Typewriter 101:Typewriter Ribbons (how to re-wrap a ribbon)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Instagram- / just.my.typewriter
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This video would've totally helped me when I got my first typewriter haha! My first typewriter is an Underwood 4 Bank Portable from 1933, and the 4 Bank Portables had models both without ribbon covers and with ribbon covers (which mine is). The thing about universal spools is that they won't fit under the ribbon covers, so you need to use the original ribbon spools or go without the covers if original spools can't be obtained; I realised that after finally deciding to try and put the new ribbon onto the original spools.
I had the same problem with the metal spools on my 34, luckily the plastic spools I have with a new ribbon have been serving me fine :)
I've used an Olivetti ribbon on an underwood typewriter and it worked perfectly, and it even has a metal ring that stops the ribbon from unwinding
Sarah … great video. So glad you have addressed this area which can baffle and frustrate new users and even us ‘veterans’. It is important to be very careful with the term ‘universal’ as this applies to the ribbon and not the spools. There is as far as I am aware, no such thing as a universal spool. That would be like saying there is a universal car wheel and tyre which will fit all vehicles! I am glad you mentioned keeping original metal spools as they can be very expensive to replace, assuming you can find them. Silk ribbons are a luxury and command a high price. That Remington ribbon arrangement just looks plain weird!
Love your video!
Something I found out yesterday from my typewriter dealer. The Olympia SM3 does not like the ribbon grommets and it jambs the machine. He told me to cut the grommet off for that machine. My Royal Sabre has been having trouble with the grommet too. I’m going to try that solution there too.
Please keep the videos coming! Loving them! It’s one of my favorite things in the week! Thanks!
The parallels between typewriter and a film camera hobby are too many to list... good fun! I was recommended an earlier video of yours while watching over on Joe Van Cleve's channel.
Great video,wife loved your dress,nails, lipstick. We are enjoying the 101 series,granddaughters watched to and had fun!
I just got my first typewriter since I was a kid last week and I wanted to make sure I didn't mess something up when I replaced the ribbon onto the original metal spools. Your video was very helpful, thank you!
You are my "Type". SLAP. Great video. I am a new owner of a 1941 Royal Quiet De Luxe. Having a blast with it writing love letters to no one. Or just thoughts. I am so surprised and glad about the Typewriting community I have found on the post typewriter Interweb.
This proved very helpful, been dreading changing the spools for my typewriter. Video cleared lots of confusion, kept the nice old metal spools as well.
Forgive me if I have missed someone else pointing this out, but if you use a single colour ribbon on a machine with a red/black selector it's possible to use this facility to double the life of your ribbon. The black setting selects the upper half of the ribbon and when that runs (or wears) out you just flip the selector to red and use the lower half which won't have had any use. With regard to getting the ribbon upside down, it's no big deal - if you are too busy (or lazy) to switch it over, just select red for black and black for red. Your typewriter won't mind...
oh this is big-brained energy! great idea with the double black extending the use of the ribbon! excellent for the frugal among us!
You have a lot of info on this stuff. I love it!
Amazing video! Totally a must see for anyone getting into typewriters :)
Don't know if it's okay to follow one comment with another, but another thought occurred to me. There is no reason I can think of why you would need 10 metres of ribbon on typewriter that only gets used once in a while. Say you have a Skyriter and an Envoy in your collection, each needing a "wind it yourself" ribbon. You could buy one ribbon and cut it in half. If you just have one typewriter you can use half or a third of the new ribbon and keep the remainder in an airtight wrapper to keep it fresh rather than it drying out on the spool. Easy enough to fit an eyelet or tie a knot for the direction changer. Just a thought.
I just purchased a smith corona galaxie 12 cant wait to get it cleaned up and typing!!! Love your videos your awesome!!!
I have a Smith-Corona Pride Line!
@celestial_gaze_youtube that's awesome my collection is small but love them all
As usual...FANTASTIC INFO!
Just got my first cotton ribbon. Love it
YAY! I love them too
Hi, where did you buy your cotton ribbon?
@@davidgiancoli2106 I get mine from Typewriter Chicago!
Great video. I just bought my first typewriter and am super excited!!! Is is a 1962 Sears Tower Challenger. Works good. Just needs a good cleaning and new ribbon. Love your videos and am super excited to use them as I work on my typewriter.
