Wasted $80 on a beat up Royal typewriter from a flea market last month

Figured it'd be a cool prop for my noir writing prompts but the ribbon spools are some weird size nobody sells anymore, plus two keys stick. Anyone know a cheap way to fix these old things or should I just frame it?

2 comments

2 Comments

calebrivera6d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, did you say lighter fluid to fix typewriter keys? Isn't that basically gasoline in a bottle, man?

grayt466d ago

Oh man, I gotta disagree with you there. I think you got exactly what you paid for and more. Old typewriters are supposed to be a little beat up, that's what gives them character. The sticking keys and weird ribbon sizes just add to the vintage feel, like a real writer's machine from the 1940s. You could probably fix the sticky keys with some lighter fluid and a toothpick, and for the ribbon you can buy universal spools online for like ten bucks and wind them onto the old ones. Frame it if you want, but I bet an hour of tinkering and you'll have a working conversation starter.