Why a working eBay typewriter still needs attention
Most typewriters on eBay have spent decades in attics, basements or garages. A seller's test usually confirms only the basics: the keys strike, the carriage moves, the bell rings. Age-related problems are almost universal on machines this old, even ones that work. Here are the five you are most likely to meet, with rough costs. A typewriter specialist's clean and adjust usually covers several at once, typically $100–180.
1. A hardened platen
The platen is the rubber roller the paper wraps around. Over decades the rubber hardens; a hard platen looks shiny and glassy, sometimes cracked, and makes typing louder, the impression faint and uneven, and paper slip. The small feed rollers underneath harden too, causing paper to feed crookedly.
Fix: a specialist re-cover of the platen and rollers, typically $150–250, with turnaround of a few weeks. J.J. Short Associates in New York State is one long-established platen re-covering service, and many local typewriter shops send work there. It is the most expensive routine fix and the most worthwhile on a machine you will type on regularly. Platen-rejuvenating fluids may improve grip for a while but do not restore hardened rubber.
2. A gummed mechanism (sluggish or sticking keys)
Factory lubricants and decades of household oil turn into varnish. The usual symptoms are typebars that return slowly or stick together, sluggish keys (often the least-used ones first), a shift that does not return fully, and an escapement that skips or hesitates.
Fix you can do: flush the typebar segment with a solvent such as naphtha or mineral spirits and a soft brush, working the keys as you go, then let it dry. Do not oil the segment afterwards: oil attracts dust and starts the problem again. Keep solvent off the platen, feed rollers and painted surfaces. Specialist fix: a full clean and adjust, which also checks the escapement, shift, alignment and ribbon feed.
3. Dry or dirty carriage rails
The carriage rides on rails or ball bearings at the back of the machine. When they are dry or dirty the carriage moves hesitantly, stalls partway, or makes grinding noises. On some machines, like the Olivetti Lettera 32, carriage and escapement faults are the main weakness.
Fix you can do: clean the rails with solvent, then apply a very small amount of light machine oil and run the carriage back and forth. Use sparingly; excess oil collects dust. If the carriage will not move at all, check whether the carriage lock is engaged and whether the drawband (the cord or band that pulls the carriage along) is broken or detached before doing anything else.
4. Perished rubber feet
The rubber feet harden, crack or fall off, so the machine slides on the desk, transmits more noise, and can scratch the surface. Replacement feet are widely sold for typewriters. Measure the old feet and their mounting (screw or push-in) before ordering. A cheap fix that makes a noticeable difference.
5. A tired case
Portable cases suffer almost as much as the machines. Latches break, hinges loosen, handles split at the rivets, and the screws or clips that hold the typewriter inside the case go missing. A typewriter that is not secured inside its case will be damaged if you carry it.
Fix you can do: replace a broken latch with a generic luggage catch, replace the handle with a leather or strap handle, and replace missing hold-down screws. If the case is beyond repair, store the machine under a dust cover and use the case only for decoration.
Where to start
If you have limited money, get the mechanism cleaned first: a clean machine with an old platen is usable, a gummed machine is not. Replace the feet yourself. Re-cover the platen when the impression starts to bother you. If a specialist quotes for all five on a cheap machine, compare the total with buying a serviced example; for models like the Remington Quiet-Riter or Smith-Corona Silent a serviced machine can work out cheaper than the parts and labour on a project.
