I came across this note and saved it for you and all other Olympia SMx users; I do not know who the author is: "Can I just say, having been in the typewriter trade since 1975, PLEASE take it from me that the Group 1 (or Group 1001) ribbon intended for Olympia, Adler, Facit and many other makes DOES NOT have eyelets !! The ribbon mechanism is designed to trip and reverse when the ribbon gets taut as one spool becomes full and the other totally empty. Someone may well have fitted an eyeletted ribbon to a Group 1 spool as a bodge to get over a sluggish or badly adjusted ribbon reverse mechanism - to give the reversing fork an extra 'nudge'. The factory did not intend the ribbon to be reversed this way." In my experience, eyelets will often slip through the reversing arms and then hang up on the vibrator. You don't have to buy eyeletless ribbons; you can just cut them off the ends of your current ribbon and reattach to the spools.
- Aug 2024
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series - Episode 147: Font Sizes and the Writing Process by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
typewriters for note making
double or 1 1/2 spacing with smaller typefaces may be more efficient for drafting documents, especially first drafts
editing on actual paper can be more useful for some
Drafting on a full sheet folded in half provides a book-like reading experience for reading/editing and provides an automatic backing sheet
typewritten (or printed) sheets may be easier to see and revise than digital formats which may hide text the way ancient scrolls did for those who read them.
Jack Kerouac used rolls of paper to provide continuous writing experience. Doesn't waste the margins of paper at the top/bottom. This may be very useful for first drafts.
JVC likes to thread rolls of paper into typewriters opposite to the original curl so as to flatten the paper out in the end.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith Corona 1C Standard Portable Typewriter, Repaired Adjusted Escapement Trip Balance Bar by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
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Typewriter Video Series - Episode 216: Double-Striking for Effect by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1f3b3gg/whats_molykote/lkckuwc/
Molykote BR2<br /> Shell grease 6430<br /> Molykote A Depot Fat Technical white oil
Mobil grease 28 (replacement for IBM No. 23 grease in IBM Selectrics) contains clay thickener which many greases don't have Mobil 1 0W-30 (or 0W-20)
See also: https://archive.org/details/olympia-sge-30-spare-parts-catalog-german/page/n23/mode/2up
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series - Episode 129: Royal Mercury by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Typing Cadence by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
potential issues relating to typing technique and the mechanical limitations of typewriters
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Peter Short just responded: “The gear stays on.”
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www.weaveroptics.com www.weaveroptics.com
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Weaver multi-bit gunsmith tool kit
Recommended by u/Private_Bonkers over the Chapman typewriter screwdriver set at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1f0q3pw/chapman_typewriter_screwdriver_set/ljttlx1/
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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I have it too, and I'm not a fan. it only contains imperial bits. So you can't use it on any brand from the European mainland, that have metric screws. They break when you over torque them, instead of the screw. That's good with very old machines. What is bad us that they only provide one of the smallest bit which is most prone to breaking. And also I have many typewriters with even thinner slots on the slotted screws. the bit holder is very fat, making it very difficult to use in narrow spaces. And typewriters have a lot of those. You're better off with a gunsmithing set from Wheeler or Weaver. This is the one I ended up buying: https://www.weaveroptics.com/gunsmithing-tools/driver-and-hammer-sets/multi-bit-tool-kit/WV-849718.html
via u/Private_Bonkers
the cons of the Chapman 0623 screwdriver set for typewriter repair
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ezpurn/typing_endurance/
Definitely posture. Arms level with the floor.
It also helps to have some additional leverage over your keyboard. Raise your chair if necessary. Most modern desktops are 29-30 inches off the floor while older typing desks and writing drawers were designed to be closer to 27 inches off the floor. This helps a lot for endurance.
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site.xavier.edu site.xavier.edu
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A wide variety of typewriter manuals are available here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html
Keep in mind that most typewriters are so similar in functionality that even an adjacent manual will help a lot if you have no experience.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Kroustgrafologist Greek kroustiki is Percussion Graf for writing Ologist for study
name for typewriter collectors via LogInternational2253
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Did it work prior to replacing the ribbon? If yes, then perhaps remove the ribbon and replace again. See page 19 of the manual here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/RoyalKMM.pdf
YouTube also has tutorials for how to thread these. (Also search for the No. 10, KH, KHM, HH, Empress, FP, etc. which also used the same general ribbon spools and set up if you can't find a KHM.) I can*t tell 100% from the photo, but the ribbon looks like it's spooling on clockwise on the right (and vice-versa for the left) and you want it the other way.
Is it not advancing regardless of which direction you have the ribbon going? Usually just one side is not working. You can use this fact to compare the typewriter bilaterally. Watch what's going on with the side that does work and compare it with the side the doesn't. What's wrong on the non-working side?
Often times the spindle on one or both sides is frozen up with dried up grease, oil, dirt, or dust. A small quirt of mineral spirits or lacquer thinner (or other degreaser) will free it up. (Here we use the mantra, a typewriter isn't really "broken" unless it's clean and broken.) See: https://boffosocko.com/2024/08/09/on-colloquial-advice-for-degreasing-cleaning-and-oiling-manual-typewriters/
reply to u/UltimateAiden98 at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1f0nzt8/my_royal_kmm_ribbon_is_t_advancing_what_should_i/
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en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
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I want a bookwheel for my typewriter collection.
Isaac Azimov had multiple typewriters and used each of them for work on a different writing project.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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1948 Royal Quiet Deluxe and Henry Dreyfuss by [[Alton Gansky]]
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Needs better sourcing, but
Henry Dreyfuss added crinkle paint to his Royal Quiet De Luxe typewriter design to diffuse reflected light so that typists who worked at their machines all day wouldn't have headaches from the glare reflecting off the fronts of their machines.
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The real problem with this typewriter is the loose nut behind the keyboard—that is me. —Alton Gansky
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typespace.square.site typespace.square.site
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https://typespace.square.site/
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mgchemicals.com mgchemicals.com
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https://mgchemicals.com/products/electronics-maintenance/specialized-cleaners/rubber-renue/
Some have colloquially suggested using MG Chemicals' 408C Rubber Renue to restore old rubber parts on typewriters (particularly feet, rollers, and platens).
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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u/repschlerman recommend the rubber feet from https://www.ebay.com/usr/biermeister1 as good rubber replacements versus NOS and other options which has hardened over time.
https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1evkm3w/new_rocket_feet/
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1evl8e5/how_does_one_go_about_hiding_their_typewriter/
The "difficult fourth moped".... lol!
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Some of the Smith-Corona 6 series machines (electrics) came with copper shipping restraints that were meant to be removed by the dealer prior to sale. Sometimes they can be found inside cases and in other instances, inside the typewriter itself.

