assemblies could be added. Often the YY designator is either for special order keyboards or keyboards for foreign languages which require additional keys.

Thus the 86 means that your machine has an extra key (the +/=) not found on their standard issue keyboard at the time.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1383537200631717/

Hot glue on the tips of the typebar return spring of Brother typewriters to dampen the noise they make. One could similarly use a small rubber washer on these as well.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10169712178659852&set=pcb.1384116267240477

Smith-Corona rebrand with a Standard Elite No 66<br />

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10169712178549852&set=pcb.1384116267240477

Smith-Corona Sterling 12 typeface with foundry mark

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10169712178689852&set=pcb.1384116267240477

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10169712178299852&set=pcb.1384116267240477

Hermes 3000, techno pica typeface with an "S TP" foundry mark

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=29220541400876406&set=p.29220541400876406&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/permalink/1384264090559028/

In the early part of the film, the very young rock journalist, William Miller, tells rock critic Lester Bangs that he types on a Smith-Corona Galaxy Deluxe. Later in the film, William uses in his bedroom a completely different Smith-Corona model. 😂<br /> via Di McMc

Almost Famous (DreamWorks Pictures, 2000)

via James Yeard, repairman

via James Yearnd, repairman

mive = move

A description from repairman James Yearnd of using peening pliers on and an aligning wrench on a typebar to move the typeface in the vertical plane.

via James Yearnd, repairman

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd1Gi9kjkef/<br /> Florence Pugh's ASMR with a Hermes Baby and a Blackwing 602.

As I'm delving into the Fourth Turning, I'm piqued by the idea of how their theory overlaps or jives with similar historical cyclic theories like Secular Cycles. Bigger span theories like Ian Morris ought to fit in to some of these, though Morris' data may not be granular enough to show it. Similarly one has to wonder with increasing technology, do these cycles speed up over time?

• Turchin, Peter, and Sergey A. Nefedov. 2009. Secular Cycles. 1st ed. Princeton University Press. https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691136967/secular-cycles (September 30, 2026).
• Review: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/2weRdcvqANDq3zdPH/book-review-secular-cycles

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wu29c7/another_rare_vogue_royal/

Ginger Rogers newspaper article about her using a Royal typewriter with Vogue<br />

Frank Capra writing on a Remington Portable as pictured in The Wisconsin State Journal on August 15,1931<br />

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/1vgulht/harlan_ellison_speculative_fiction_author_in_the/

Harlan Ellison with pipe at an SG3 typewriter

Harlan Ellison leaning on an Olympia SG1 typewriter (alternate angle from photo already in Richard Polt's collection)

<br /> Harlan Ellison with pipe types at an Olympia SG3 typewriter

via u/TomMahalla at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1vkvwkx/smithcorona_skyriter_replacement_feet/

He also suggests: Jandorff #61506 Rubber Grommets 3/4" OD x 7/16" ID x 1/4" thick x 9/16" groove diameter x 1/16" groove width which are sold by various places including Ace Hardware

https://www.reddit.com/r/classicfilms/comments/1v4oxom/bogie_and_john_huston_look_like_they_must_have/

John Houston with a cigarette in his mouth as he sits at a Royal KMM typewriter on the set of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Warner Bros. Pictures, 1948). He looks up to his right at Humphrey Bogart who is leaning over to look at the page in the typewriter.

James Wood aka u/Wooden_Underpants has a small typewriter repair service in Mallorca.

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wt5isk/my_first_official_client_and_thank_you/

Reply to Orga A 38 1908 r!!<br /> by Neat_Substance_2084 at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wsmhar/orga_a_38_1908_r/

From what I've seen, your only evidence of your claim are a poorly hand scratched marking and some metallurgic tests.

You need a lot more evidence than what you're presenting to prove your claim, particularly given the decade and change of the passing of time.

I can scratch a 1940 date onto my Olympia SM3, but it doesn't mean that it's a prototype from 13 years earlier. Your presumed date is also of the form of an accounting ledger and not one that a mechanic would have scratched in.

Do you have any provenance on your machine? (Who owned it and when?)

Do you have any paperwork from the designers? Patents?

