Occasionally I've signed my typewriters in inconspicuous places. I've also designed stickers that I use on machines I service and sell under the name Urban Legend Typewriters.

Ryan Anderson is a recent graduate of the shop's apprentice program.

Just wanted to share my excitement! I've been into typewriters for about 2 years and I started buying and repairing and selling typewriters just short of a year now. I have a small YT channel, an IG account and word of mouth around the village (pop. Aprox 1200 ppl) where a local grandpa asked to fix up his old Triumph, which was a freebie for experience and, not gonna charge grandpa! Last week, someone from across the island reached out to me, asking for assistance. They had recently purchased an Olivetti Letters 31, his first typewriter. We chatted and agreed on a price and a week later, it's now ready for pick-up. New ribbon, general degrease, clean and polish. The client is already excited and happy with the images and will collect it tomorrow. As far as I am aware, there is no "official" repair shop in Mallorca and from searches, I appear to be the only one (correct me if I'm wrong) but, the fact that someone found me and asked for my services, has made me extremely happy and excited and I'm hoping this will open the door to many new typewriters in look of TLC. Just wanted to share and thank all of you who have helped and given advice on repairs and general questions I've had which has led me to this point. Let's hope this is the start of something new and exciting.

I am an old typewriter repairman. I worked at the underwood assembly plant in Hartford Connecticut for two years and became a typewriter service man for 20 years in St. Louis. I don’t own any typewriter’s I know the gray fives like the back of my hand. As well as the scriptors and forums. Still interested in those fabulous machines that I made a living off.

I would be more than happy to help you fix it, or if you are just done with it, I have a large number of machines for sale. I have everything from the 1920's to the 1980s, Manual, electric, electronic. I have portables and ultra portables. I also sell mine for about 1/3 of normal shops because I do this for the fun of it, not for income. I have a large number of Royal Quiet Deluxe and can even custom paint one if you want. Depending on your location, I'd even take that one in trade.

Ray, a former IBM technician who cut his teeth on these machines in the ’70s, owns Business Machines Center in Woodland Hills, where old electric typewriters go for a second chance.

Don't feel bad. Your not the only one. This misconception has been going on for years simply because no typewriter repairman has stood up and said " Now wait a minute! " The collectors have done all the talking and publishing while the typewriter man isn't heard. Consequently, it's the big typewriter collectors that are heard. They never talk about how many times they had to reclean a machine. They often have several and may only use 1 or 2. Also there isn't that many of us real typewriter repairman left to do the talking.

A 1950s Smith-Corona “Eighty-Eight” Secretarial model, this typewriter was purchased at Byers Office Equipment Co. in Ames.In 1955, Mer Byers established Byers Office Equipment at 126 Main Street in Ames. Art Taylor purchased the company in 1957 and operated it with his son Paul. Around 1963, the business moved to 417 Main Street.By the 1960s, the company offered machine rentals and repair along with new and used models of typewriters, calculators, and adding machines. The showroom also featured office drapery options and furniture. At its peak, Byers Office Equipment Co. served a seven county area with 65% of sales taking place outside of Ames.In 1973, the name changed to Taylor Office Equipment Inc., and operations moved to a new, larger space at 705 East Lincoln Way. The business continued to serve Ames and surrounding area through the early 1990s.