via: https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ew971o/need_help_finding_where_this_came_from_more/
See also:<br /> https://imgur.com/a/xbo6SoY<br />
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Colloquial repair solutions for hard platens: <br /> - use backing sheet(s) - light sanding and cleaning with organic solvents - Brake Fluid soaking for an hour followed by drying time (see also: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html) - Rubber Renue https://mgchemicals.com/products/electronics-maintenance/specialized-cleaners/rubber-renue/ - Methyl salicylate and alcohol mixture - Sanding and/or lathing and resurfacing with heat shrink tubing and/or by bicycle inner tube
Actual repair/restoration/recovery:<br /> - J. J. Short Associates, Inc. https://www.jjshort.com/typewriter-platen-repair.php
see colloquial advice at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ewb36f/rubber_renue_to_soften_platens/
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This has been an ongoing "philosophers stone" in the repair community for a long time. Hard platens are the result of the rubber losing its moisture, there's virtually no way to fix that long term. Brake fluid, rubber renew, even the wintergreen oil trick only temporarily soften platens/feeds. They will absolutely go back to their former state after a time. (1-2 months) You can sand the exterior and clean with organic solvents to restore grip and improve the original platen, but recovery is really the only long term fix. *There's a ton of back and forth about the sanding method, particularly from the old timers being salty about it. But I have seen HUNDREDS of old platens in machines that have absolutely been sanded by repair folks back in the day, so there's definitely value in the process.
Kirk Jackson, Nashville Typewriter via https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ewb36f/rubber_renue_to_soften_platens/lj24vxx/
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catch55.home.xs4all.nl catch55.home.xs4all.nl
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https://catch55.home.xs4all.nl/tech/page4.html
Paul Robert makes vintage and antique waterslide decals for typewriters. Purchase via: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TypewriterDecalShop
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www.nashvilletypewriter.com www.nashvilletypewriter.com
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munk.org munk.org
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1938 Corona Zephyr Typewriter Service Adjustment Methods by [[Theodore Munk]]
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Corona had a part number for the sheet of cardboard you’d use to press down the top row of keys before removing the shell of the Zephyr: Part No. ST1243, and it cost 25 cents.
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www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
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Long time lurker, first time poster...
I picked up a British branded Orga Privat 5 (circa 1931) this past week. I've repaired enough of it now that I'm sure I can get it fully functioning again. It's going to take some serious cleaning and polishing to bring it back to its original glory. It was missing the original metal spools which I'd like to try to replace with period metal ones. I'd also like to replace the spool nuts and find one missing spool cover.
The spools (my Olympia machines' spools work) and nuts may be easiest to track down if folks have suggestions for sourcing. The tougher part will be finding an original or replica black enamel ribbon cover unless someone has an Orga they're parting out. It appears that almost all of the Orgas used the same spool set up and covers (2.25 inches / 5.8mm O.D.) through most of their manufacture so the Orga Privat 1-7 and Modell 8-Modell 10 will probably work. My German is almost non-existent, or I'd start by calling shops in Europe.
Its also missing its wooden base and metal cover, but I have less hope of finding replacements for these, particularly British rebranded ones from the Durable Trading Company. I've added my example to the Typewriter Database and it appears to be the only English branded model there across multiple examplars of 10 different models of the machine from the company.
For the curious collectors, I've documented some details and photos of the machine here: https://boffosocko.com/.../acquisition-1928-1933-new.../
Post to Antique Typewriter Maintenance Group
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www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
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Yanni Giftakis recommends melting crayons into the letter groves of typewriter keytops to replace their missing paint with a heat gun, much the same way D&D players will fill in the groves on their dice.
This is similar to Richard Polt's recommendation "To restore faded paint on keys and scales, try Lacquer-Stik Fill-In Paint."
via https://www.facebook.com/groups/typewritermaintenance/posts/3831371387100282/
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www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
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The case FOR WD-40 use in typewriters by [[Thom Cholowski]] in Antique Typewriter Maintenance Group
Some thorough colloquial and unreferenced, but reasonably scientific advice about the use of WD-40 to clean typewriters, particularly with respect to water displacement.
Once used for cleaning typewriter internals, WD-40 needs to be flushed out with kerosene or naphtha.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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making custom paint for my typewriters........ by [[Just My Typewriter]]
Color matching typewriter paint with fingernail polish<br /> use phots to match colors
Based on her analysis, ranked:<br /> - Blank Beauty https://www.blankbeauty.com/<br /> - Orly Color Labs https://colorlabs.com/<br /> - Color Club https://colorclub.com/products/the-polish-factory-custom-nail-polish
Physically matching colors in person in a store may be better.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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How to find typewriter parts (Buying a Bad Typewriter ep 3) by [[Just My Typewriter]]
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When you buy a typewriter, you're joining a cult<br /> A messy one, but definitely a friendly one.<br /> —Sarah Everett timestamp 3:10
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buildingdesks.blogspot.com buildingdesks.blogspot.com
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make the stops from a strip of 0.032" x 1/2" x 12" K & S brass from Ace Hardware
Brass Tab Stops for Remington Noiseless 7 Typewriters by [[David Randall]]
David Randall made some custom tab stops for his typewriter with some thin brass, a hacksaw, and a file.
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buildingdesks.blogspot.com buildingdesks.blogspot.com
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Faster Remington Noiseless 7 Typewriter Spool Covers by [[David Randall]]
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buildingdesks.blogspot.com buildingdesks.blogspot.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Royal KH Vintage Antique Typewriter Cleaning Wash Glossy Black Enamel Paint Tobacco removal by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
This is a fantastic advertisement for why one shouldn't smoke. The brown is just the part that settled on the typewriter and is just a tiny fraction of what entered the typist's body.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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A Modern Invention for a 100 Year Old Typewriter by [[Morley Kert]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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DIY ANTIQUE RESTORATION // REMINGTON TYPEWRITER RESTORE by [[BYOT]]
I would not recommend any of this for the serious typewriter enthusiast. He was polishing it up for show, not to preserve it for actual use, or actual restoration.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Restoration: Royal 10 by [[Just My Typewriter]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Easy Maintenance: Replacing Typewriter Feet by [[Just My Typewriter]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Revisiting my first typewriter restoration... by [[Just My Typewriter]]
Interesting to see someone with some broader experience looking back at what they'd done before and describing how they'd do it now.
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Royal KHM - Techniques for Polishing Antique Glossy Black Paint by [[Dr. Typewriter]]
He used a single round of Turtle Wax cleaning compound (taking care not to over use as it can remove clear coat), then Mother's Wax to bring back the shine of black enamel paint on an early 1900s typewriter.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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The 1931 Gorham Silver Smith Corona by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
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URL
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Vintage Typewriter Clean Polish Buff Gloss Enamel Paint to a Mirror Shine by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
Duane polishes and buffs black gloss enamel paint on a black typewriter to a mirror shine.
