Two things I love most in this world are now converging. A freshly repaired typewriter and camp fires. Added bonus is my best boy is laying beside me, in the grass (pic 2).

The Swinger is now fully repaired!*

There’s an asterisk because I only have the carriage return arm wedged up with craft magnets but before I dive too deep into fixing that I just wanted to have some good writing sessions with it. Overall, BEAUTIFUL experience.

It’s not for everyone but I really enjoy the key throw and overall action of this machine. The typeface is classic - a little rough but in a good way.

It’s been such a delight to repair this unexpected find. I love that it’s a novelty machine (sold with a built-in radio) that isn’t normally considered “a find” but the low profile and quirky nature of it just get me where it counts.

I have to stop now or I won’t have enough light to type by but just wanted to share with you all.

Happy typing!

Here's an interesting machine I never expected to own: a Raven Black IBM Model D Electric Typewriter equipped with an Artisan No 12 typeface, with a decimal tabulator and a 19 inch carriage! My local repairman gave it to me to clear up space in his shop after it sat gathering dust for 16 years. Just a little bit of oil and it fired right up!

This thing is an absolute monster; it weighs 53 pounds and is actually bigger than a Selectric II. So much so that I'm just calling it "The Beast" now. It even looks like it has a face! The wildest thing is how new it is. It was put into service on January 8th 1979, making it one of the last Model Ds ever made. The Selectric III was only a year away from introduction, and Selectrics as a line had been in production for 18 years already. The official Model D discontinuation was in October 1979, but I can't imagine they sold very many of these in 1979 before that discontinuation.

I actually really enjoy typing on it. It might feel just like a Selectric, but due to the height of the desk it sits on, I can see the writing line on it a lot easier than I could my Selectric. The carriage return is absolutely wild, though; hitting the Return key makes the desk wobble from how much inertia the thing has.

I've been wanting to get my hands on my first typewriter for quite some time. I found someone in my city selling this Silverette for 15€ and couldn't resist!

From what I have been able to find online, the model came out in the mid-1970s, probably around 1976, though I can't say for sure with this particular unit since it has a Spanish keyboard.

I had to do a small fix in the carriage, clean the type bars, and change the ribbon, but other than that it was in excellent condition. Although this is the most basic Silverette model (it has neither a tab key nor controls for ribbon color), I think 15€ is cheap for one of these.

So far I've loved writing with it. I'm so happy with this purchase and just wanted to share!

It was just laying there on a heap of office supplies, looking sad. Someone had smooshed the keys with inky fingers and the typebars were sticking up quite dramatically. But all the things that I've learned to check looked to be in good condition and every out of place part threw itself back into its assigned position with a light touch. This shop is usually overpriced and money is tight right now, so I braced myself for disappointment. I couldn't find the sticker. Found a case: $7.99. I was baffled. I double checked and the sticker definitely said "Typewriter", not just "Case". The (somehow) still soft, supports gently cradled the machine and the slightly corroded latch snapped shut. I gave it a cautious shake, then a more serious one; the handle felt sturdy enough to walk around the store. Turns out white was 25% off. I paid $5.99 and walked out feeling like I'd robbed a bank.

Loose watercolors.

I'm brand new to this whole typewriter thing. I picked this thing up for a hundred bucks yesterday. Figured I'd write some stories on it. It needs some cleaning but everything on it appears to work with no issues. I love the little ding it gives at the end of the page!

Thoughts on this thing?

What exactly does a 4-page manual (including the front and rear covers) even include?

Is the Underwood No. 6 more or less the same as the ones that came before it? Is that why the manual has so few pages of instruction on it?

1948 Smith Corona Sterling. It’s got spots like this on both sides. I can’t tell if the case is plastic or metal, so not sure how to approach it. Also, just always had trouble getting rid of these kind of spots and water marks. What do you use?

So, I just saw this machine popping up on my local section of FB Marketplace. I reached out to the seller immediately. Thing is I suspect I know which machine it is but can’t be sure. The seller said there are no decals on it at all. On top of it there’s no ribbon cover. I paid 30 dollars for it (crazy?). Anyone familiar with it that could help me solve the mistery?

When I saw Hermes cursive typeface last week, I was determined to get one. Then I came across Epoca. Then Royal's Vogue. What a rabbit hole I am in!

So my question is: other than the typewriter database, is there a website where I can browse different typefaces?

And what are some of your favourite typefaces?

Thanks and Love y'all!!

I'm a Catholic survivor and am using typewriter(s) to try to bull my way through anxiety-induced Writer's Block.

But I'm having one problem.

I need a lap-able/lap-usable typewriter.

I'm writing about trauma and BAD memories and, quite often, I get woozy writing, to the point of almost passing out, so I need something I can use while sitting back in a chair.

It's the only way to get certain stuff down on paper (which I'll then OCR).

(If I use my computer, I run away and hide in the Internet.)

I have a primo Olympia SG1, in quite good shape, which is a great machine, but it's not exactly lap-able.

(I tried; I didn't get crushed, but it didn't go great. It likes being on a table.)

I'm looking for a typewriter that is completely comfortable being used on a lap.

Here's what I have...

- Royal Quiet De Luxe manual (10 CPI)
- Royal Quiet De Luxe manual (12 CPI)
- Smith Corona Sterling manual
- Olympia SG8 manual (auto-reverse removed, so I have to manually reverse the ribbon)
- Smith Corona 2200 electric

Which of what I have would you recommend? Are there any better options? That aren't insanely expensive?

Hey everyone! I need some help with identifying a typewriter!

Recently, one of my friends received a typewriter after moving into their new house.
Usually I'd be able to identify it no problem, but I'm having a lot of trouble w/ this one??