Great advice and video! Thanks for this channel and all the videos you have created, they have been a lifesaver for me.
thank you!!! i found a used Zephyr and i was so excited until i realized most of the replacement spools i was finding wouldnt fit. you're saving my life rnow!!! :)
Learning about this stuff after watching some old Columbo episodes, which hinged on evidence gleaned from a typewriter.
So helpful, informative, and clear! Thank you!
Thank you! So informative!
Great video once again!
Note on Corsair (Skyriter) ribbon spools: they're "keyed", ie: they have a little nubbin inside the hole in the spool that has to slip into a groove in the post for the spool to go on and come off easily. If the spool is shoved on without getting that nubbin in the groove, it'll go on, but you'll have to force it on, and then force it off later. Get the nubbin in the slot and it'll be way easier. (:
and i have done it wrong every single time.....
You are absolutely right, Ted … nubbin, what a great word! The biggest issue I have with spools is with the Olivettis (I have the 21, 22, 32 and 44) and that centre threaded spindle arrangement with it’s temperamental ‘locking nut’ (how many times have I lost one of those in the innards of the machine?!) lovely typewriters, but … 👨
Thanks for your helpful advice.
I am new to this, so I really appreciate your videos-thank you! BTW, Sarah is a beautiful name; that’s why I named my daughter Sarah. 😊
I love typewriters! They don’t need electricity to operate. I also like dot-matrix printers, too. The ribbon last a long time.
Great video! Thank you so much! I need to replace the ribbon in my Hermes 3000S and this is of great help!
Thanks for the advice.
My smith corona is a side loader (luckily I'll never have to re wrap) it originally came with a film ink cartridge but It broke and was getting tangled in the machine so I replaced it with (what I think is) a nylon one and it's been great since
You are amazing. Thank you!
My typewriter's old spools were metal with a likely silk ribbon. The new ribbon I had gotten might be nylon and has plastic spools, but it's not made in a China or a third world country, not saying China's one as it's first-world or second-world depending on your definition, hell you could say it was third-world if you used the definition of "non-aligned country", like Yugoslavia.
May the force be with you.
Thankyou very informative
Great information thanks
Hi, I need your help. I just bought an olivetti studio 44 typewriter and i need to change the ribbon. My question is, when placing the tape, does it have to be rolled all over on one side, and if so which one, or do I have to divide the tape between the two pulleys?? Thank you
So one spool (the plastic piece) will roll to provide unused ribbon the the ribbon vibrator and the other side will pull the ribbon forward so that it collects the used ribbon. You'll want a majority of the ribbon on one spool/side. That will provide you with ribbon to be pulled forward. You want there to be a little bit of the ribbon on the other spool so that it creates the tension to advance it forward as you type. It doesn't matter which side you put the majority of the ribbon on because there will be a lever that switches which side does the pulling!
Help. I just acquired a Remington Mark II, replacing ribbon, the vibratory does not move up and down, the carriage moves but ribbon spools do not rotate. Any suggestions, thanks RH
Try switching the spools to the other side
Sarah - what is a good source for the smaller 1 5/8 inch size spools used on some of my Smith Corona models?
Ebay seller prices are ridiculously high and there is not much joy on Amazon either. So far I have re-spooled 2 machines
with ribbon from the "universal" replacements sold everywhere and always have left over ribbon on them after filling small ones.
I have been accumulating typewriters now for around 20 years but have managed to keep the number under 2 dozen.
Love watching your videos, you are a natural in front of the camera. Get together with Tom Hanks and do a typewriter feature film.
I've had to purchase them before and have used etsy. They're still much more expensive, but a little bit more approachable there
Hello Sarah, i am watching your 101 videos as i recently bought a typewriter myself (an Erika). I could have really followed on your advices since it was so orderly and not complicated or unstructed. But i have a question tho, as an unconventional lazy person i am currently trying to use ink to repaint the ribbons which existed in the machine after i bought it. Some sources online have tutorials about it and after seeing this channel, i would like to ask your opinion on that topic. Do you think is it a doable and functional thing to do? Or will i unknowingly mess up some mechanisms inside the machinery. Thank you in advance for your attention, have a nice day :)
By the way a fun fact about my Erika: It doesnt have a "0" button. You need to do capital o in order to express 0. Thats how it saves one character key and can add another symbol. German efficency i guess...