His preference is for Nu Finish Scratch Doctor automotive polish.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Underwood Typewriter Black Matte Paint Wash & Shine Process Clean Restore Luster No Decal Damage by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
How Duane cleans black matte paint and crinkle finished typewriters: Simple Green and a stiff brush, dry, then finish off by brushing in oil or WD-40 and wiping down.
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typewriter-museum.lv typewriter-museum.lv
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typewriter-museum.lv typewriter-museum.lv
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What typwriter-related project(s) are you working on this weekend?
Maybe you're:
- Learning about typewriters for a future purchase?
- Contemplating buying your first machine?
- Visiting a local typewriter shop?
- Trolling Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, ShopGoodwill, CraigsList, OfferUp for your next machine?
- Buying new ribbon?
- Reading books about typewriters and their history?
- Reading typewritten literature?
- Are you out hunting for a new machine at yard/tag/garage sales or antique vintage shops?
- Exploring a new typewriter for the first time?
- Logging your machines into the typewriter database?
- Cleaning, repairing, or restoring a machine?
- Reading up on typewriter repair?
- Writing something for fun?
- Typing a post for the typosphere or One Typed Page?
- Visiting a typewriter museum?
- Watching videos about typewriters on YouTube?
- Something else?
Let us know what you're doing in the comments...
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https://workpad.co.uk/properties/45-bedford-row/
45 Bedford Row was the address for the Durable Supply Company which distributed Orga typewriters in Britain in the 1930s.
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web.archive.org web.archive.org
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Portable Typewriter Relabeling...how and why by [[Will Davis]]
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type-writer.org type-writer.org
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AMC Typewriter by [[Mark Adams]] on September 21, 2013
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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https://typewriterdatabase.com/1924-orga-privat-2.11451.typewriter
Some scant history of Orga typewriters without sourcing.
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www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/721704878218903/posts/2437242443331796/
Knife and Hammer Coat of arms for the Uncertified Typewriter Mechanic

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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith Corona Typewriter Main Spring Rewound Repaired Replaced by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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On many of the older 40s/50s typewriters, the same key will work on almost everything. If you search online there are a few people who have posted a 3D printable key that you can download and may be able to print at your local library. I'm guessing based on the limited photo, yours is an early 40s Smith-Corona.
I've tried a few local locksmiths who don't seem to carry these keys anymore.
I've got a late 40s Smith-Corona latch that occasionally self-locks and for ages I used a bent paperclip in the rough shape of the old keys to easily pick the lock with just 10 seconds of jiggling around inside. Roughly a 2 mm straight section of paperclip with a 1mm "T" section that sticks out (even just on one side) about 4-5mm and then continues straight ought to work if you're in a jam.
The level of security these keys/locks provide is minimal at best.
If you go the online route to buy a key, they can be quite expensive, so if you're a collector, just wait for a machine that comes with one and you'll have another typewriter for "free" in the deal.
reply to u/Succu6us66 at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1eqk6rd/typewriter_lock/
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virtualhermans.com virtualhermans.com
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Virtual Hermans - Richard Polt
Richard Polt keynote talk at Virtual Hermans 2022<br /> "The Revolution Continues"
- Blunderwood Portable at Burning Man
- Tom Hanks' Uncommon Type: Some Stories
- California Typewriter documentary released
Typewriter Shops Today<br /> - California Office Machines has closed since the film - Ken moved to Berkeley Typewriter - Ace Typewriter in Portland, OR - Tom Furrier at Cambridge Typewriter - Lucas Dul opening up in Chicago - Jack Armstrong (Teenager) in Tampa, FL - Karin Kessler - Backspace in Westport, CT - Pamela Rogow WPM, Philadelphia, PA - Typespace opened in Portland, OR - Has an event space and nurturing community - 4-5 shops in Portaland - Bryan Kravitz at Philly Typewriter doing events - placing vintage typewriters around the city - Nashville Typewriter - Kirk Jackson doing brick and mortar store - Trinity Typewriter - Mitch Ham working out of house in Cincinnatti, OH - Ian McAndrew - Iron Fox Typewriters - Wordplay Cincicy - RIchard Polt's place
Typewriter Restorers<br /> This segment is showing the most growth - El Granero in Spain (Polish Couple) - Mr. & Mrs. Vintage Typewriter - Walid and wife - Unplug Typewriter Company - Magan Siata (SP?) in Arkansas -Teipiadur - Welsh word - Laura Whittner in CA - Colombo Collection - Jennifer Colombo in Seattle, WA - Sparky - similar to USB Typewriter kit; sends text via Bluetooth to phone
Recently Manufactured Typewriters<br /> - Still made in 2022 - Rover made by Shanghai Weilv Mechanism Company still making typewriters (bad quality control, plastic, poor alighnment) the Rover, the Royal Epoch, We R Memory Keepers, Royal Classic (metal shell)) - based on the Olympia Carina (Will Davis determined) - Nakajima still doing electric typewriters - Royal Scriptor - Brother - daisy wheel - Swintec - selling machines to prisons
Modern Technology for making typewriters - 3D printing - 3DTypewriterParts.com - Pete Volz has digital files - Odin Typewriter - Ryan Mosely - Typer by Yannik Gotz - minimal keyboard and printer (concept) - Freewrite (fka Hemingway) (word processor) - Pomera from Japan - decoration made in China and not functional
Typewriters in Popular Culture<br /> - stickers - skateboards - Dark Academia - movie: Can you Ever Forgive me - Movie The french Dispatch - andretti machine from wes anderson - typewriter fashion (purses) - Lego typewriter and knockoffs - tattoos
Events (Type-ins / Type-outs)
Street Typing - Chris Vitiello made a typewriting cabinet he hides in, takes in a word and provides an answer/poetry - Brian Sonia-Wallace - The Poetry of Strangers - writing on Amtrak
Publications - The Adventures of Typewriter Troubadour - self published several books - Typewriter Rodeo (book) - Literati - Ann Arbor, MI - Notes from a Public Typewriter - ETCetera journal - Paul Rober in Netherlands - Polt, et. al. edited four volumes as books: Paradigm Shifts, Escapements, Backspaces, Dead Keys (series called Cold Hard Type) available on Amazon at cost, Margin Releases (forthcoming; Deadline March 1, 2022) - Loose Dog Press - Polt's imprint - Danielle Steele still writing on an Olympia SG1 - Evertype - Polt NaNoWriMo (looking for publisher) - Armando Warner publishing books in Spanish (he's also a typewriter restorer)
Typewriter Music - Boston Typewriter Orchestra album Delegation: The Remixes - Typophone by Albrecht Fersch (typewriter loom) - Anechoia Memoriam IBM typewriter connected to piano
Typewriter Art - Courtney Brown - octopus typewriter - titled: Self-Organization - AlteredTypewriter - Instagram altered typeslugs for creating art - Tim Youd - retypes classic novels; also does painting - Issue of Red Door (#28) The Typewritten Issue with cover by Hal Wildson to do photorealism - Kelye Kneeland - also presenting at Hermans 2022 - Keira Rathbone doing typewriter art - James Cook - portraits
Typewriters in the Pandemic<br /> - Tom Currier WBZ (CBS) interview in 2020 marked his busiest year in business. - #Covid19Correspondence by TimeTravelTypewriters (he died) - One Typed Page project by Daniel Marlow - Brian Sonia-Wallace used Zoom to aggregate typewriter poets - Poor Typist - Gregory Short - Typewriter Club LIVE - Austin Typewriter, Ink. (Austin, TX) with FB page and ATI: The Podcast - Joe Van Cleave - YouTube videos - Virtual Hermans
The Future of the Revolution - definitely not over - Mark Zuckerberg photo with typewriter on shelf behind him.... Smith Corona electric - Pavel Kuchinski artworks - Banksy did Redding Jail with escapee using a typewriter to escape - Steve with tattoo Insurgent - Munk redid image of woman changing ribbon - Giovanni Chero in FLA with image
Q&A<br /> - Blick electric - Flavio has one and one others - Polt is distracted by the electric hum when he's trying to write creatively - Polt hasn't used a thermal typewriter before - Argument for wife for why collect? "They keep their value..."