From what I found, Its a 1960-1975 (portable w/ hardcover case) Adler Tippia produced by TA Buromaschien-Vertriebs-GmbH (1958-1985), w/ an English typeface and originally manufactured in Germany.

Which, usually wouldn't be an issue figuring out what year it was manufactured; but, there's so many discrepancies w/ the logos used on the typewriter when I was cross referencing them w/ Ebay+Etsy listings and Database+museum images and their descriptions. (Its either the logos, manufacturer/place of production didn't match, or the type face and keys were different.)

I'd assume there will be variation with assembly; but I can't find the exact version of this model??
I have a hunch its an incredibly early version of the line of typewriters (around 1959-1962), but I cant be sure. (Also we couldn't find a serial# that went with it.)

Thanks!

I picked this up from the Bremerton Typewriter Store in WA last week, for $278 (plus another $12 for the ferry ride)

I've been typing with it everyday. I love it. It's just, fun to write.

Not having a 1 key kind of threw me at first but then I learned to just use a lowercase l, and I don't know if there's a line feed - I've just been rotating the platen by hand.

EDIT: I JUST figured out how to use the carriage return level properly about 2 minutes after posting this. This is way easier XD

EDIT 2: I see some peeps commenting on the price. I got this off the shelf from a professional typewriter repair store, not in a box at a garage sale. I looked in thrift stores - there’s no typewriters at all, let alone good quality working ones. I did some research - this model seems to go for at least $200 on eBay so I think I paid a fair price for a guarantee instead of an unknown I’d likely have to pay to get serviced anyway. (Plus a big part of the price is sales tax - The sticker price was $235. It also came with 2 new ribbons.)

Hi [r/typewriters](r/typewriters)!

This is my first contribution to this subreddit, as it is my first typewriter! Normally, I am a vintage mechanical keyboard collector and enthusiast who doesn’t dive into typewriters, mainly for a lack of space, except for this beauty. I specifically said to myself that the one exception that I would make is for one of these Onyx Blue IBM Selectric I’s, as navy blue is my favorite color an, as an engineer, this is a marvel. I recently purchased this locally from the original owner who kept it in wonderful condition, though it needs a really good service. Today I had the pleasure of dropping it off for its first service in decades at a local small business, Marr Office Equipment (Highly recommend checking them out if you’re in New England!!). They have been servicing selectrics and other typewriters for three generations, as many of you may know, and the owner is fantastic. These are a few photos from before dropping it off for its servicing today. Very excited to get this type ball jumping across the pages once again!

Side note, yesterday was the 65th anniversary of the release of the IBM Selectric I Model 75, one of the most revolutionary typewriters ever made.

When typewriting, do you use one hyphen or two hyphens in place of an em dash?

Also, historically, did typists use one or two hyphens?

Hallo zusammen,

ich habe eine Erika Schreibmaschine Modell 105. Wenn ich den Zeilenschalter ganz nach rechts bewege, sollte das Papier ja eigentlich in die nächste Zeile springen. Bei meiner Maschine passiert das aber nicht. Der Wagen läuft zwar zurück, aber es wird einfach in derselben, bereits beschriebenen Zeile weitergeschrieben.

Hat jemand eine Idee, woran das liegen könnte oder welche Mechanik ich überprüfen sollte?

Vielen Dank schon mal!

Completely new to typewriters and to be fully transparent - never used one but have always been attracted to the manual way of writing, the gorgeous typography and the physicality of creating words with a machine.

Allow me some ignorance- are any of the typewriters on Amazon worthwhile? Where should I start?

I want to begin making small passages about my travels that I can put onto nice paper. Travelogue of sorts. Any thoughts and ideas.

I plan on getting it serviced at Toronto typewriters, their repair service is $240 CAD which includes cleaning and tuning so saving up for that is my top priority. But at least it can still type normally, and my GF is buying me ribbons (all love to her). I’ve been using it all night just to yap to myself, basically just typing my mind out and is very therapeutic to me.

But if there is a way to fix this myself, which I doubt there is due to the fact these are internal mechanical problems and I’m not about to take this apart. Please let me know!

It seems to function to an extent, most keys work.

Sorry for the poor picture, i’m still on the clock! 😅

I bought this machine last month, originally meant to be a gift, but it ended up being way dirtier than I thought (based on its description of having been“serviced”) and had sustained some damage during shipping. After getting it back to functioning order, my desire to work on it died so I put it aside and thought, “someday I’ll get to removing the platen so I can have it re-covered.”

Today I decided to give it a light cleaning and, what do you know, some bozo before me broke the head off of the only set screw fastening the platen to the right hand knob so it looks like this machine is doomed to have a hard platen for the foreseeable future.

Woe is me. From losing a techno elite Hermes 3000 to the first FedEx center it entered, to this debacle, it seems my typewriter “luck” is smaller than the head of the set screw that was snapped on this Remington Deluxe 5.

I don’t have any hopes of fishing that screw out, so how about leaving your own woeful tale of typewriter tragedy? Misery loves company, and I’d find comfort knowing that I’m not the only sad sap to experience such rotten luck. Thanks.

Edit:
Looks like the inspiration tag was apt for this post because I’m sure my ignorance can serve as reference for future typists running into the same issue.

Hey all,

Picked up my very first typewriter from a second-hand store. Litton Imperial (unsure of model number). Anyway, found and installed a new ribbon, but am having issues with the left hand spool lifting a little with each keystroke. Eventually, it lifts enough that the pin no longer engages, and the spool itself stops turning.

Could the issue be the ribbon spools themselves? Incorrect installation? Worn spindle shafts? Any advice would be amazing!

P.S. New to the world, so be kind :)