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…
attempting to find a power cord for a brother correct-o-ball I picked up a while back. it has some weird connector that I’m not familiar with
I’m spending some time cleaning up a ’48 Royal QDL.
Trying to figure out how much it’s going to cost to send one of my typewriters into a shop. Full clean, repair, platen, what that cost will actually be. Looking at shops (nothing in my area), and… thinking about it. Full repair, via ship-in. Open to US shop suggestions. (1933 Remi Scout, rough).
I have scored some pretty fun typewriters lately and they will get their fair share of TLC. A Pakistani made TIP 1100 (ABC/Cole Steel clone). I had to contact Reverend Munk and ask him to add a new brand on TWDB before I can upload it. An IBM Model D Braille. Apparently the first electric Braille typewriter in the World. A very early Olivetti Valentine from the first Ivrea built batch of 400-500 typewriters before production was moved to Spain and Mexico. Probably the lowest serial Valentine on TWDB when it gets uploaded.
Watching YouTube videos on typewriters, scouring facebook market place and craigslist for some specific models, planning on going to a few antique stores/fairs. And doing my first cleaning of a skywriter (I even had to deal with the escapement ratchet [I think that’s what it was called]) and now it’s just test typing with it.
I took my Hermes Rocket (1962) to Helmut on Westwood Blvd for repair. He offered a newer platen, but I demurred. The $125 for the repair was enough, I think, I didn’t want to spend an additional $100 for the platen. Got to watch that kind of thing.
The other thing I’m going to do is try to get rust stains out of the case of a German keyboard Hermes Baby. I love that I got a rare fabric case, but it clearly had some metal can or something sitting on it in an attic. I’m told salt and lemon juice will help. I hope so!
Thinking how can I make something to ease index card typing and addressing envelopes on my lettera 32, something like a card guide
I’m going on a little road trip to pick up a recently serviced Hermes 3000 with techno-pica I found at an antique shops – so excited!!
Waiting for FedEx to hurry up so I can get my Royal FPE!
Just using my typewriter. One of the things I do is type up a simple menus for my kids. I’v done it for all the lunches they have had since the first day of preschool (It started on day one, as one of requirements at the co-op preschool was to tag kids lunches with a name and a date everyday, and I thought it would be fun to include a menu.) I type one for other lunches too, but I sometimes miss those as my spouse sometimes makes those meals. My eldest is getting to an age where they might not appreciate the menu much longer, so I am going to do it as long as I can.
I also have to tame my desk and type up some lists. I am so behind on the desk. I think that the papers will swallow me.
I type out postcards to my mom in Texas and my son, who is active duty Air Force, and his family stationed in the UK. Joe Van Cleave gave me the idea of using Avery labels to type out the address, return address and body of the postcard and then affixing the labels to the card. Since I write 5 to 7 days a week, my wife gave me the idea of photographing the cards, as sort of a diary.
https://preview.redd.it/2lnkb2kf7rkd1.jpeg?width=1645&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40b5d14e19806afd6f0aee617888e63a9a1bb9e2
My partner and I are trying to repair my Erika Electric that got damaged during transit.
It’s a work in progress as neither of us have experience with fixing typewriters, but we’re doing good so far!
I’ll be doing the same thing I do with every ounce of free time I can squeeze for the last 1.5 years: Trying to write my book. It’s been going very, very slowly
I’m not a typewriter collector but I love reading about your collection! I thought of you when I learned of this great group via the Texas Standard https://www.typewriterrodeo.com/
I think I may have heard of the rodeo via Richard Polt a few months back. They have some great stuff.
Me? I’m doing a clean, oil, and adjust on a 1952 Royal QDL with the Royal Vogue typeface that I picked up for a song and a dance back in September.
Currently? I am shaking and scraping the rust off my typing skills and getting a feel for what my machines need. Some, one or two, just need to have their mechanisms worked to be 100% functional. Another just needs new ribbon. And one may need to be tuned up.
My current project: getting a folding 1939 Corona 3 back into typing shape. I’m not calling it a restoration because I lack the skills to repaint, or buff, or do any machining required, but I’ll give it a really good clean and tend to the service items I can, and get rid of the rust.
We are cleaning up two new-to-us acquisitions, a 1964 Olympia SM9 $22 from an estate sale, and a 197x?? Blue Royal Dart $15 from a flea market.
Also, we are preparing for a type-in we’re hosting at a local library (Vienna, VA, US).Type-In link
Fixing the foot on my S.I.M. Portable.
Attach a paperbale spring on my new Antares Parva.
Finish cleaning the green Facit P3.
Keep cleaning the new Rheinmetall and SM9.