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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An update and a tour of my new workshop by [[Retrotype]]
An overview walkthrough of a small semi-professional typewriter repair shop.
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Keep humidity for typewriter storage under 50%:<br /> - at 50% or more humidity untreated iron will rust - at 80% or more untreated steel will rust
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chapmanmfg.com chapmanmfg.com
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https://chapmanmfg.com/products/0623-r-typewriterset<br /> #0623 Typewriter Set | Chapman MFG<br /> $53.00
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www.jensentools.com www.jensentools.com
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https://www.jensentools.com/product/247IE050-247IE050 Techni-Pro 247IE050 Midget Open End Wrench Set, Metric, 8pc. <br /> $41.25
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www.jensentools.com www.jensentools.com
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https://www.jensentools.com/product/445-369-445-369<br /> Techni-Pro 445-369 8-Pc SAE Midget Wrench Set <br /> $28.67
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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A Quick Overview on the Groma Kolibri by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
Lucas Dul loves the Groma Kolibri as one of the finest (ultraportable) typewriters out there.
He also loves the Omega 2 (which is nearly identical to the Princess 200.)
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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The 1957 Groma Kolibri by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
Another sexy sales video by Lucas Dul, this time for the Groma Kolibri portable out in the woods and backed by a lovely piece called Ashitaka and San by Joe Hisaishi.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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the 1960s Remington 333 by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
What a great looking sales video for a typewriter. Backed by the Igor Stravinsky's the Rites of Spring.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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the diameter of the spool spindle is different in all groups, so from the measurement of the spindle, you should be able to tell what group it is.
via u/guneeyoufix at https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1amo13f/cheap_ribbons_for_uk_typists/
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writingball.blogspot.com writingball.blogspot.com
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Philly Typewriter starts a trade school by [[Richard Polt]]
This is interesting, but 4 years? This seems like a 1-2 year thing at best.
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www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com
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Imperial Good Companion Model 1 & Model T. Imperial Desk typewriters. 50, 55, 58, 60, 66, 70 & Some other models. Royal 10 Desk typewriter All Remington portables from Model 1 to 5. All Remington Desk Typewriters. Mainly all Smith Corona Desk typewriters. Plastic Made Smith Corona like Calypso and Zephyr.
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.
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Lists of the primary spool types and typewriters which fit them.
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www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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The three most common typewriter spools:
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/18vupsa/database_of_spool_sizes/
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imgur.com imgur.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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reply to u/IndividualCoast9039 at https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1endi5d/screenwriter_here/
There's really no such thing as a screenplay specific machine, though for ease of use, you'll surely want one with a tabulator (tabs). If you want to hew toward the standard screenplay formatting look for pica machines (10 characters per inch) rather than elite machines (11-12 characters per inch).
SoCal is lousy with lots of great machines. If you want something that's going to work "out of the box" you'll pay a few bones more, but unless you're a tinkerer, it's definitely worth it.
I'd recommend checking out the following shops/repair joints near LA that specialize in machines for writers. Most will let you try out the touch and feel of a few in person to figure out what will work best for you. Putting your hands on actual machines will help you know which one you'll want for yourself.
- Helmut Schulze, Rees Electronics / Star Typewriters, 2140 Westwood Blvd. #224, Los Angeles, CA 90025. 310-475-0859 or 877-219-1450. Fax: 310-475-0850. E-mail star@startypewriters.com. Schulze has many years of experience and has restored typewriters of famous writers for collector Steve Soboroff.
- Aaron Therol @ Typewriter Connection, DTLA, https://www.typewriterconnection.com/
- Bob Marshall, Typewriter Muse, Riverside, CA. Service, restoration, and sales. Website: typewritermuse.com.
- Rubin Flores at U.S. Office Machine Co. over in Highland Park 323-256-2111 (better at repairs, restoration; I don't think he keeps stock)
I'd generally endorse most of the advice on models you'll find in these sources which are geared specifically toward writers, all three sources have lots experience and reasonable bona fides to make such recommendations.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9dXflhDed0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKMt-aCHZZk
- https://typewriterreview.com/2020/01/10/top-10-writerly-typewriters/
All machines are slightly different, so pick the one that speaks to you and your methods of working.
If it helps to know what typewriters actual (screen) writers have used in the past, check out https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/typers.html
Beyond this Just My Typewriter has a few short videos that'll give you a crash course on Typewriter 101: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJtHauPh529XYHI5QNj5w9PUdi89pOXsS
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Scadden, David T. Approved Home Study Course in Typewriter Repair and Service. Little Falls, NJ: Typewriter Repair School, 1959. https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/homestudycourse.pdf.
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munk.org munk.org
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Who is Byron L. Wolfe, Author of OAMI Noiseless Typewriter Mechanical Training Manual? by [[Theodore Munk]]
Great, simple list here of all the adjustments for typewriter repair.
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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Common Typewriter Problems and Fixes
A short pictorial primer for quick repairs of many common typewriter problems including:<br /> - stripping a typewriter<br /> - cleaning and oiling - carriage not moving<br /> - ribbon reverse not working<br /> - bell not working - characters out of alignment<br /> - inconsistent margin<br /> - space bar jumping/inconsistent
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This manual suggest using a knitting needle with a bent tip to assist as both a spring hook for pulling springs as well as for pulling drawbands back through typewriter carriages.