I would recommend a ribbon replacement. It takes less time!
@@JustMyTypewriter
in my corsair deluxe the spools are really tight on the spool spokes, i feel like theres something to how they should be removed to prevent the tension from causing issues
There's a very specific way they fit on! If it's tight, then it's not on the spoke correctly- you have to be careful with those- they get stuck really easily
I have Underwood deluxe portable 1950s comes with a lid. What spool size would I need, plus my H letter sticks
My spools are metal
You would use a universal ribbon replacement.
for your stuck key, try cleaning/dusting
Thank you, I need this information. I will follow you.
Sarah…I have a 1974 Smith Corona Galaxie 12. I tried to change the ribbon but the one that is in the machine has the type of ribbon that has an inner spool which I can’t seem to remove from the stem that is inside the cup holder. Does that inner part stay attached to the stem? Do I need to purchase a certain type of spool where the center disengages from the rest of the spool? Hope you can help me on this. Thanks! Love your videos.
Hi, I just bought a new ribbon on a single spool and was very confused about how to connect to the typewriter. This is Very helpful as I still have the old spools.
I have one question; when I wind up the new ribbon onto the old spools. Should I wind them half way each or have one wound up and the other nearly unwound in order to use the whole ribbon?
I should mention that my typewriter isn't reversible.
Thanks a lot 😅
I would have one side wound up and the other with just a few spins around. That way you can use the whole ribbon since you don't have a reverse
@@JustMyTypewriter Thank you! I wasn't sure 😁
I have a stupid question… when the ribbon gets to the end, what is the purpose of the reverse function? Do I reverse it so I can reuse the same ribbon one more time? I don’t understand. And to confirm once the ribbon gets to the end I need to replace it or can it be put through one more time? Thank you!
Yes you can use it again!
They used to make ribbons with black and corecto type on the bottom. Maybe still do.
So red goes on the bottom and black on top eh… hahaha looking at my typewriter OPPS lol messed that up
I cannot tell you how many times I've done that wrong
FJA ribbon, I just realised that's what mine is, so, is it nylon, I don't know, it's highly wet, like it looks like I used a marker on my page‽
So if you wanted a silk ribbon, some makers do still have them! Check out Typewriter Chicago- he has some different material ribbons
I have a 1951 Tower tabulator,
Do you mind sharing a link for the ribbon replacement?
I have all my ribbon suggestions listed in the description of the video! I hope that helps!
so i have a 1912 underwood no.5 typewriter, got it for my birthday like a few days ago. but I picked it up without its original spools. i went looking around on Etsy, Ebay, Amazon, and any typewriter supplies and repair sites, and none of them list the correct spools for it. by chance would you know where i could find the correct spools for the machine?
It should use the universal sized spools. While they may not be identical, they should fit. Anything labelled "universal" would fit
Got a question for you: Could these old cloth ribbons be refilled with ink, maybe at a typing goods store? Or did people just throw them all out?
You'd buy a new one. You can re-ink ribbons, but that's the reason you'll run into ribbon tins in antique stores! You'd by a replacement one
@@JustMyTypewriter There’s a Columbo episode where the final piece of evidence was a disposable carbon ribbon cartridge, where they could actually read the last words that the victim had typed out before he was shot. I now realize they couldn’t have done that on the old cloth ribbons!
One other question I’m trying to figure out: How many uses were one cloth ribbon good for? Once you reached the end of the spool, how many times could you just rewind it and go on some more trips through?
@@erickleefeld4883 Quite a few! It's more about how much the ink dries out. If you put the ribbon in a ziplock in between uses, it lasts much longer
@@JustMyTypewriter Yeah, the Columbo episode talked about how the carbon film cartridges on the newer typewriters at the time couldn’t be reused like the old ribbons. Columbo himself didn’t even know there was any difference in how the newer ones worked. (Nor apparently did the killer, who was roughly a few years older.) But a younger police detective showed it to him, which led to him solving the case.