The material tests only show a difference in the metal content, they don't indicate a date of any sort. If they could, you'd need a lot more material research on manufacturing methods and timelines from the historical record to back it up. Typewriter manufacturers were constantly changing their manufacturing lines and designs to make them more efficient and less expensive to improve their bottom lines, so your material science differences would seem par for the course. Can you show similar changes in materials from the companies toy lines over the same period?

You seem to be only sharing blurry photos of screens rather than direct documentation of your material difference claims. Where are the direct documents and which company did the testing?

Given the tremendous amount of focus on design changes and patents in early typewriter manufacturing and sales, how does the design of your machine fit into the early aughts from 1900-1910 versus 1920 and on? Typewriter designs had settled down significantly by the early 1920s, so there should be some reasonably significant design differences between a 1908 machine and one from 1923. Where have you documented those?

What company history physically exists? When did they begin design? When were they producing prototypes in general? 13 years of R&D is a tremendous amount of time to pass in typewriter design in the early 1900s before manufacturing of any sort, even if you discount stoppages for World War I. Are there extant notebooks or corporate papers from the time period you're claiming? They were manufacturing toys for decades prior, so surely they've got some reasonable corporate documentation and correspondence somewhere. Do any of the descendants have papers, receipts, or diaries that could be consulted? What were the market conditions that suggested to them that a move from toys to typewriters was a brilliant idea? Often in a prototype situation, a factor may not have all the manufacturing capabilities in-house or they'd need to make changes to equipment to make a new line. Are there pieces of your typewriter that were outsourced from other factories? Is there evidence that all the parts of the later machines were made in-house?

Think like an archaeologist. Think like a historian. Bring some more research to bear if you want to convince anyone (experts or otherwise) of your claims. It should seem painfully obvious to you by now that what you're presenting is not nearly enough. No one is attacking you. We're just asking for more if we're going to be convinced.

https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/x3ixaz/smith_corona_clipper_custom_paint_job/

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wqxq5e/typewriters_of_the_country_music_hall_of_fame/

Tom Parker (aka The Colonel) used a Royal RE

Don Schlitz wrote The Gambler which became a hit for Kenny Rogers (1978) on an L.C. Smith Model 14<br />

Bill Anderson had a Royal Electress

Cindy Walker used a Royal Quiet De Luxe ('53 or '54)

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wse7lh/id_on_this_typewriter_from_twin_peaks/

<br /> Typewriter appears in Sheriff Truman's office

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4770669677/posts/10158389297734678

via real_misterrios at https://old.reddit.com/r/pencils/comments/1wrvdtz/why_am_i_like_this/

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ws0shz/23k_gold_typewriter_ribbons/

Gold Royal Cartier KMM Typewriter<br /> accessed on 2026-09-27T22:41:47

ROYAL TYPEWRITER HONORS SALES HEAD; M.V. Miller Gets Gold Machine for Ten Years' Service - The New York Times<br /> by [[The New York Times]]<br /> accessed on 2026-09-27T22:37:22

The cost of the typewriter was $1,500.

1939 "The Gold Royal" Typewriter<br /> by Grant Zahajko for [[Antiques Roadshow]] on PBS<br /> accessed on 2026-09-27T22:28:49

Presented 1940-09-01 to Vice President M.V. Miller in honor of 10 years of Sales Leadership by The Royal Typewriter Sales Organization.

Copy of video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=849718491497922

A gold plated and Cartier engraved Royal KMM typewriter. It was engraved with 1054 names by Warner MacDonald in 1939 at cost of $5,000. It was exhibited at the 1939 Worlds Fair and presented to the owner's grandfather in 1940. He was ultimately the president of the company. Antiques Roadshow appraised it at $30,000 - 40,000.

There are 2,257 parts in a Royal KMM.

See newspaper article:<br /> ROYAL TYPEWRITER HONORS SALES HEAD; M.V. Miller Gets Gold Machine for Ten Years' Service - The New York Times<br /> by [[The New York Times]]<br /> accessed on 2026-09-27T22:32:07

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wpyqmz/what_becomes_of_typewriter_shops/

Anecdotes of what has become of old typewriter shops.