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www.instructables.com www.instructables.com
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Restoring a 1926 Typewriter Case by knife141 on Instructables
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The typewriter is a Corona made in 1926. I came across it in a yard sale and, having no real use for an old typewriter, I bought it anyway!
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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AMES OAMI Mechanical Training Manual for Standard and Portable Typewriters<br /> By: Clarence Leroy Jones<br /> In 3 Volumes plus Addendum - Published 1945<br /> Volume Three: Noiseless Typewriters<br /> By: Byron L. Wolfe, Illustrations by: R. J. Tiller & Jack Lewis<br /> https://typewriterdatabase.com/1945-AMES-OAMI-MechanicalTrainingMan.v3-noiseless.manual
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munk.org munk.org
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munk.org munk.org
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voyagela.com voyagela.com
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Meet Bob Marshall<br /> Voyage LA Magazine
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www.austintypewriterink.com www.austintypewriterink.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series Episode 31: Culling the Herd by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
Rating typewriters by:<br /> - looks<br /> - feel<br /> - print quality
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Alternate systems for helping to thin out typewriter collections:
Designer William Morris' weighing system:
“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
I once had a collector friend who loved standard typewriters, so his weighing system was as follows:<br /> - If it weighs over 25 pounds, keep it<br /> - If it weighs less than 25 pounds, sell it off
And naturally, minimalist Marie Kondo's system:<br /> - Does it spark joy?
Joe Van Cleave also had another video for creating a minimal collection based on categories of typewriter which may also be useful for some: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ej6kd1FsnE
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willowcreektypewriters.com willowcreektypewriters.com
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https://willowcreektypewriters.com/products/still-collecting-more-sticker
SCM could stand for Smith-Corona Marchant, but some typewriter collectors think it stands for Still Collecting More.
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willowcreektypewriters.com willowcreektypewriters.com
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willowcreektypewriters.com willowcreektypewriters.comAbout1
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https://willowcreektypewriters.com/pages/about<br /> Willowcreek Typewriters
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www.ebay.com www.ebay.com
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/305339966662
To save time is to lengthen life.<br /> —Remington Typewriter Company letterhead logo circa 1904

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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Club LIVE by [[Type Pals]]
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writingball.blogspot.com writingball.blogspot.com
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QWERTYFEST MKE 2024 by [[Richard Polt]]
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Cothran, Ann, and George E. Mason. “The Typewriter: Time-Tested Tool for Teaching Reading and Writing.” The Elementary School Journal 78, no. 3 (1978): 171–73. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1001415
No new results here, but a modest overview and literature review of research on typewriters in classrooms.
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In this experimentagain the pupils who could type werefound to have made more gains in lan-guage usage and spelling than the nontyp-ers.
M. W. Tate's 1934 typewriter studies showed student gains in language usage and spelling. Now that computers have automatic spell-checkers and students less frequently use dictionaries or study spelling in particular, does spelling ability in modern classrooms keep pace with numbers from earlier in the century when more emphasis was put on that portion of writing pedagogy?
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One large study by Ben D. Woodand Frank N. Freeman in 1932 paved theway for acceptance in elementary schools.The study included 14,947 children ofelementary-school age in an experimenton the effect of the typewriter on class-room performance (3). The children whohad typing instruction actually spent onlyan hour or two a week at the typewriter,yet at the end of the first year they out-performed the nontyping pupils in read-ing.
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In articles published in theearly 1890's William A. Mowry and FrankPalmer both advocated the use of typing inthe secondary-school curriculum
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Ukrainian has І, Ї, Є, Ґ, Russian has Ы, Ё, Ъ, Э instead.
Distinguishing Ukranian vs. Russian typewriter keyboards
via u/lexkiri at https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1eloo76/russian_american/
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www.rrtypewritermart.co.in www.rrtypewritermart.co.in
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https://www.rrtypewritermart.co.in/product/29409649/Twister--Nut-Opener<br /> Typewriter tool: twister - nut opener<br /> Long bar with t handle to loosen nuts

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www.rrtypewritermart.co.in www.rrtypewritermart.co.in
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Type bar bender<br /> https://www.rrtypewritermart.co.in/product/29583290/Type-Bar-Bender
A tool with degree measurements for bending typebars for placement into a basket. Could be used for bending bars for swapping QWERTY to QWERTZ.

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www.ebay.com www.ebay.com
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/404818669654
Mini Typewriter Blow Torch Soldering Tool Alcohol Torch

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/186572686851<br /> Vintage Remington Touch Oiler Tool 5 1/2" Long Metal Tool

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munk.org munk.org
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www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com www.mrmrsvintagetypewriters.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Tool Kit from the DOLLAR TREE by [[Just My Typewriter]]
Overview of cheap tools for typewriters available at Dollar Tree and similar dollar stores.
- microfiber cloths
- q-tips
- LA's Totally Awesome cleaner
- Silly Putty
- toothbrushes
- allen wrenches
- wire bristle brushes
- hook and pick kit
- screwdrivers and sets
- extendable mini mirror
- rubber gloves
- flashlights
- magnets to hold screws
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I've thought about Silly Putty for cleaning type before, but Sarah recommends using it as well.
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www.cam.ac.uk www.cam.ac.uk
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Agatha Christie's Dictaphone, typewriter, typescript copy of her final Poirot novel Curtain, and her exercise book containing draft notes on the plot of the novel. Agatha Christie's Dictaphone, typewriter, typescript copy of her final Poirot novel Curtain, and her exercise book containing draft notes on the plot of the novel. Item 1 of 6

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crawfordtool.com crawfordtool.com
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Crawford Tool SH5 Spring Hook 5 Piece Set<br /> https://crawfordtool.com/collections/spring-hooks/products/crawford-tool-sh5-spring-hook-5-piece-set
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crawfordtool.com crawfordtool.com
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crawfordtool.com crawfordtool.com
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crawfordtool.com crawfordtool.com
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Lube-All Oiler LA124 Triple Pack, 1 oz, 2 oz and 4 oz Bottles with Flexible Spout and In Cap Shut-off Valve<br /> https://crawfordtool.com/products/lube-all-oiler-la124-triple-pack-1-oz-2-oz-and-4-oz-bottles-with-flexible-spout-and-in-cap-shut-off-valve?variant=42824191901937
Bottles that could be useful for dispensing either oil or lacquer thinner/mineral spirits.
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www.imdb.com www.imdb.com
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"Modern Family" Career Day (TV Episode 2013)
Jay Pritchett (Ed O'Neill) begins working on a novel using a typewriter.
Green Olympia SM series. Likely an SM2 because it didn't have the SM3 tabulator stops on the back and didn't appear to have tab keys on the keyboard.
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www.huffpost.com www.huffpost.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/14szjp/decided_to_share_one_of_mine/
Description and tools for swapping out typewriter slugs by soldering.