I notice you were using a black and white ribbon. How well does the white part work for erasing your typos? I've been tempted to buy one because my fingers are faster than my brain. 😂
So that brand of ribbon is a We R memory keepers ribbon and is not a correction tape ribbon. I don't use correction tape ribbon because I don't like getting the white on my type slugs. You can, however, find ribbons like that!
@@JustMyTypewriter Those black/white correction ribbons are notorious for leaving crumbling crud all over the insides. Avoid at all costs!
Hi Sarah, I need to get a new ribbon for my Smith Corona 5TE manual(1954) and same 5 series electric (1957). I find white correction tape on the bottom VERY useful for my typing needs, but do You recommend them?
I don't utilize correction tape ribbons because the white can flake off and gum up your type elements! But, if you utilize it often and do see the value in it, I'd say go with what works best for you. Those should both take a universal sized replacement ribbon
I need help. I bought my Daughter a Petite 880 child's typewriter, with the cassette which appears to hold 1/4" film ribbon. I can't seem to find it anywhere, and if I did find the ribbon, I'd be afraid I'd wipe off the ink rewrapping it around my spools, which are inside the cassette.
Any suggestions?
You might need to go find someone who can make you a new cassette for it! I've had a custom one made for my barbie machines from Chicago Typewriter!
@@JustMyTypewriterI wish I knew who made them, but I live in a small town, and there's not much here as it is, much less custom places such as those.
Thanks anyway. It was a good idea.
@@aliasprojects6214 There are repair techs accessible by the internet! You can send them an email and see if you can arrange something. I sent my cassette to be refilled and got it back in the mail
Im in love......
Hi sarah can u tell me how’s a columbia 8100 made in japan model typewrite? Is it good in your opinion? I’m going to buy one, your opinion will help
I've never used one. I recommend asking in the Antique Typewriter Collectors group on Facebook as someone there may have experience!
@ ok! thank you so much for your reply 🫶🏻
Thanks for the vid. i got an olivetti 25 at an estate sale for 18 bucks.
Congrats on your find!
I have an Olivetti Lettera 12 which uses a cartridge. Do you know how to replace those ribbons?
I see one listing on ebay for a ribbon replacement for them. Cartridge ones are harder to find!
Why black on top? Is is possible to have red letters if I keep red on top?
If you have a bi-color machine, you can switch it to type in red. If you have a one color machine and you want red ink, you can place the red on top!
@@JustMyTypewriter ok thank you
Could you help me with one more can't find information. If I can use ribbon multiple times( nulona or cotton) moving lever to work other way round or should i replace once spool is empty
@@gbpl1010 You can use it multiple times. When it stops leaving ink on the page, that's when you replace it
Appreciate. Much love
My ribbon dried out, what can I do?
You can replace it!
I can't believe i threw away the original spools!😳💔😭So sad. But, that was before i really looked into getting my old, Royal up and running. I bought it at an auction for $1 because no one else wanted it.
I just bought a broken one today that was going to be tossed if I didn't take it- we rescue them and that's great!
can you use the plastic spool the replacement ribbons come from?
I found a Smith-Corona Corsair at a thrift store but I doesn't have the spools. Any help/ advice it appreciated :)
Absolutely you can! The Corsair spools will be smaller than the standard ones- look for ones labeled as "ultra portable" or specifically listed for the corsair model
Is there someone who has talked about Remington ribbons?
You can use the same ribbon, but the spool set up is slightly different. If you have the original spools, you'll be fine! If not, you can technically tie them in to the machine without them
❤❤❤❤❤
Your knowlege of ribbons may be of interest to some people today would not stand up in any meeting of Ribbon Manufactures
I have a feeling that most people only know of typewriters and ink ribbons because of Resident Evil
I've heard that!
You would have to be under a certain age not to have heard of typewriters and ink ribbons. I used a typewriter for nearly forty years before personal computers came along.
By the way - what's "Resident Evil"?
Really wish you specified the black on top before the end of the video I have to do the ENTIRE 20 minute process again
Very helpful. I entertained the idea of getting a typewriter two days ago. Today I ended up getting a Royal Quiet Deluxe (I think it's a 1952 model) that works fully, it just needs a new ribbon. It definitely needs some cleaning too. I got lucky 🥹 Haha thanks for these helpful videos.
The world try to hold you back go ahead and try I guess luck 🤞 will come true
So helpful...Thank you!