Bremerton Office Machine Company

Expectations of a Typewriter

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I get calls from folks enquiring about repairs to a typewriter, go figure. Often the conversation starts like this. "My typewriter appears fine and I'm sure it just needs a little help." slow pause . . .  "Oh, and the keys are like kinda stuck, the paper will not feed and the carriage is frozen. Other than that the typewriter is just FINE! I’m sure it will take just a few moments of your time and all will be well." Long intake of breath along … [Read more...]

Underwood Number 6, it is BATH time!

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This customers machine from the year 1942 . . . WOW, what a dust bunny! Enjoy some before and after photos of the clean up. It took vacuuming, compressed air, a good long bath where the dirt and accumulated junk flowed down the drain. Then some rust removal, a good re-oiling, some minor adjustments to tabs, right hand margin, upper/lower case, recondition the platen and this dust bunny transformed into a clean mean typing … [Read more...]

Underwood Master Series from 1938

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I like the various permutations of Underwood Standard models. Take a look at this behemoth of a machine. You may imagine a grandiose contraption within. Yet, when you take off all the dressing you find the same model 5 frame and workings from decades past. Pretty amazing … [Read more...]

Royal Empress is Dreamy

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I received this vintage 1962 Royal Empress as part of a large typewriter collection. I'm so very grateful for all the machines that arrive at the shop. This Queen is the classic large format typewriter that commands any space it occupies. And boy this graceful lady does just that. I gaze at this Empress and enjoy the creamy color and the smooth and graceful lines. All it needed was a good cleaning, some insulation replaced and a … [Read more...]

A Visit from Awesome People

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It is always about the machines when you are in a repair shop, yes? Well, I'm not so sure the machines just sidle into the shop without a person supporting them. As you know, I love my customers and damned if they don’t love their typewriters. This week, one of my favorite typewriter collectors from Astoria brought a friend. And did I get a treat. Not only did he share one of the first folding typewriters (it looked as if it had been made in a … [Read more...]

Wheel Writer Typewriters – For Sale, Usually $80

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There are plenty of these "wedge" typewriters that use a plastic type wheel out there. I particularly like the Brother and Smith-Corona models. The machines are simple, easy to use and have correction. Many have an internal memory or correction dictionary. They all come with correction and many with word or entire line correction. The tape cartridges and correction tapes are still commonly available. When I get them inexpensively I … [Read more...]

Paint that Typewriter!

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Lately I've been inspired by Typewriter Fever's re-painted typewriters. Recently, someone on Facebook shared glitter painted typewriters! There are plenty of machines that are as regrettable as a margarita blender with no ice and yet type real nice. I tried tomato RED on a Smith-Corona and it turned out pretty good. I have IBM Selectric typewriters stacked like cord wood in the back shop and pulled out two to try the magic of new paint. With … [Read more...]

What does Budweiser have to do with Typewriters?

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This article is a bit far away from typewriters. Some of my more endearing customers bring interesting things for me to repair. I cannot turn them away, especially when it is an advertising gizmo that lights up and rotates! The rotating beer sign was a bit unbalanced and it turns out the rotation motor gears were stripped. Fortunately, there is a huge fan base on the interwebs for beer signs. HUGE! I found the direct replacement for the … [Read more...]

Brosette Number 4

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I got the trio of Brosettes all ready for pick up and this delightful Brosette typewriter from the year 1953 shows up for service. The machine itself needed the right side ribbon feed repaired. It is pretty straight forward to remove the ribbon feed assembly and repair. Then it was just some minor service. Mostly the typewriter case needed work. New rubber feet and a new leather handle. I could not find an escutcheon that was close to the … [Read more...]