Chart of authors and their number of ! per 100,000 words from Ben Blatt's Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve: What the Numbers Reveal About the Classics, Bestsellers, and Our Own Writing

How Many Exclamation Points Do Great Writers Use?!<br /> by [[Ben Blatt]] The Atlantic <br /> accessed on 2026-09-27T22:07:10

https://academicresourcecenter.harvard.edu/2023/10/02/note-taking/

Note-Taking advice from the Harvard University Academic Resource Center

https://www.reddit.com/r/NavyBlazer/comments/1k3uf5h/some_great_pages_from_the_1994_barbour_catalogue/

1994 Barbour catalog

advice from u/leathershopgirl at https://old.reddit.com/r/Barbour/comments/1wpzikn/barbour_models_and_differences/

Based on the Royals on this post and Reddit, Ben Jones is u/harperjones

See:<br /> https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1383329093985861<br /> https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ws0gy7/royal_futura_alignment_issue/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/brengrip/albums/

via Claude Medearis at https://typewriterdatabase.com/1979-underwood-electric-565.12254.typewriter

See: https://westcoastbelts.com/product/new-replacement-belt-for-silver-reed-electric-8700-typewriter/

https://westcoastbelts.com/

Replacement belts for typewriters

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wr2nbt/comment/pcfu8ib/

u/WeepinbellJar13

u/Big-Confidence9249

Ed Medina reports that beading wire can be used to replace typewriter drawbands.

26 pound test strength.

via https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1377709554547815/

Reply to Louis Cornelia at https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1373494441635993/

Most of it is marketing in nature. The vast majority of typewriters have a standard courier serifed typeface, but manufacturers sold italic and cursive faces for a more "personal" touch in your correspondence. Italics was particularly marketed toward business executives to the point that many have the name "Executive". Many banks and accounting applications preferred used Gothic or double gothic typefaces for accounting work. Some banks also had custom faces to make it more difficult for people to wash checks.

At the Smithsonian, Maya Angelou's typewriter holds a place of honor : NPR<br /> by [[Daniel Ofman]] for NPR<br /> accessed on 2026-09-27T13:31:46

While described as "well worn", most typewriters with plastic keys don't really show heavy wear, so it's not surprising that "You can still read them."

This is a museum curator creating a feeling of typewriter nostalgia by way of unintended misinformation.

This tracks with the Adler Meteor 12 from Soboroff's collection which is already documented on Richard Polt's page.

https://www.npr.org/2026/09/26/nx-s1-5979931/at-the-smithsonian-maya-angelous-typewriter-holds-a-place-of-honor

https://archive.org/details/proofreaders-marks

https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1381249050860532/

1958 Olympia SM3 manufacturing changes regarding adding a rule for the rear tabulator sets.

reply to u/Novembree at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1hfncyz/had_a_typewriter_for_awhile_could_use_help/

Welcome to the Royal KMM club! Seems like lots of these have been posted in the last day including one by u/betternatured and another by u/the-other-gusta along with a very similar Royal KMG by u/Jacki-san.

The serial number puts yours down as a KMM with an 11 inch platen manufactured in 1945. Cross reference: https://typewriterdatabase.com/royal.72.typewriter-serial-number-database

Manual: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/RoyalKMM.pdf

These were really popular and ubiquitous, standard (large desktop) typewriters in the mid-century that were the workhorse of many offices. Because they were so common and so heavy, they only go for $5-25 in the used market in either unknown or marginal condition. If they're cleaned up and well-serviced they can go for more with a cap of around $300-400 depending on the level of restoration. Some with special features (like special typefaces) or provenance may go for more.

The Royal KMM was known to have been used by writers including: John Ashberry, Harry Ashmore, Russell Baker, Ray Bradbury, Richard Bratigan, Richard Brooks, Pearl S. Buck, Johnny Carson, Norman Corwin, Frank Herbert, Ken Kesey, G.W. Lee, Harper Lee, Ursula K. LeGuin, David McCullough, Margaret Mead, Grangland Rice, and Dorothy Parker. This was also the model famously used by Angela Landsbury's character on the TV show Murder, She Wrote.

