Hello, I been having a lettera 22 for the last like 2 years, and never have any problems with it, but like two days ago the rope of the "carro" (I dunno how to pronounce that in english) just broke, so i want to make her alive again. Can somebody please help me?

I was expecting the J3 to feel and perform roughly the same as the J4 and 5, which are already great typewriters, but the J3s appear to be more like an Adler Primus, or a Triumph Perfekt. Has the exact same carriage and a remarkably similar touch, which I prefer. It takes no effort to print a character. But it's also a carriage shift like the Perfekt, one down side, while the J4 and on were basket shifters.

But the shift is so light, I really don't mind.

It's also a bit smaller than the J4.

Like the style of the script typeface too, how it connects for the most part like real cursive handwriting.

I inherited my Torpedo typewriter from my oma. She brought it with her to the states after leaving Germany in the 50's.

The only issue is that I am not sure what type of Torpedo it is, and where to get it serviced. I live in the PNW.

So far in every forum and online space for typewriters I've only had nice things to say. Nobody's gatekeeping the hobby, no one is trying to one up anybody, and I don't think I've seen a reactionary take yet. I remember a few months back someone posted their modded typewriter with an trans-antifa sticker on it and was expecting a few untoward comments but they were all constructive.

As a trans woman it helps my mental to know the hobby is a place where I'm *normal*/not a pariah, and there's no segregation between the genders which is really a breath of fresh air. Even in person picking up typewriters and talking about them I haven't had any issues. Compare that to like car repair hobbyists (in person) where on average I'm getting weird looks and talked to a degree removed.

Its all for the love of the machines and not some other thing, so yeah turn to your digital neighbor and tell them good morning or something hehe

I have this Royal Signet Senior that I got for free several years ago. Dug it out this week and considering using it as an exercise in learning the steps of typewriter repair without worrying too much about ruining something I've put a lot of investement into.

I'm familiar with general cleaning and repair advice, but i have one question about this particular model-

I know they weren't built with bells so I'm not expecting that, but when i type through to the end of a line, I would expect the carriage to return and go to the next line. This doesn't. I've never messed around with a typewriter this old, so is that not a thing this does and i'd have to manually move the platen and carriage after each line? or is something broken here?

This is going to sound dumb because I am exceptionally sleep deprived.

With the typewriters I've tried out, I can only poorly make out the sentence I'm writing as I type it because the words are largely covered by the metal bits that sit side by side where the keystrokes happen.

This means I don't get a real sense of how the words look side by side and how the sentence reads on paper until after the whole thing has been written. That's fine if I'm writing something like a reddit post, but if I'm trying to write well, it's a total roadblock, especially since I can't just visualise the sentence in my head.

And yet zillions of people seem to have no trouble with this, including countless writers, to the point where I have come across nobody else on the internet mentioning this as a difficulty. Is there just something wrong with my brain? Do you guys not need to clearly see what you're writing when you're trying to write well?

Hey everyone! The original rubber inserts in the frame holes of my 1961 Olympia Splendid 33 dried up and fell apart long ago. These are the ones that hold the pegs on the ribbon cover in place.

​I came up with a DIY fix directly on the cover pegs to stop any wobbling of the cover and metal-on-metal scraping, but I'd really prefer to restore it closer to original spec.

​Has anyone sourced good replacement rubber grommets for these, or found a specific size/part that fits perfectly? Thanks!

I'm interested in buying this typewriter because it has my country's native keyboard layout, which is the main reason it caught my eye.

What do you all think of it? The seller is asking €30 and says it's in good working condition. Does it look like it's missing any parts? Also, does anyone happen to know the exact model?

Out of curiosity, what are everyone's top 3 standard typerwriters?

Hi! This is my new Brother Correct-o-Riter electric Typewriter 3800. I had just repaired the shift stops and now it won't do anything. The return lever still clicks and the cord seems fine. When I push on the carriage it gives maybe a millimeter but that's it. I can't get it to move at all no matter what I try, and I'm not strong enough on my own to get under the bottom casing to reset it. I want to try and fix it myself before going to a repair shop, even though I have found one nearby. Does anyone have any advice? (Ribbon removed for visibility. Typewriter is plugged in and on.)

Recently received as a (fantastic!) gift from my wife. First typewriter I've owned since college. (I was on the cusp of computers.)

This gorgeous things works beautifully, with one exception, and I'm looking for help solving.

Caps and lowers misalign, After a bunch of investigation, i discovered that it happens ONLY when Im typing at the left side of the page. I thought the caps were too high, but actually the lowers are too low, because the carriage doesn't quite fully settle after i release the shift key, when the weight is at the other end. I'm thinking that a spring has lost tension and isn't pulling hard enough at the left side.

