Join me (Michael Archambault) on my journey to get my first novel published. Along the way we will talk about writing techniques, typewriters, and more. My personal adventure is down an unpaved road, so make sure to pack some fresh ideas about writing and let's see what we can do.
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Great stuff. Thank you,✅
I've recently purchased a typewriter that's so stiff that all of the keys, save for a few at the far right, are completely immobile. I've been using alcohol to try to loosen it up, and it's working a bit, but they seem to be at least stuck from somewhere closer to the keys you press, than to the bits that type onto the paper. Is there another part I should be cleaning with alcohol? Also, there's a dark substance on here that makes me think someone did wd40 (or other oil) it. What should I do to fix that? Do I need to take the whole thing apart to clean it all?
Hi, congratulations for the channel, I just discovered it and I find it very interesting. I also use the method you talk about in this video, in fact I recently wrote a story about it that I would be happy to read if you want to read it, it is written in Italian so you should translate the page. Greetings and congratulations again for the channel! chriswriter84.blogspot.com/2024/03/scheletri.html
In Jesus' Name Amen ✝️
Can you do this kind of stuff with an electric typewriter? Specifically, I'd be concerned with spraying any liquid into the body. I just got an electric (my first typewriter), and I noticed some of the typebars were sticking like that - slow to return, or in some cases not even hitting the ribbon, but getting like 80% of the way there. What I ended up doing was gently guiding them back to their resting position and just patiently repeating the process until they began to speed up, and all of the keys were able to get unstuck like that. However, I noticed last night that my 2 key's typebar was doing it again. My guess is that there is some build up in the segment. I do have a brush that came with it, but it's probably 65 years old.
I just got a 1960s (in there somewhere) Smith Corona Galaxie since I want to write up my characters/plot/outlines on a typewriter and the computer is just too distracting for the intense work x for research. I was glad to see I can try rubbing alcohol - before I obtain the mineral spirits. The left shift key sticks as well, and wondering what to do about that, if you are able to get back to your previous videos. These vids of yours are exactly what I need. Thanks so much.
This is awesome, thank you!
Thank you so much!! 💓
Congrats for your job, your entire channel offers lots of knowledge about typewriters. Now I’d like to ask you which is the best way to move all of our papers typed to the computer and use the papers in the digital platforms? thanks a lot and big hug from Brazil!
Would never use alcohol on a typewriter due to the damage you can do to the polymer parts, rubber, plastic, etc. mineral spirits is Not rubbing alcohol!
You are exactly what I needed with sticking keys on quiet deluxe royal. Thanks from a history enthusiast. Truly appreciated
Be VERY careful if you are using alcohol or mineral spirits. It is vital that you get it ONLY where you want it. Alcohol and mineral spirits can damage plastics and other materials and even strip certain types of paint (especially if it is already loose.) Just want to make sure that warning is in here somewhere. Also, make sure you do careful evaluation before just going to bend or flex things. You want to make sure you're attacking the right area and not introducing more problems while trying to fix another one.
typewriters are cool
Thanks for sharing! I learned a lot even some philosophy from this video.
I’ve been typing since high school, and the first thing we learnt was to never type without paper 🤦♀️
For some reason mine seems to have become even more sticky after I did this. (though the print cleanup really helped). Any ideas?
Very helpful! I just got a used Biser. It's been kept fairly well, but some of the keys do stick, and I'm excited to give it some cleaning. Hopefully it works well. It already types pretty well so I'm enthusiastic.
I guess I should've watched this video before drowning my machine in sewing machine oil. Ah well, time for round two. As for the brush you're using, is that aluminium or steel? Spark plug brushes are made with brass bristles which are softer then the steel keys.
I'm an author and I miss the awesomeness of the typewriter. I use my Word program to work and then I use it's reader, then I stop, make notes, etc. But I like this process, it's less of a distration from the world. See like right now I'd be writing, not looking KZread videos on typewriters... however that said, I print up my final product and go page by page, and red line it, highlight it, and even add sticky notes to it. This would be why I want a typewriter again. Today I was feeling under the weather and had to lay down. I ended up having a lucid dream about typewriters (which weirdly enough is why I am here). The typewriter was both a throwback as well as with one piece of technology. Regular typing with paper, backspace (backspace only) to erase a typo, and when done with a section or chapter, I could print it. At which time I could go through the novel, find the typos and plotholes. The entire thing could be automatically saved tp a jump drive to download to the computer in the Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced 1 inch margins etc my publisher wants, where I would address the obvious plotholes etc, and then whoosh it off to a beta group and then the editor.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a segment-shifted ultraportable, there just isn’t enough room within the confines of the body to raise and lower the entire basket. Good review of the Skyriter. Personally I find my Skyriter a little clunky and prefer the action on the earlier Zephyr.
Great looking machine!