Arcade Typewriter Co. Riverside, CA

Verlon H. Pridgen Obituary It is with profound sadness and heartbreak that our family announces the passing of Verlon “Bill” Huey Pridgen on October 28th, 2024, at the age of 87 while surrounded by loved ones. Bill was born on February 1, 1937, to Morgan and Annie Pridgen in Samson, Alabama. He moved to Florida when he was young, where he lived out the rest of his life. While in high school in South Florida, Bill met the love of his life, Barbara Pridgen. Bill and Barbara married in 1957 and completed their family with their two children, Marc and Lesli. From 1959 to 1961, Bill proudly served in the United States Army. He was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington and spent time serving in Germany. After retiring from the Army, Bill continued his lifelong career of working on typewriters. He eventually became the owner of McDavid Typewriter Service from 1970 to 2024. His love for all typewriters and his passion for repairing and restoring the machines earned him the endearing title of “Typewriter Genius”. As a devoted follower of Christ, Bill raised his family wrapped up in the love of God. He was an amazing role model and continually showed the love of God to those he encountered through his actions and words. He gave glory to God in all things. Bill was exceptionally committed to his church family at Trinity Baptist Church where he served in the choir and Cubbies. He also volunteered as a coach for their youth sports program. Exemplifying God always, Bill made the world a brighter place for 87 years. Bill is survived by a son, Marc (Donna) Pridgen; a daughter, Lesli (Greg) Wheeler; grandchildren, Ashley (John Robert) Pridgen-Blake, Gregory Wheeler Jr., Samantha (Curtis) Burkhardt, Alison (Garrett) Pridgen, Cindy Pridgen, Hannah Wheeler, Luke Wheeler, and Simon Wheeler; great-grandchildren, Skarlette Blake, Jackson Blake, and Lena Wheeler; and brothers, Donald (Sheila) Pridgen and Jerry (Marion) Pridgen. Bill was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Barbara Pridgen; father, Morgan Pridgen; his mother, Annie Pridgen; and brothers, Gary Pridgen, and Robert Pridgen.Visitation will be held at 10am on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, followed by the funeral service at 11am at Trinity Baptist Church at 3716 State Rd 21, Keystone Heights, FL, 32656. Interment will follow at Eliam Cemetery at 821 State Rd 21, Melrose, FL, 32666.In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to Haven Hospice to help their mission of honoring life by providing comfort, care, and compassion to individuals and families they serve. You can donate online at https://beyourhaven.org/donate or by mail to 4200 NW 90th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606. Cemetery Eliam Cemetery 821 State Road 21 Melrose FL 32666

[rant] As a side note, I'm wondering if this is an example of how the internet, social media, and self-publishing has contorted our designation of authoritative sources.For example, the only person I consider to be an authority on typewriters in this forum is Tom (thetypewriterman). He is the only one here (to my knowledge) who has actually been trained as a typewriter technician and has worked in the trade - long before the current crop of self-made authorities 'discovered' typewriters. Tom was actually repairing machines while some of us were still using them for school or work prior to the introduction of the personal computer.The majority of our forum members might be very experienced, some are self-learned shade tree mechanics, but to my archaic way of thinking this doesn't make someone an authority on the subject.I apologize for this obvious and distracting tangent. This is a sensitive subject for me because my own trade has been overrun by internet created, so-called experts who lack any formal training or professional experience. I throw up in mouth a little when I read, or hear the word influencer; the digital generation allows itself to be lead by those who talk the loudest, run the fanciest websites, or have the greater number of social media followers. No one seems to care if those influencers have any credentials that would validate their public opinions.These observations are not meant to slight dragon typer. I don't know who the OP's authority is, nor do I need to; however, I did cringe at the "typewriter god" description and have to wonder if this god is someone who actually worked in the typewriter industry, or is just an enthusiast like most of us here who became an influencer by way of self-promotion. [/rant]

Chuck Theile, Acme Typewriter Service and Restoration, South Lyon, MI. Machines can be dropped off at 116b N. Lafayette, South Lyon, MI. A customer writes: "They accept all makes and models for repair. The phone number there is 248-486-5205 or you can call the repairman direct (Chuck Theile) at 248-455-6778." E-mail qwertyrepair@yahoo.com. Read a story about him here and another here. "I've been repairing typers and other office equipment for nearly 4 decades. Seeing a recent resurgence in the poularity of typewriters is very gratifying. Young people in particular seem to be rediscovering these historic machines and I'm happy to be able to provide a service that's not readily available anymore.  Primarily serving the Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw and Livingston County areas, arrangements can be made for service anywhere. I've been able to repair nearly 100% of the machines brought to me. Including many dating back to the early 1900's. Don't give up or throw it away before you let me have a go at it!"

Chuck TheileYup, I don't accept a box of parts anymore.

Duane Jensen, J.C. Business Machines, 26th St. & Union Hills, Phoenix, AZ. 602-992-7611. M-F 9-4, but call first. "We fix business machines, including all typewriters. Manual portable, manual uprights, antique or vintage typewriters. We carry every typewriter ribbon manufactured. Basic cleaning / tune up is between $38.00 - 48.00 (walk in). On-site service. Basic repair / clean $68.00 - 88.00." Read a story about an experience with Mr. Jensen here. Website: http://www.phoenixtypewriter.com/

Mr. Montgomery died in September 2018, at age 96.