…oh, and finish editing that dam book like I promised… 😉
Trying to finalize what I hope is the last fix on the 1961 Olympia SG1 I snagged on FB for $60. With no typewriter fixing experience beyond simple cleaning I am super proud of all the things I’ve done to get it back to fully working condition. Only the pesky ribbon advancement is left. Looking to make a whole post about it when I finally figure it out!
I’m creating a booklet for 10 year olds to sell on Amazon. Typing it and drawing pictures. And reading Richard Polt’s “The Typewriter Revolution.”
Repairing 2 electric SCM machines for a customer, and it may be a lost cause. I’m also repairing a Remington Portable 2 for a close friend of mine, but workorders come first.
Currently trying to figure out how to get the platen out of my SG3. The time has come for it to go to the JJ Short platen spa… but I can’t figure how it comes out. Grr.
Sanding and polishing the keys on my Smith-Corona Silent Super. A lesson to all, use foil when using PBlaster to clean, not a rag. It still melts plastic when it soaks through the rag…
Finish cleaning up my 1961 Hermes Rocket and then the 1955 Smith Corona Silent-Super.
Currently designing replacement parts to be 3d printed for multiple typers.
Fixed up a desktop Royal KGM gray with tombstone keys. Snappiest thing I have.
Currently I’m away from my typewriter as I couldn’t carry it with me when I came to my hometown. So now I’m searching for an ultraportable one to keep on hand for such occasions. I own a 1954 Smitch Corona Sterling, the 5A series one. I like such Unique keys instead of the boxy plastic ones. But maybe I’ll try the Lettera 22. Suggestions are welcome.
Actually it’s before the weekend, starting my small business that consists of transcribing handwritten papers like school notes, letters, academic papers, accounting, index cards, and much more. Using my beloved Olympia sg3
I’m giving away a Torpedo 18 that I don’t use, and I prepare to get an Orbis SM1.
Trying to repair my Skyriter
Writing letters on my Lettera 33
Hoping my Hermes 3000 replacement feet arrive. Hoping that this raises up the carriage enough to keep the space bar from jamming.
I’m anxiously awaiting my first typewriter since the 90s to arrive – an Olivetti Lettera 22. Going to spend my weekend watching videos on YouTube so I have some familiarity with it before it’s delivered.
Going to do a penpal letter on my Voss. Meeting someone who wants to buy a Sears Citation from me. And properly flushing the segment of a Remington Monarch hoping to fix some sticky typebars once and for all. Then probably a letter on the Remington.
Cleaning an Olivetti Studio 44 that I acquired long ago and has a bunch of sticky and slow keys. Joe Van Cleave’s video was very helpful!
I’m trying to figure out what to do with my lettera 32 platen. I’m starting to get closer to a fully operable Olivetti but I’m locking the feed lever and I have my spacing set, but I’m not able to feed paper through. I just hear the platen slide against the paper but no grip. Not certain how to fix it yet.
I have to grab my ’63 Torpedo 18s from my workshop at my ex husband’s, probably do some carb work on my motorcycle while I’m there. I want to do some writing because I’m off tomorrow.
The Torpedo is the only portable that matches typestyle and pitch with my ’72 Remington Mod. 24 but something had gotten in the segment so I was doing some cleaning.
I am battling rust, and renovating an Olivetti, I changed its color from the boring yellowish cream to a dark red to highlight its bright white keys, but it’s been quite a challenge, I can’t get the paint to sit well on the case.
A new platen for my Hermes Rocket is supposed to arrive today- If it does, I will install and take it to Kauai tomorrow for a 4-day birthday trip and use it to write letters and postcards by the pool and the beach. If it doesn’t, I’ll take my Royal (Seiko-Silver) instead. I have a Smith-Corona Electra 120 that I need to clean and service and get ready for posting. It belonged to a now deceased State Farm Agent (it has his name written on it and a business card taped to it) who sold life insurance. These sales representatives must have had their machines regularly serviced, because it is in very nice shape- I have another machine that belonged to a different life insurance agent, and it was also obviously well cared for. I only have to replace the drive belts and throw new feet on it. I guess they took their machines to people’s houses to write up the policies. I looked up his obituary and his son is following in his footsteps. He probably uses a laptop though. I think that was a fairly significant digression…
Repairing the index return on my Super Sterling. Somehow a few screws are missing and the line advancement system isn’t working but should be an easy fix. The ribbon color selector is jammed also so that will be next.
Trying to get the rod and ball bearings together with the carriage on my 1923 corona 3
Working out a few more kinks on my recently acquired Smith-Corona 250 from about 1964. Also working through boxes of family archives (which includes tons of typewritten material) from my attic. Making box content indexes on the SCM 250. Makes any project more fun.