Spools and Ribbon:<br /> The spools for the standard Royal typewriters (Ten, H, KH, KHM, KMM, KMG, RP, HH, FP, Empress, 440, 660, etc.) have a custom metal mechanism for their auto-reverse. The spools are known as the T1 (which is the same as General Ribbon part # T1-77B , T1-77BR, and Nu-Kote B64.) If winding on universal ribbon onto them, remove the eyelette which isn't needed and may interfere with the auto reverse.

If you're missing the original spools, Ribbons Unlimited carries them: https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/6N064-Royal-Standard-Electric-Ribbon-64-p/6n064.htm or you might source an original metal pair from a local repair shop.

Duane of Phoenix Typewriter has a video about how to change and spool up your Royal standard.

Collector Sarah Everett can show you most of the functions on her YouTube Channel for Just My Typewriter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0Zvc1m-8aI.

Depending on your level of typewriter knowledge try out some of the following short films which will also provide some tips, tricks, and maintenance advice common in the era of your machine:

• Basic Typing: Methods. Vol. MN-1512a. United States Navy Training Film, 1943. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztyzGit1dTI
• Basic Typing: Machine Operation. Vol. MN-1512b. United States Navy Training Film, 1943. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-REJEArnjE
• Advanced Typing: Shortcuts. Vol. MN-1512c. United States Navy Training Film, 1943. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUJfCfqgsX0
• Advanced Typing: Duplicating and Manuscript. Vol. MN-1512d. United States Navy Training Film, 1943. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ve5JnTUzvo
• Maintenance Of Office Machines. Vol. MN-1513. United States Navy Training Film, 1943. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocdxgkxKAKo

Happy Typing!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TypewriterCollectors/posts/10164182544099678/

Webster XL 747 typewriter with Piclite type

http://facebook.com/groups/TypewriterCollectors/posts/10156175201784678/

I am scared by random people writing this and that with compressed air.<br /> We learned in typewriter school in the navy.<br /> 1. remove rubber bumpers platen and feed rolls. 2. Mix 1to 1 superagetine and mineral spirits. Stoddard solvent also works.<br /> 3. Soak overnight.<br /> 4. Drain and rinse with fresh solvent.<br /> 5. air dry or bake @95°F.<br /> 6. cool and manually re oil<br /> Now a day oil only with synthetic 0 weight oil.<br /> 7. check and brush typefaces.<br /> 8. Clean platten.

Reinstall and type test, align typefaces. Only permanent align is peening typebars.<br /> This is the way I maintained 200 typewriters on an aircraft carrier.<br /> This what worked for me.<br /> Spring scale at .75 Lbs. For tape tension.<br /> Adjust the rail clamps and clean under if required. Carrage should slide with 3 oz or less

via professional Navy repairman James Yearnd at https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1382145190770918/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1381071097544994

An Olympia SM2 pained electric blue.

Lawn Jockeys - 2008 - Question of the Month - Jim Crow Museum<br /> by [[David Pilgrim]], Curator, Jim Crow Museum<br /> accessed on 2026-09-25T22:51:44

Asking the no-oriented question, "Do you have a problem with me doing xyz?" is better than directly asking for the thing you want. 

Ask for the "no" answer rather than the "yes" answer which feels like the respondent is giving something up.

via atypical.erin at https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddrye7yytr0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wqa69b/elf_typing_paper/

Leaves described as "elf typing paper".

via u/Pete1885 at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wpx74d/i_think_i_found_the_goat/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/705152958470148/posts/1381074304211340/

I was an IM rating in the Navy. As a instrument repairman I was responsible for repairing typewriters of all types regardless of the make or model as well as adding machines and the calculators of the time like the mighty Monroe 1000 gear long division moving carriage machine.<br /> I retained many special tools and books and have knowledge that will go away when I die

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1wpglhv/professional_elite_font_on_my_olympia_sm3/

u/Every_Bandicoot2321 is Tom Fasano of https://tomfasano.com/

https://www.reddit.com/r/shavian/comments/1wp1yjj/announcement_of_the_worlds_first_shavian/

Taken from “Imperial News”, Volume 20, Number 2, Winter 1963-64.

This would have been published after 1963-11-22 which is mentioned in the article.