1. Alcohol.  I recommend picking up a can of denatured alcohol although rubbing alcohol will work in a pinch.  Denatured alcohol can be found at most any home improvement store (Lowe’s, Home Depot) and some retailers like Wal-Mart and Michael’s.  Look for it near the turpentine and mineral spirits.
2. A Sturdy Brush.  You’ll probably want to pick up a cheap brush to use help get the denatured alcohol down into the segment.
3. Cotton Swabs.  Cotton swabs come in handy when trying to clean dirt off of metal parts on a typewriter.  I buy the biggest box I can find.

Okay, once you have your supplies you’re ready to get to work.  First, make sure you’re protecting both the typewriter and the surface it’s sitting on.  Denature alcohol WILL DAMAGE wood finishes and paint.  Before you can blink, it’ll spot the paint.  Make sure and protect as much of the typewriter as you can with a rag.

The first thing I usually do is take a dental pick (or needle) and remove any dirt from the segment.  You’ll be surprised on how much dirt and grime will come out of a segment.

Next, you’ll want to dip your brush in the denatured alcohol and rub across the segment just above the sticking typebar.  Once that is complete, I usually move the typebar back and forth by hand to work the alcohol down in the segment.

I’ve learned this process usually needs to be repeated.

There are some videos on YouTube that might prove helpful as well.  Here’s one to get you started.

The post How to Fix Sticky Typewriter Keys appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

I often get questions on how to load paper into a typewriter or how to set margins. I made a short overview video on how to use a typewriter. I hope it’s helpful!

Video Topics

• How to Load Paper
• How to Set Margins
• How to Adjust Line Spacing
• How to Use the Ribbon Color Selector
• How to Reverse the Direction of the Ribbon

The post How to Use a Manual Typewriter Video appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

It’s really satisfying to see a vintage typewriter help someone in the chores of daily life whether it’s writing a check or sending a note to a dear fried.  People matter and that’s why typewriters still matter.

The post Palsy and Typewriters appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

Unfortunately, the giveaway will only be for those who reside in the continental USA.  Shipping is just too expensive to ship a typewriter outside of the United States.  However, if you have alternatives, I’m always open to ideas.

Happy Typing!

Bryan

The post Free Typewriter? appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

The Flying Royals by Sam Daleo

The Royal Typewriter Company Wikipedia Article

I feel lucky any time I order a typewriter on eBay and it arrives without severe damage.  One thing’s for sure, Royal made a great typewriter!

The post Flying Typewriters! appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

The Nakajima AE-710 typewriter seems to be a typewriter that could help a lot of my clients.  Here’s why I think that.

Over the last year, I’ve learned that typewriters continue to be needed by people in Kentucky (and around the world). I knew there were typewriter enthusiasts, like myself. I knew there were businesses that still require typewriters for certain legal documents. What has surprised me though are the number of people who need a typewriter because of physical limitations. Many of my customers are older who suffer with hand tremors and are unable to write legibly because of those tremors. I am always so happy to help them find a good typewriter they can use to write checks, pay bills, and write letters.

While many manual typewriters would work fine for them, I do think that either an electric or electronic typewriter (with correction) is a good laternative choice depending on how severe their hand tremors may be. Of course, everyone knows that I love IBM Selectric typewriters and will always recommend them to people who are looking for a reliable machine to use daily. The one downside to the Selectric (and even the IBM Wheelwriter) is its size. They are big machines and quite heavy. So, with those things in mind, I’ve started carrying the Nakajima AE-710 Daisy Wheel typewriters. I believe them to be good machines that will meet the needs of many of my customers quite well. They’re great for daily tasks like paying bills and filling out forms. The daisy wheel feature makes them quieter than most other typewriters and these particular machines are easy to move from one place to another.

Here are a few features of the Nakajima AE-710:

• 20 Characters Per Second Print Speed
• Automatic Carrier Return
• Automatic Centering
• Automatic Word Correction
• Automatic Underlining
• Bold Type
• 10, 12, 15 Pitch PLUS Proportional Line Spacing
• 10 Line/700 Character Memory
• 15″ Wide Paper Capacity
• Variable Line Spacing (1, 1.5, 2)
• Impression Control
• 1 Year Warranty

If you’re interested in purchasing one, just contact us and we’d be happy to demonstrate one for you.

The post Daisy Wheel Typewriters – The Nakajima AE-710 appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

A few key things to remember:

1. Go slow.  Don’t rush – take your time and follow the video.
2. Make sure the ribbon goes around the left guidepost.
3. Confirm that the correction ribbon lever is closed.  If it’s open, you cannot press the red ribbon load lever to raise the ribbon guides which is vital for installing the new ribbon.

The post How to Install an IBM Selectric Ribbon Cartridge appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

Two of my favorite chapters are chapters 3 and 4.  Chapter 3 is a sort of buying guide for those who are about to take the plunge into typewriter collecting but aren’t quite sure what to look for when purchasing their first machine.  Chapter 4 provides information on typewriter maintenance so you can keep your machine working well into the future.

This book would make a great Christmas gift for anyone interested in vintage machines or an aspiring collector.  It’s a nicely bound book that I expect will last for many years not to mention the very colorful red/black bookmark that looks just like a typewriter ribbon.  If you haven’t purchased a copy, I’d encourage you to do so.  You can’t go wrong with this book.

Here are a few of the positive reviews from the book industry:

… a lively, lavishly illustrated history of this newly revered machine backed by a comprehensive user’s guide …  A clever, illuminating, and irresistible book of typewriter appreciation and a call for ‘digital detox’ and ‘slow communication.’       —Booklist

​… delightfully illustrated … packed with fascinating history and photos … When the sun finally sends out an electromagnetic surge that fries every e-mail message on Earth, we’ll wish we’d written our love letters on a Smith-Corona.  —Washington Post

… explains how to find and fix a machine, includes testimonies from writers on the freeing power of tapping out a story on a typewriter, and describes the innovative ways that people are using the typewriter today. … quite enjoyable for anyone who likes the clack of keys and the ring of the carriage return.   —Publishers Weekly

So, what are you waiting for?  Go out and buy a copy!

The post Typewriter Revolution appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

The post The Sounds of an IBM Selectric Typewriter appeared first on Kentucky Typer.

Bryan,

Just wanted to drop you a line reflecting my great satisfaction with my new typewriter, I couldn’t be happier! This Olympia is a marvelous piece of equipment and you restored it to like new condition. Thank you so much for your service to this dying form of communications.

Regards,

Barry M.

Notes like this make it all worth it!

The post A Customer Says Thank You appeared first on Kentucky Typer.