How we Restore & Repair Typewriters?

How We Restore Our Typewriters

Restoring a vintage typewriter is not a job you can rush, delegate to a machine, or learn from a manual alone. It takes years of hands-on experience, an obsessive attention to detail — and, frankly, a deep love for the thing itself.

Every typewriter we restore is handled personally by us, from first inspection to final keystroke test. No shortcuts. No sub-contractors. Just two people who have dedicated nearly a decade to the craft of bringing these machines back to life.

The process, from first screw to final keystroke

We begin with a full assessment — understanding the machine's history, its condition, and what it needs. Then we dismantle it. Every main component is removed and tackled individually.

From there, the real work begins:

Cleaning. Decades of dust, dried lubricant, mould, and grime are removed from every surface — inside and out. This isn't a wipe-down. We flush the segment, the type slugs, the carriage, the feed rollers, and every mechanical part individually, by hand.

Mechanical restoration. some worn springs are replaced. Escapement mechanisms are adjusted for precision. Keys are calibrated for consistent, satisfying action. Any part that doesn't perform to our standard is addressed — rebuilt, replaced, or refabricated where necessary.

Platen restoration. Since July 2018, we have been one of the only workshops in the UK to professionally recover typewriter platens — replacing the original hardened rubber roller with a new layer that matches factory specification. This is not the shrink-tube shortcut found elsewhere. We replace the platen entirely, strip it, and re-coat it properly. The result is quieter typing, better paper grip, and no damage to the type slugs.

Polishing and finishing. Key rings are removed, cleaned, and refitted. Painted surfaces are carefully treated. Chrome is polished. Every visible surface is brought to a condition that feels — and looks — as close to the machine's finest day as possible.

Testing. Once reassembled, every typewriter is tested extensively. Ribbon alignment, margin stops, carriage return, key travel, spacing — everything is checked. We only sign off on a machine when we'd be happy to use it ourselves.

Walid and Joujou restore a typewriter in The Repair Shop on BBC

Why it matters

There are plenty of typewriters sold online that have been wiped down, given a fresh ribbon, and photographed well. Ours are different — and the difference is immediately apparent the moment you lift the lid and press a key.

The machines that leave our workshop have been genuinely restored, not just tidied. They type crisply, move smoothly, and carry the character of their era without the dysfunction of their age. That's the standard we've maintained across more than 5,000 restorations, and it's the standard we apply to every single machine — whether it's a well-loved Olivetti Lettera or a rare pre-war portable pulled from a loft.

It's also why the BBC's The Repair Shop trusted us with some of the most challenging restoration projects on national television — from pre-war Coronas to a Perkins Braille writing machine. The work speaks for itself.

Click on the picture to see the transformation we managed on this Family Heirloom.

Every machine is a one-of-a-kind project.

No two typewriters age in exactly the same way, and no two restorations follow exactly the same path. That's what makes this work endlessly interesting — and why we treat each machine not as inventory, but as a project deserving of time, care, and precision.

When a typewriter leaves our workshop, it's ready. Not just to be displayed — but to be used, every day, for years to come.