This customer machine has been in their family a long, long time and ready for a renewal. I like the base model typewriters and this Royal Signet came into the shop needing a new paper roller, new feet, the ribbon vibrator needed repair and the ribbon was not feeding. This model features only upper case letters, possibly called Monoface, no back space, left margin only, no bell, no shift, no tabs, manual ribbon reverse; a very simple … [Read more...]

Like other repair shops I too re-paint typewriters. One of my customers found a nice IBM Personal Typewriter Selectric at their local typewriter repair shop in California. Wanting a fresh looking machine they proposed I paint the shell. I'm no professional painter, yet I like to think I do a decent job with a rattle can spray job. I sent paint samples and one was selected. They shipped the shell and I got to work. Off come … [Read more...]

This Continental Wanderer typewriter from the year 1930 is a customer's machine in for a new draw cord, a good cleaning and tune up. Once I got the mildew off the platen and rollers, and with everything cleaned and re-oiled the machine is a dream. As I was testing this Continental it became evident why people like them. It typed great! Darn, now I want one. … [Read more...]

These two Erika 5 portables were brought to the shop, and one of them for a bit of work. The 1935 model 5 is the pretty one, yet she has the most going on. Paper rollers were hard and cracked, needing replacement. The platen had stuck to the rollers so the platen needed a bit of reconditioning. Afterwards it was apparent the platen should be replaced. It is covered with micro cracks and is hard as a rockabilly song. Oddly, the … [Read more...]

This Hermes Rocket from the year 1955 was a donation needing a bit of repair; carriage, platen, paper rollers, feet, the usual. My first thought was "parts machine". Yet I have a fondness for the older Rockets and this little guy spoke to me. He wanted a second chance. After I was done getting the machine into tiptop shape I began to realize the paint on the typewriter was suffering from a lot of wear. I did not want this machine to just … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]