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www.theeagleeyeprojekt.com www.theeagleeyeprojekt.com
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https://www.theeagleeyeprojekt.com/
Very pro-use and sharing of typewriter tools. May do a kickstarter-like project to make tools and sell them.
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archive.nytimes.com archive.nytimes.com
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Cormac McCarthy's Typewriter Brings $254,500 at Auction by [[Randy Kennedy]] on 2009-12-04
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Glenn Horowitz, a rare-book dealer who handled the auction for Mr. McCarthy, told The New York Times earlier this week: “When I grasped that some of the most complex, almost otherworldly fiction of the postwar era was composed on such a simple, functional, frail-looking machine, it conferred a sort of talismanic quality to Cormac’s typewriter. It’s as if Mount Rushmore was carved with a Swiss Army knife.”
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www.thoughtco.com www.thoughtco.com
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Russian-born American author Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977) dictates from notecards while his wife Vera (nee Slonim, 1902 - 1991 types on a manual typewriter, Ithaca, New York, 1958. Carl Mydans / Getty Images
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/the-nabakovs-at-work-96793854-468f6ab40e914e45abdd1542fa370872.jpg)
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typographica.org typographica.org
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Typewriter / Typeface: The Legacy of the Writing Machine in Type Design by [[María Ramos]] on July 12, 2016
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In America, the National Office Machine Dealer Association periodically published the Blue Book, a catalog with type samples and other information about the industry.
National Office Machine Dealer Association
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A.M. Cassandre and Imre Reiner designed two typefaces that included four different widths for the Olivetti Graphika. And W.A. Dwiggins worked on the design of proportional type for Remington Rand.
Tags
- variable fonts
- W. A. Dwiggins
- Olivetti Graphika
- type design
- NOMDA Blue Book
- typewriter typefaces
- Imre Reiner
- fonts
- Georg Salden
- typewriter manufacturers
- Andy Clymer
- Joel Kaden
- A. M. Cassandre
- designers
- Remington Rand
- Tony Stan
- read
- Morris F. Benton
- typewriters
- Stephan Müller
- proportional type
- Wim Crouwel
- Erik van Blokland
- Thomas Sokolowski
- typewriter fonts
- Kris Sowersby
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typographica.org/on-typography/typewriter-typeface-the-legacy-of-the-writing-machine-in-type-design/ -
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Willy Wonka's Golden Typewriter - Rare Olympia SM3 & SM4 Typewriters by [[Lazy Dog Typewriters]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Empire Sky-Riter Typewriter Review by Smith Corona: The End of Empire by [[Lazy Dog Typewriters]]
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Around 1960 Smith-Corona bought out British Typewriters Ltd. (aka Empire) in West Bromwich, England and used the plant to make a version of the Smith-Corona Skyriter which they sold under the Empire name.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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The majority of typewriter typefaces came in one of a few sizes either pica (10 characters per inch) or elite (11 or 12 CPI). Usually you can tell by the number of characters on rule at the back of the paper table. A scale that goes up to 85 is usually indicative of Pica machine (85*10 CPI = 8.5", which is the standard paper width in the US) and a scale that goes into the the 90s up to 102 indicates elite. There were definitely other sizes for custom typing, but they're rarer. You might see things like 6 CPI which was used for children or people with vision problems and machines that go up to 18 CPI. I've heard rumors of 20 CPI, but never seen one.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Serbian uses the latin alphabet (most of the time on typewriters) and letters unique to it are "žčćšđ" while Czech adds "" but upsidedown on other letters. Finally Polish can be identified by the 'Ł ł"
Distinguishing some European keyboards on typewriters.
via u/Cevkica at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1eih25t/finally_got_a_letera_32/lg70tm0/
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith-Corona Series 5 and 6 typewriters had a small piece of rubber around a portion of the escapement which can wear out or become damaged. This in turn causes the escapement to not work properly and cause the dogs to get jammed resulting in large movements of the carriage while typing or spacing.
Joe Van Cleave calls it the "return silencer" and replaced his by tracing out the damaged piece on a sheet of 1/32" rubber and cutting it out as a replacement.
Duane at Phoenix typewriter describes replacing it with rubber tubing (possibly something like heat shrink?) instead. See: https://hypothes.is/a/tG4BWk77Ee-jczsjoM8SzA
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I love that Joe is helping out with a local school's analog typewriter club.
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Typewriter Escapement Repair by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.image.ie www.image.ie
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Meet the Dublin man meticulously restoring vintage typewriters | IMAGE.ie by [[Lizzie Gore-Grimes]]
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“There’s about 2,000 moving parts in a typewriter, but they’re really quite simple from a mechanical point of view.”
Reasonable estimate it would seem. I haven't seen any others before.
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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oztypewriter.blogspot.com oztypewriter.blogspot.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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As for having a professional do the job, ask jewellers. If they do repairs on-site, they're likely used to doing precision welding and braising.
https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/8t6ym5/dvorak_typewriters/
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www.soender.blog www.soender.blog
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Converting A Typewriter To Colemak by [[Jan Söndermann]]
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- Jul 2024
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith Corona Typewriter Repaired Flying Carriage ! Fixed Escapement Pawl by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
Pawl was frozen on escapement. He also took out a piece of the rubber which he planned to replace with some surgical tubing to add a small layer of spacing.
This repair is similar to part of that at Smith Corona Typewriter Power Spacer Escapement Repair Adjustment No Silencer Model
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith Corona Typewriter Power Spacer Escapement Repair Adjustment No Silencer Model by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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SCM typewriter escapement and margin lock/release by [[Nis Kildegaard]]
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www.antiquetypewriters.com www.antiquetypewriters.com
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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My fiance got a white Adler Tippa recently, but is unsure of the exact model or year. We looked up the serial number but nothing has come up even on the database. The Tippa plate just says Tippa, not Adler Tippa, so it can't be too old. Any ideas? Serial number: 10148440
reply to u/DinoPup87 at https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1efzeor/adler_tippa_id/
It's a common misconception that the database lists all serial numbers.
You'll need to identify the make (and preferably the model) to search the database. Then you'll want to look at the serial numbers which your serial number appears between to be able to identify the year (or month if the data is granular enough) your machine was made. Reading the notes at the header of each page will give you details for how best to read and interpret the charts for each manufacturer. Notes and footnotes will provide you with additional details when available.
You can then compare your machine against others which individuals have photographed and uploaded to the database. Feel free to add your typewriter as an example by making an account of your own. Doing this is sure to help researches and other enthusiasts in the future. Don't forget photos of your manual, tools which came with your machine, your case, and original dated purchase receipts if you have them.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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needs a new ink ribbon
Chances are that you've got your original metal spools, and if so, definitely keep them. You can make a quick measurement, but I'm guessing you're going to want 1/2" or 13mm wide universal ribbon.