Exploring my first typewriter ever!
https://preview.redd.it/j6n2cnfuj94e1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=67db4d6ebe8cd3c90f8b912bbc680275ec1dcb3f
I just got a screwdriver kit from Chapman and I’m using it to disassemble an Oliver No. 9. I’d been at my wits end trying to get some of the screws out using just ordinary slot screwdrivers. Now, they’re coming out with ease.
I’m always hunting for typewriters at thrift stores, antique stores, and Marketplace.
I journaled last night on my Royal Fleetwood and then moved a portion of my collection down a flight of stairs in preparation for someone moving into my office. I counted about 22 trips up and down the stairs.
Today, I just found out they found housing elsehwere, so back up the stairs they go!
https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1mlck21/early_60s_selectric_i_doesnt_turn_on_thoughts/
Working on this Selectric I picked up. I was wrong on the date, it’s a 1970 based on the serial number, and I think it just needs a good cleaning and lube, since it now powers on and the motor spins up, but it’s really just…sticky. It was serviced last in 1984, according to the little record sheet I found tucked behind the lever to release the cover, so 40 year old congealed oil is probably the only thing really “wrong” with it.
I’m doing some research and reading up on paper options, useful stationary items, letter making, stamps, etc. I’d like to set up a proper typewriter desk to be able to write letters to people. I think some effort into presenting a letter makes for a nice gift.
I heat-shrinked the hard platen on my Royal Mercury and replaced the disintegrated ribbon cover grommets. Bye-bye paper feeding issues! It’s much nicer to type on now.
I have a Selectric III I’d like to get serviced. I also might work on typesetting my next chapbook on my IBM Executive.
Just got a Penncrest Concord PCR 12. It is the JC Penney version of the Smith Corona Electra 220 judging from the features. Gonna spool new ribbon into it and address a few sticking typebars. I really like the color of this version of the machine compared to the regular Smith Corona stuff.
https://preview.redd.it/8iacpld1n1if1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e2540255a80c3162aa32e637edc137266eeb22b
My focus is recovering from our Pride event and reinstalling windows on my laptop because I start a new contract on Monday that is “bring your own device” and I have to send an email to our solicitors because they are being cunts while we sell our house and this question is wow.
Restoring a steel tube typewriter stand with casters – and debating what standard machine to put on it.
Ooh and much more difficult – discussing with myself what machine to let go of next to get back down at only 40 clackers. Not to mention thinking about resoldering two type slugs to take a keyboard from qwertz to qwerty.
I’m going to try to get the type slugs on my Smith Corona Super 12 leveled out. All the segments are straightened out and reattached, but a couple are still out of line.
I’m working twelve hours weekend shift on my job to earn the money for my hobbies. During that time, I will find a moment when I can wish I could type something.
This weekend: I’ve got a few machines that need my attention. I’ve just finished acquiring a number of different brushes, plus a needle tip oil dispensing bottle and some cleaning products. Alas, I don’t have a garage or any easy backyard space, so I’ll be hucking typewriters to my porch for the cleaning. (I should say I had a small buying spree recently.)
Let’s see, cleaning and assembling two silent supers which need drawbands and tab repairs, fixing ribbon reverse on an SG3 and packing for shipping to Tennessee, tearing down a 40s quiet deluxe for cleaning and service, processing parts for a KMM, starting cleaning on a Royal 10 restoration, getting parts for an Underwood 6, packing ribbon orders, and making adjustments to an IBM selectric. That’s just the weekend!!!
Trying to find replacement parts for my lettera 32 so I can restore it to its former glory
I’m fixing a Hermes 3000 for a client
Fixing a rare Remington 2 portable with the apothecary keys for myself
And typing up different documents for a call of Cthulhu campaign
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I’m working on a sc desktop electric that I’ve been working on since last September
Need to attempt reattaching the cable for the carriage return on my Selectric II. Hope I can manage.
The plan for this weekend is to:
* type a little write up of my 2 week holiday
* carrying on the de-rusting and cleaning of a Hermes Media 9 I got for free in very poor condition
* an initial assessment of 2 french layout Underwood standards (5 and 6) that my brother-in-law found for me in a house clearance, which he kindly lugged through France for 7h, and I lugged the rest of the way to London
(Un)fortunately for me, now that all in my family know I collect typewriters, they will actively be on the lookout for new machines. My mom, as I was driving back to London, found 2 machines in a charity shop: and Olympia SM2-5 for 5EUR, and a wide carriage Alpine for 10. I only asked for the SM. I’m sure the Alpine is a lovely machine, but I really don’t have the space to keep wide carriages (especially with the 2 newly acquired Underwoods).
3d printing a new platen core and then covering it in heat shrink tubing for my Underwood #6 Champion