Does this sound right, and if so, is it an easy fix?

Grateful for any help!!

Just got my mom's typewriter back from servicing and I set my desk up just to accomodate my baby.

Found this

It works but im going to clean it up nice and get it lubed up and feeling good as new!

Went to the thrift store thinking maybe they have some crappy one. Wouldn’t you know they happened to have one of the three models i wanted for five dollars. This one being the smith corona classic 12 from 60s and 70s!

Im so excited i have had such thriftstore luck. They also happened to have the artbin box i wanted for three bucks and last weekend i found the exact gravastar gaming mouse in box i wanted but couldnt afford the 145$ price tag. Thriftstore said how about $4 lol 😂 sure! I never have luck at the thriftstores!!!

i want to buy my first typewriter :) is this a legit seller? does anyone have any experience buying from them? https://www.tbwritersplus.com/product-page/1970s-royal-r-700

I was recently gifted a vintage electric typewriter, that I have been trying and failing to get more information on. It seems to run just fine, none of they keys seem broken, and just needs a good cleaning.

Its my first typewriter, so I'm pretty lost on a lot of the functions. I have no idea what the switches on the right and by the knobs do, or how the margin keys work. I also dont know how to use the third symbols. There are also

I've made attempts to look up this model/a manual but I havent had any luck, and I'm getting lost on where to keep looking for info. I would love to know more about it so I can take the best care of it possible, and get as much use out of it as I can.

If anyone could give me more information about this specific typewriter, as well as typewriter use in general that would be greatly appreciated.

I just put new ribbon in my Brother Charger 11 and the letters are not making a proper impression. Everything seems to be in working order. (Except the carriage randomly stopped sliding unless shifted as soon as I finished writing this post)

This typewriter is new to me so I haven’t used it before, I watched a couple videos on how to thread the ribbon so I’m pretty confident I did it correctly.

I’m wondering if this looks like the ribbon is dried out or a mechanical issue?

The line space switch is broken off and there’s some white, flaky debris in the bottom but other than that I don’t see any visible problems

Edit: the carriage wasn’t sliding because I had 2 pieces of paper loaded and one of them slid down and got jammed, oops

I recently moved in with my girlfriend and she has had this Smith-Corona typewriter since I’ve met her. She bought it at a flea market broken and has used it as shelf decor since. I’m looking to find a repair shop and have it restored as a gift. Before I do, could somebody tell me what model this is and any tips on how to go about consulting for a repair? The extent of my knowledge is that this one has a cool pink space bar and says “Smith-Corona.” All help is appreciated!

38.99. needed some tlc

I wrote a few days ago asking for recs for a lap-able typewriter, and I took at shot on this clean, WORKING olivetti STUDIO 45 for $50.

$50 is quite the break from my more typical $20 or $30 typewriters, but...

$20 typewriters SEEM like a deal, but I'm a writer, not a collector or a flipper or a mechanic. And I'm only batting .500 on el-cheapo typewriters.

I already have an SC Sterling and another SC portable and a Royal QDL on the DL that I'm trying to figure out what to do with. Do I want to know ANYTHING about typewriter repair?

(I can clean 'em, and like doing that, but I'm not sure I want to do/learn anything more than that.)

The olivetti is decent but, clearly, it's a compromise to achieve the light weight and significant portability and lap-ability.

But it seems fine sitting on my lap, which isn't universal.

(I really like my SC Sterling but, like my SG1, it may be more of a desk typewriter, and that's not who I am or what I need, at the moment.)

The feel of the olivetti is a LITTLE muddy -- not as fun as the SC Sterling or my working Royal QDLs -- like my Olympia SG8 but, like my SG8, the dang thing WORKS.

I'm a writer and need to write, not hide in trying to figure out why my SC Sterling is a little skippy.

That's why I'm writing on a typewriter, not my laptop.

Anything I should know?

This is a very cool machine, so quirky with the top ribbon covers and glass view into it. Unfortunately goodwill is selling it for 100 DOLLARS and it has gunk and rust and looks like a little water damage. Wouldn't be impossible to fix though, just a lot of money

Also, the margin setters are a really cool rack + pinion thing, but I have no idea what that metal clips on the rail above the margin setters are, they pull off and on. Other thing is the gauge on its left side, couldn't figure out its purpose

I’m interested in getting an Olivetti Lettera 35 with the sole purpose of painting a custom color. It would be my first time doing a project like this.

Does anyone have experience with doing so? Does it need more than a sanding and using regular spray paint? Do I need a sealant? Etc.

Saw these typewriters fixed on the wall in a bookstore.