You can buy this in many places and in various color combinations (if you have a bichrome machine—look for a black/white/red switch which can usually be found on the front of your machine) for just a few dollars for 16 yards or about 14 meters to fill up a 2 inch diameter spool. Often it will come on cheap universal plastic spools which you can use to wind onto your own original metal spools if necessary.
Some machines often make use of proprietary mechanisms or geometry on their spools to effectuate the auto-reverse mechanism of the machine (though you'd have to check on your particular unit). Many machines after the 40s used small grommets on the ribbon itself to trigger the auto-reverse mechanism. If yours doesn't, you can trim these off with scissors as you spool the ribbon onto your machine if you're worried they'll get in the way.
Some smaller ultra-portables can and often do use smaller diameter spools which only fit 12 yards of ribbon, but you can always cut your ribbon down from bigger spools if necessary.
A few good sources of ribbon can be found at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-faq.html#q1.
If you don't have the original spools and the cheap plastic universal ones don't work on yours, you can find replacements via https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/ or by calling around to repair shops which may have extras https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html
Incidentally, having your typewriter make and model as well as serial number can be helpful. You can often identify the model via https://typewriterdatabase.com/ if it's not on your typewriter directly. I'm guessing from the 2Y5852 that you've got a Good Companion No. 2 circa 1942, but you can track that down by looking at the database and individual galleries with photos.
If you don't have one already, you might find a manual for your machine (or one very similar to it) at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html
reply to u/Fancy_Temporary_5902 at https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1eg176q/im_trying_to_id_a_typewriter_of_my_dads_as_it/
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Smith Corona Typewriter Ribbon Vibrator Bind, Lift Sticking Up, Forming/Adjusting Process by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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I started a typewriter repair business in my garage, and I got my first customer!
u/Affectionate-Dog8414 has started a small repair shop in their garage. Denver, CO
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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archive.org archive.org
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https://archive.org/details/Artyping/mode/2up
Artyping by Julius Nelson , The Gregg Publishing Co., 1939
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abqtypers.substack.com abqtypers.substack.com
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https://abqtypers.substack.com/p/convertible-typewriter-desk

Listed for $400, but would go as low as $350.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Does anyone here use a purpose made typewriter desk? How do you like it? Alternatively, has anyone tried one and found it wasn't for them?
I've used the small typewriter tables with drop sides and wheels before. I appreciate their small size and ability to move around. I'm actively looking for a new one at the moment. (I sold the original 20 years ago when downsizing during a move between apartments and prior to restarting my collection.)
I currently use a dual pedestal desk and and usually have my typewriters on the pull out writing drawers. This drops the typewriter an inch and makes one's typing position (27" off the floor) much more comfortable than having the typewriter higher up 29-31" for most modern desks and tables.
I have tested a pedestal desk with a spring-loaded typewriter platform that moves up and out of the desk after opening a door. This was an excellent experience, and if I find another, I will surely purchase it. The tough part is that they take up a lot of space as the internal desk space is given entirely to hiding the typewriter when not in use. They're definitely great if you have a heavy 30+ pound standard typewriter that's not so mobile.
The third type are wooden desks with two desk height levels. One for traditional desk work and a second lower one as the typewriter platform. The lower height is obviously much more ergonomic for typing for long periods. On most of these desks, the inset typewriter space is most often given completely over for the typewriter to be there permanently. If your plan is to only have a typewriter, then jump, but their use is more difficult if you're sharing that space with a computer and need to move the two back and forth regularly. Additionally, the wooden desks have either permanent cut outs or can be flipped over to hide the cutout and make the entire desk space flush when the typewriter isn't in use. You'll have to use your own gut to decide which of these two might be best for you. I recently saw a reasonable version of a convertible wooden desk at https://abqtypers.substack.com/p/convertible-typewriter-desk
I find these pop up pretty regularly in the $200-500 range. Often owners don't want them because they don't use typewriters, and they don't move easily, so they're likely to come down in price pretty quickly/easily.
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typewriterdatabase.com typewriterdatabase.com
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Olivetti Lettera 31 (Another name for the Dora -- or is it the opposite?) olivetti Dora (the actual base model if I'm not mistaken, with a bunch of rebrands worldwide) ETON (naturally this belongs on this list, I've even seen 2 others for sale online since) Underwood 315 (rebrand) Montgomery Ward Escort 33 (rebrand) Olivetti Underwood 310 (pretty sure this is a rebrand too, or at least very closely related) Olivetti Index (this is the closest thing I've found to my ETON branded one. It s PRACTICALLY the same in every regard - seen two online for sale) Montgomery ward escort 44 (also a rebrand of the DORA?!) Mercedes Super T (rebrand as well, seen one for sale) Montomery Ward Escort 77 (pretty close to being the same model again again... But not quite?) Neckermann BRILLANT Special T (DEFINITELY a rebrand. The manual is a dead give-away among other things) JUPITER (A typewriter 100% identical to the IDEX or ETON, but rebranded again again) Underwood 314 (no idea on this one. I gave up at this point)
https://typewriterdatabase.com/19xx-olivetti-eton.23086.typewriter
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www.m-morren.nl www.m-morren.nl
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finedayglobal.com finedayglobal.comKeyboard1
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Type Bar Alignment, Sticking Keys, Smith Corona Speed Booster Rebound Wire Adjusted by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.comTriumph!1
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Triumph! by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series - Episode 160: Servicing the Triumph Norma 6 by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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Joe Van Cleave shows how to raise/lower individual type slugs by bending the typebars, particularly the ones out toward the end, without using custom typewriter repair tools.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Triumph Norm 6 Revisited by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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The 7Keys Retro Typewriter Keyboard by [[Just My Typewriter]]
Sarah thought it was fairly solid for a mid level price. Replaceable blue keys, so a nice mechanical keyboard experience. Better than some of the cheap white label drop ship keyboards in the space.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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how to SOUNDPROOF a typewriter by [[Just My Typewriter]]
She uses piano felt to restore the original felt rests of a Smith-Corona Skyriter. Technically not soundproofing, but restoration. We get the point.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Mr. Sinister- Remington All New Typewriter- Custom Painted and Typing Like a Dream by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]
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abqtypers.substack.com abqtypers.substack.com
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Choosing the Right Typewriter by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
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Remember that typewriter-typing (typewritering?) is different from keyboarding on a computer, even if the key layouts are similar between the two.
typewritering as a retcon neologism with respect to keyboarding
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johnlewismechanicalantiques.com johnlewismechanicalantiques.com
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https://johnlewismechanicalantiques.com/cleaning-and-restoration/
John Lewis lays out his restoration process here
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johnlewismechanicalantiques.com johnlewismechanicalantiques.com
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https://johnlewismechanicalantiques.com/
John Lewis in Albuquerque, NM, a typewriter repair person since 1966.
