r/typewriters

This week I increased the size of my Varityper collection with a model 720 from 1967 and a model 160 (probably from 1958). Both needs some cleaning and refurbishing. These are "cold typesetting" composing typewriters, direct descendant of the Hammond typewriter.

I like how model 720 finally starts to depart a little from earlier machines in look, with a few interesting extra features as well: continuous operation motor, take-up spool, power carriage return.

• My Varityper collection
• Model 160 on TWDB
• Model 720 on TWDB

I’d like to share a project I recently completed called “The Castle Typist”

The inspiration came from a simple observation: the silhouette of the Olivetti MP1 (Ico), with its sturdy, curved metal frame, always reminded me of the architecture of medieval towers.
To explore this anachronism, I teamed up with two friends who are historical reenactment enthusiasts for a shoot at a local castle.

The goal was to blend the mechanical precision of Italian industrial design from the 1930s with the rugged textures of stone, parchment, and period costumes. There is something hauntingly beautiful about seeing a typewriter in a setting that predates it by centuries.

I have uploaded the full portfolio and high-res series to Behance.
I'll drop the link in the comments if you’d like to see the rest of the story!

2 years into estate sale scavenging going strong. Somehow acquired a Vogue Dreyfus QDL for 50 by accident and a techno elite Hermes for 50 as well. Honestly, The early underwood portables and corona 4 are severely underrated

Hi! This is kind of a bottle I am sending at sea right now. I have been renovating this Olympia SF De Luxe and finally received my ink ribbon. However, the ribbon seems to be shooting up too much when typing in black, causing the red ink to print on the paper. After some research, I saw that it was probably a ribbon vibrator issue and that it is something that can be adjusted by tracking back the mechanism. Alas, I cannot seem to find what exactly could be adjusted for the ribbon to shoot a little lower. Here is a video of what I believe to be the full mechanism responsible for the up and down of the ribbon. I do not see any part that can be screwed / adjusted. Is there any tip for me to properly align it?

My latest acquisition:

The Remington Portable 1.

According the TTDB it is a November 1924 model.

Which makes it almost 102 years old.

And it still works. Even the platen is fine.

Only needs some proper cleaning.

And somebody who could give me some advice how I could align the keys caps properly, especially the G.

Hello everyone, I said I'd keep you updated, here you go : I got the SM9 I posted about earlier this week, and a Hermes 3000. These are magnificent machines, so much better than my SC Silent from 1953. Thank you all for your knowledge and sharing. Now I have to get rid of those smells or I'll just puke everywhere.

After a weekend of cleaning, with the help of Jett Morton’s amazing videos, this Oliver typewriter is good to go. I got lucky it had ribbon covers and a pencil holder for only $50.

Nice surprise find at a thrift store with an interesting typeface, Professional Elite # 41, that OCRs surprisingly well.

If you can read the typewritten info and test page, you can see how compact and lilting it is. (Typos on the typed page are mine and not the machine’s.)

My very talented son has given lots of advice and also 3d-printed new bushings that fixed a major problem with carriage movement.

It was a filthy machine at purchase and is going to get a good mineral spirits bath and scrubbing when the weather is more accommodating to outside work.

Got a pretty sweet little Smith-Corona Super Sterling from a family friend that was moving. They have had it since it was brand new. Spending some time today giving it a thorough cleaning. Unfortunately the "Q" and "1" keys are disconnected. I don't really know how to fix that kinda stuff, even though I've owned like over 40 typewriters in my time, lol. It's a bit yellowed too, but overall not in bad shape.

I've been collecting/servicing/refurbishing/reselling typewriters for the past year. I've never bought a script font typewriter before, and now I've bought 2 in one day! For anyone wondering, the red traveller de luxe was £110, the sm7 was £65. Such beautiful machines I don't know if I will be able to bring myself to resell them!

I was always jealous of all of those posts like this thinking I have never once had a deal that good...well somehow that finally happened to me so I guess I can't be jealous now? lol. But lets be real, I will still be jealous.

Randomly went to the second location of a local store that I always ignored because it was an extra 30 minutes further away (about an hour away). Happened to be close enough and I am very happy I decided to go. I was shocked when I read the price initially and I had to read it a few times because I thought for sure that I was missing a zero.

Tis a 12.7cpi (2mm spacing) elite 1965 Hermes 3000. And while it does need some fairly minor work, it types normally and I couldn't ask for more with this.

How'd I do? Still has the manual and brushes.

I can’t recall if I’ve posted these here before. The Royal in the foreground was estimated at a typewriter repair shop to be a 1918 model. I have not done any intensive research on its provenance.

The LC Smith and Corona is purportedly a 1947. both are usable, and both have had their platens replaced and a general tuneup. Both are also excellent tools for your core-strength fitness program if you decide to move them anywhere.

I think I got the newer one at a yard sale years ago, but the old one my grandfather purchased from a school in the 1950s that was getting rid of surplus stuff. He gave it to my mother who may have used it for typing up essays and such.

I eventually found it while rummaging around in Pop’s attic, and, when I had enough cash, I took it to a repair shop.

I actually used the Royal to write a stage play that won a statewide competition for one-act plays, and was produced by a local theatre company.