Typewriters

Ribbon Replacement

We sell typewriter ribbons! As most typewriter spools are no longer made, we hand spool the ribbon directly onto your old spools – do get in touch by emailing info@typewronger.com to arrange an appointment. You can bring in the whole typewriter for ribbon replacement, or just the spools. Ribbon replacement is priced at £10.

We No Longer Offer Servicing or Repairs

Our founder, Tee, used to buy and sell typewriters as well as offering servicing and repair work. Sadly with the company growing Tee’s spread rather thin at the moment, and though they’re happy to give advice on machines no longer offer commercial typewriter repair services. Read on for advice on how to service your machine at home!

We No Longer Buy Typewriters

Unless they are machines of special historic significance (usually pre 1900). We are happy to accept donations of working machines for use in our writing workshops and art classes.

Are You A Typewriter Mechanic?

Email tee@typewronger.com if you would like your details advertised here for free as a commercial typewriter mechanic.

How To Service/Clean A Typewriter

Generally speaking typewriters are very resilient and tend to just work. If your machine has been left in a garage or other damp environment and is completey gummed up it can be a herculanean task getting it running again – you might want to check out the next section which is advice on buying a typewriter!

If, however, you just have a few sticky keys and want to fine tune your machine here’s what to do!

  1. USE YOUR TYPEWRITER. Generally most keys will stop sticking the more times you hit them. Manipulating keys is a simple, easy, non-invsasive way of loosening them. Typewriters are like cars – they need to be run, so use your machine regularly to keep it in good condition.
  2. DRY CLEAN FIRST – using cotton buds, try to get as much dust and grot out of your machine as you can whilst using no liquid. Compressed air of the sort use on computer keyboards can be handy here, be careful not to shoot off any wee springs!
  3. WET CLEAN ONLY AFTER DRY CLEAN – or you’ll make mud in your machine. Isopropyl alchohol is the best thing to use, though some other solvents will work. You can mix one part 3 in 1 or similar light oil with five or six parts isopropyl. Shake it in a jar like salad dressing – they won’t want to mix. When the alchohol evapourates it leaves the thinnest trace of oil. Never use neat oil, it will attract dirt and gum up the machines.
  4. NEVER USE WD40 ON A TYPEWRITER. It will appear to work for a bit, then the whole thing will seize up. WD stands for Water Displacement (formula) number 40 – it is not a lubricant, it is not for small fine mechanisms like typewriters.
  5. USE YOUR OLD TOOTHBRUSH, dry, to clean the type face. You can also use a pin to pick out any bits of ribbon from the “o”s and “d”s and “b”s and the like. Sometimes you can find a dental tool set that can be handy.

How To Buy A Typewriter

  1. ALWAYS BUY IN PERSON – never from the internet. Unless you’ve found a highly reputed typewriter mechanic the people selling on ebay usually know nothing about these machines. In my experience up to half of them arrive not functioning, or broken in transit because they were poorly packed. Buy from your local charity shop, from gumtree, from facebook market place.
  2. ALWAYS ASK TO TRY THE MACHINE –  Bring a sheet of paper with you. If it doesn’t work don’t buy it, and don’t listen to any nonsense the seller might say about it “just needing a service.” There are a lot of typewriters out there in perfect working condition. You should therefor never buy one you know to be faulty in the hope of fixing it up – move on and find a machine that works!
  3. ASK WHERE THE TYPEWRITER ARE – In a charity shop scenario go right up to the desk and ask if they have any typewriters. Often they don’t know where to display them in the shop so there’s one or two in the back room. Don’t waste your time looking, just go in and ask.
  4. NEVER SPEND MORE THAN £100 on a charity shop typewriter. If it breaks they won’t take it back. You should easily be able to find a machine for £30-£70 in good working order. Be ruthless, just say no and move on.

I hope some of this information has been useful, for any other typewriter tech support do email me on tee@typewronger.com – cheers!