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johnlewismechanicalantiques.com johnlewismechanicalantiques.com
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https://johnlewismechanicalantiques.com/packing-instructions/
Solid advice for shipping typewriters here, which is frequently repeated. This advice is given by a specialist with expertise in typewriter repair and restoration.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Royal Quiet De Luxe Magic Margin Stuck Won't Slide Clean Flush Restore Operation of Typewriter by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
50+ year old oil can cause parts of a typewriter to seize and not work properly. Hitting it with some heavy degreaser (lacquer thinner, mineral spirits, etc.) and some compressed air as well as getting the parts moving will help clean these parts out.
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Excess oil on a typewriter can be cleaned up with both air and a clean rag.
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Fun tip:
Spraying down a typewriter body and painted portions with oil before treating with lacquer thinner will help to prevent the etching of painted portions which might be splashed during the cleaning process.
It may help to spread the oil out with a cloth or by hand, particularly on the rulers.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Royal HH Typewriter Ribbon Spindle Shaft Frozen, Analysis and Repair Procedure by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]
Troubleshooting a frozen spindle. Discovered that the spindle was frozen internally. Flushed with lacquer thinner and then blown out.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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worn-out 1950s Royal HH typewriter, lubricating mechanism and replace ribbon by Rinoa's Auspicious Travails
very meh... wouldn't recommend for over-reliance on sewing machine oil to get a typewriter "working" again. The ribbon swap part wasn't bad.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Royal HH & FP typewriter shipping help by [[Typewriter Justice]]
Advice for how to package a heavy standard typewriter for shipping. Two heavy rubberbands to hold the margin release buttons to protect the escapement. Then plastic wrap to keep the carriage from moving during shipment. Then protection for the knobs and carriage return levers put into a first box. Then packing peanuts in a second box, fill to completely full and tape closed.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Royal Empress by [[Joe Van Cleave]] and [[Kevin Kittle]]
Royal Standards were broadly the same internally from 1912 onward.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Royal FP Typewriter (1958) | Quick Look & Typing Sample by [[Type Pals]]
meh...
lots of uncomfortable laughter
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Royal HHE Typewriter Demo of Features and Functions by [[Cincinnati Typewriter]]
Orange and black typewriter painted when they thought Bengals were going to Super Bowl.
Sadly didn't get the purpose of the numbered guides... presupposed they were in millimeters, but knew it wasn't that.
Very shaky video... nauseating.
Didn't differentiate between permanent and temporary variable line levels. Didn't get the way these work at all.
Missed subtleties of Magic Margin, but did well enough.
"strikers" instead of slugs or hammers
Painted the colors on the bichrome wrong.
Only partially understands touch control. Definitely doesn't know how to adjust them.
Definitely don't use this as an example.
Seems like an amateur painting and (maybe) cleaning up typewriters from home. I don't think I'd trust him based on this video.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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1954 Royal HH, repainted | Typewriter Tutorial by [[Jot & Tittle Vintage Typewriters]]
Pseudo-professional explaining the functionality of a Royal HH (sales video)
took her two tries to get the proper ribbon reversal... <br /> didn't get/understand the touch control function<br /> Not original spools<br /> Doesn't understand card fingers<br /> At least knew "stencil", but didn't explain it beyond "it won't type"<br /> Didn't have a specific size for the large carriage<br /> Had issue with ribbon tension<br /> Couldn't get the hood button several times
"I wouldn't write a long book on here." What the hell is she talking about? This was the entire purpose of this machine.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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1952 HH Royal #Typewriter Overview by [[T4Vista]] Wilson Trivino
Another sales video showing features of a typewriter when they have no idea what any of the parts are or how they're actually working... sigh...
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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How to use all functions on a 1952 Royal HHE vintage desktop typewriter by [[Brooksaw Antiques]]
"sales video" but it does go through a list of most functionality, though missing a few of the finer typing points. Obviously they're not typewriter aficionados.
Video could be better, particularly a traditional horizontal rather than vertical layout.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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The Royal HH: my FAVORITE desk typewriter by [[Just My Typewriter]]
Good basic intro, and overview, but doesn't get into deep functionality review. Short list of some writers who used it from Richard Polt's site, though not complete.
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www.chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com
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A marble bust of Beatrice (who inspired the poet Dante), an 1857 photograph of Jerusalem, and a Smith-Corona electric typewriter surround Schrader`s desk, which overlooks the Hudson River.
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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That West German engineering mixed with decades of tar and nicotine has produced something truly unique.
quote via u/edward_slizzerhands
Stradavarius : violin : varnish :: West German Engineering : typewriter : cigarettes
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www.reddit.com www.reddit.com
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Olivetti Dora, Lettera 31, Underwood 310, or in Sweden also branded ”NK Futura” for Nordiska Kompaniet, but it’s the exact same machine.
Sounds right, but double check https://new.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1e8r1vi/olivetti_dora/
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www.magicmargin.net www.magicmargin.net
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https://www.magicmargin.net/2011/07/typewriter-cover-pattern.html
Sewing pattern for a typewriter cover
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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The IBM Personal Typewriter and the Selectric 1 - IBMs Two Smallest Typewriters by [[Typewriter Chicago]]
Sad to see Lucas drop a type element (golf ball) at the end and break it...
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Sometimes the most important thing about a tool is not that it accomplishes its purpose—like every other typewriter will—, but how much you enjoy using it.<br /> —Lucas Dul, in The IBM Personal Typewriter and the Selectric 1 - IBMs Two Smallest Typewriters, timestamp 10:28
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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The Minimal Complete Typewriter Collection by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
Joe Van Cleave's personal six categories in a (his) typewriter collection: - Standard manual - medium-sized portable (largest segment in the collector's space) - lightweight portable or ultra-portable - typebar electric - IBM Selectric - Electronic typewriter (thermal typewriter), portable, quiet, battery operation.
Joe's minimal collection based on what he's got in his collection currently and the condition that they're in: - Royal KMM (his only standard) - Hermes 3000 (boxy middle era) - Olympia Splendid 33 (he's also got a Royal Mercury & Groma Kalibri) - Olympia Reporter - Selectric I (the only one he's got) cloth, ribbon cartridge system, no lift-off correction - Canon Typestar 220
Some of Joe's most important criteria in a typewriter: he prefers an elite face, 1 1/2 spacing, and bichrome setting.
At the time of this recording Joe had 30 typewriters.
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www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Typewriter Video Series - Episode 232: Galaxie XII by [[Joe Van Cleave]]
He's done another video on this machine before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWuny5KFccU
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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)
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Joe Van Cleave has tags for his typewriters which also include typeface samples. timestamp 1:31
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