I love your story about your typewriter I been a fan of typewriters since I was 10 years old. I am happy to see people who are interested in the machine.
What a load of crap. Why would anyone go back to typewriters. That's like churning your own butter...
I was at a thrift store recently and bought a Remington ram model seventeen for 20$ everything seems to work though it needs a new ink ribbon and the y key comes back really slow. I know nothing about typewriter but for some reason I just felt the need to try to make it work
To me personally the biggest reasons to write on a typewriter instead of a computer: A) i don't have to worry about constantly pressing SAVE and possibly losing stuff in case of energy outage or file corruption. B) it doesn't require electric energy.
Why anyone would make a video about cleaning a typewriter would have befuddled, me until I came into ownership of a 1941 Royal Quiet De Luxe. Thank you!!! It's a beautiful machine that I have.
How does it compare to an Olivetti lettera22?
My parents purchased my first typewriter for me at Christmas when I was ten years old. It was a 1954 Smith Corona "Silent Super", much like yours except original paint and Tab "SET" & "CLR" on the right of the Tab key. Interestingly, I found myself settling into a relaxing rhythm, which in turn gave me greater speed. In my high school typing class I reached speeds of 70wpm on this Smith Corona manual. (The high school secretary got jealous, as she was doing 65wpm on the IBM Selectric in the school office!) I'm happy I still have the machine, and in a few weeks I'll sing "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down & Write Myself a Letter" at my Entertainer's Club, using this typewriter to give special sound effects (the Bell rings at the end of my song!)😀
Thank you! This video helped me fix my vintage typewriter. It now types beautifully and no more stuck keys!
I wonder how ptfe dry lube would work
I find your videos very interesting and I think it is because I can see the humility in yourself. Oh and by the way, I'm a collector of typewriters. As of this writing I own 15 typewriters. Mostly Smith Coronas from the 50's & 60's and all of them type great and look like brand new. I've been typing since the age of 16 when I took typing classes in high school. I am now going to be 73 and still type and I use every typewriter every other day. I keep them moving to keep them going. Keep the videos up. really enjoy your stuff!
Nice typewriter and Case!
bought an old underwood typewriter to use as a prop in a video. V B & N were stuck... I grabbed my WD-40 assuming it would be the best thing. I found this video right after and I'm so glad I did! Used some Rubbing alcohol and now it's working just fine! Thank you!!
How did you get the carriage not to move when cleaning the Skyriter?
Very helpful, thanks you!!! Now i only have the problem that the spacebar doesn’t work
Hi Michael, I've just watched your video and I really enjoyed it. I hope that one day you'll upload another video... I totally agree with what you said!
Linda! Parabéns
As a multi-pubbed author… I highly recommend a typewriter to all aspiring authors. I love my SCM Skyriter and my Olympia SM5.
I got five for free one in a dumpster from the 40s and the rest from a storage locker whose owner failed to pay for and I worked for the owner of the self storage and got first picks so I got four underwood’s from different decades most are rusty and the oldest hasn’t been cared for but the 65 Olivetti looks kinda like yours and worked without any maintenance I want to write a novel or something but I don’t know if I’m any good. I also got two typing calculators which are meh but now I can show my work and use a calculator too bad I dropped out already
Great video! I got a typewriter (and old Oliver of some kind) a long time ago and wanted to start using it, but the keys feel really heavy and the slugs have a tendency to get stuck, so I'm gonna try this out. Glad you got the WD40 comment in because that was the first thing I was going to try before looking up how to do it.
Avoid getting any alcohol on the roller!
A more general remark: You really have to love typewriters - 100 years old and still working great, while printers bought a few years ago are already far beyound repair...
Great Tipps not to make the obvious errors of using WD40 or silicone spray, but it really hurts see you type on the naked rubber cylinder... Thanks for the video!
Thanks this is a great useful video! I do have one specific question for a number 5 Underwood. On the keys some of the letters have disappeared. But they are under a plastic cover. I find that if I wipe them down repeatedly the numbers start to emerge. But not completely and some better than others. Any advice on what I could be using? Right now I'm just using a damp towel because I'm not sure what would happen if I used chemicals on whatever kind of plastic that is from the 1920s.
please lock your exposure next time. it distracted me a lot. Thanks for the nice content by the way
I really appreciate this vid. I bought an Erika Number 5 and fixed some keys. Thank you from Argentina.
My first time here. Really enjoyed your prospective as well as how structured your approach is. Thank you from Texas USA
Excellent. Very helpful to clean sticking keys
For me it’s rebellion against technology. My job involves lots of technology, expensive and precise instruments in the field, a lot of specialized software. Typewriters and calculating machines that have outlived generations of computers are an escape from that and all the attendant communication going on.
Great blog; I really enjoyed it! Whats your novel about about btw?