One Sunday morning in 2014, he opened The Seattle Times and found a feature story about Bob Montgomery, age 92, known to friends, customers and locals simply as Mr. Montgomery. The article read like an obituary for a vanishing trade — fixing typewriters — suggesting that when Mr. Montgomery went, seven decades of expertise would vanish into the digital ether.

Very sad to report that Jerry Wallace, my typewriter maintenance and repairman passed away last year. This news is new to me since I lost contact with him when he retired and moved to Northern California. What a loss to the typewriter community. I used to take my typewriters to Jerry to fix and polish up at his Salinas home repair shop.

We recommend people come to our shop and type. We charge $5 an hour or you can look into our rental programs. We have a lot of people come in just to hang out and type. No plans on actually owning one, and that's fine with us. Come in, play, leave without the 10-30 pounds of metal with you lol. We also sell and service machine. Prices vary some. But all our machine have a 60 day guarantee from date of purchase. We do ship machines as well if you find something on our website that you like. Assuming you aren't near the Dayton Ohio area.

Reese Electronics on Westwood Blvd in Los Angeles. Helmut was a mechanical engineer for Olivetti.

Ken Alexander worked for 20 years at California Typewriter as the shop’s principal technician on manual typewriters. But these days he’s working three days a week at Berkeley Typewriter, “though that number will likely go up,” he said.

Tom Furrier, who owns the Cambridge Typewriter Company in Massachusetts, has sold several typewriters to Mr. Cidoni and said that high school and college students have become a staple of his business.

Joe Banuelos, its third owner, has run the shop for nearly twenty years. Joe’s brother, Jesse Banuelos, who works as a typewriter technician at the store

Herbert Permillion, who runs California Typewriter Company on San Pablo Avenue, said he was also at a loss to explain the trend.  “I’m almost in awe to some extent, but then I can sort of understand that some people tend to reach back and some people want things a little simpler.”

California Typewriter Company was opened as California Typewriter on Shattuck Avenue by  Glenn Tuttle in 1949. Permillion bought the shop in 1981 from its second owner, Joseph Mundy, at its second location on University and moved it to its current location on San Pablo in 1986.

Jim Riegert, now in his 70s, remembers what it used to be like. "Back then, typewriters were pretty big. Typewriters and adding machines," he says, referring to desktop calculators. "It got really difficult in the typewriter business about 25 years ago," he says. "The internet was coming on and killing us, too." He runs Typewriters.com and, despite a decline in sales in recent decades, he still shifts four or five electric IBM typewriters every week.

Paul Lundy, who runs Bremerton Office Machine Company, a typewriter repair business in Seattle.

another customer clutching an old typewriter will walk into Mike Marr's shop in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Ole Kehlet of Kehlet Typewriter in Sacramento

His low rate, $68.50 regardless of the problem, allows Smitty to enjoy the process of fixing a typewriter for its merit rather than its profit. As he simply states, "I'm doing this to stay alive."

Bryan Kravitz, who specialized in IBM Selectric repairs. Rhoda wanted to learn, too. Kravitz was happy to teach him."I just put my head down, and learned how to do it," Rhoda said, and he partnered with Kravitz to open Philly Typewriter in 2017.

Bill Rhoda, co-owner and lead mechanic at Philly Typewriter.

If you've been dreaming of plunging into this profession, consider the success of Paul Lundy, who took over Bremerton Office Machine Company from nonagenarian Bob Montgomery; or Antony Valoppi, creator of Portland's Type Space, which combines a traditional typewriter shop with a cultural center; or Trevor Brumfield, a young man in his late twenties who has quickly built Dayton's TB Writers Plus into a busy enterprise.

Gerren Balch

Vale Typewriter from Ray Vale, who had helmed the stout brick building since it was constructed in 1957.

Typewriter ChicagoHours by appointment1525 Ogden, Unit L, Downers Grove, 630-561-5853typewriterchicago.com/

Edmonton’s YEG Typewriters, run by 28-year-old Keith Ferrer, and Tampa Typewriter Co., a repair service run by 19-year-old Jack Armstrong.

delivery-dan 2 points3 points4 points 6 hours ago (1 child)Mineral spirits with just a touch of transmission fluid. Used to own typewriter repair shop large parts washer with mineral spirits with transfluid strip off case and submerged in fluid ti clean then air blower to dry and reassemble. Wd 40 marvel mystery oil will only be temp fit and become worse over time.

I started a typewriter repair business in my garage, and I got my first customer!