Fully Restored Blue Bird 18b Portable Typewriter | Serial #1028347 | Smooth Typing, Cleaned Platen & Secure Locking Case

📖 Product Overview: West German Engineering Excellence Discover the precision mechanics and dependable writing performance of the Blue Bird 18b portable typewriter (Serial Number: 1028347 from around 1959 ), proudly manufactured in Western Germany. Built to the highest standards of mid-century European engineering, the Blue Bird series is celebrated for its sturdy build quality, smooth tactile key action, and reliable everyday performance.

Meticulously overhauled at our UK workshop by Walid & Joujou (featured restoration experts on BBC’s The Repair Shop), this machine has been chemically degreased, segment-flushed, and precision-calibrated. Featuring a thoroughly cleaned, responsive original rubber platen and crisp, fine character impressions, it is 100% functional, beautifully preserved, and ready to write straight out of the box. (Note on Customization: If you prefer to upgrade this machine with a brand-new recovered rubber platen roller, our workshop offers this custom service upon request, requiring an additional 4 to 5 weeks for specialist vulcanization and fitting & cost is £150 extra or $200 USD).

📊 Technical Specifications & Restoration Data

 • Brand & Model: Blue Bird 18b Portable Typewriter (Serial #1028347).

• Manufacturing Origin: Made in Western Germany.

 • Keyboard Layout: Standard QWERTY Layout.

• Mechanical Condition: 100% Fully Functional & Serviced. Professionally overhauled, segment deep-flushed, and calibrated for an exceptionally smooth, fluid typing action.

 • Platen Roller: Original rubber platen, thoroughly cleaned and conditioned to grip paper evenly and deliver fine, clean text impressions. (Optional Brand-New Platen Upgrade available upon request: +4 to 5 weeks processing time).

• Ribbon System: Pre-installed with a fresh, high-quality fabric typewriter ribbon on spools.

✍️ Typeface & Font Details

 • Typeface Style: 11pts/Inch Elite typeface. Clean, highly legible standard vintage typeface delivering crisp, professional line alignment.

 • Typing Performance: Strikes cleanly and evenly, producing fine, sharp text suitable for correspondence, journaling, and creative writing.

🎨 Cosmetic Presentation & Secure Carrying Case

 • Visual Presentation: Good vintage condition. The classic grey enamelled metal casing displays minor, honest surface marks and light patina consistent with authentic historic care over the decades.

• Keytop Condition: Every individual keycap and spacebar has been hand-cleaned, sanitized, and polished.

• Secure Locking Carrying Case Included: Supplied with its authentic hard carrying case featuring an engineered locking mechanism that securely locks the typewriter base in place for safe storage and travel.

📋 Quick Specifications Overview

🛡️ Peace of Mind & Workshop Mechanical Guarantee✅ 1-Year Mechanical Guarantee | ✅ 14-Day Returns | ✅ Lifetime Aftercare | ✅ Featured on BBC's The Repair Shop

Every typewriter leaving our workshop represents the highest standard of vintage mechanical conservation. To ensure complete confidence in your investment, your typewriter is backed by our Comprehensive 1-Year Mechanical Guarantee, covering all internal mechanisms, segment linkages, and moving parts. Each machine is logged in our digital workshop registry under its unique serial number for full traceability and long-term support. Please read our dedicated workshop guarantee page on our website for complete details and peace of mind.

🌍 Global Shipping, Timelines & Tariff Information • 🇺🇸 United States & 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Shipping (100% Free & All-Inclusive): Standard local & international shipping to the US and UK is completely free and included in the listed price. Furthermore, all US import tariffs and customs duties are fully prepaid by our workshop. There are absolutely zero hidden checkout fees, surprise border holds, or cash-on-delivery demands at your door. • 🌐 International Shipping (Europe, Australia, Canada & Rest of World): We dispatch all website orders in less than 24 hours via fully tracked premium air courier directly to your door in 3 to 7 working days (with express delivery options available at checkout). • Proprietary Global Packaging Protocol: To protect this West German classic during international transit, we mechanically lock down the carriage rail, insulate the frame in multi-layered shock-absorbing cushioning, and suspend the entire unit within a heavy-duty, double-walled outer shipping carton.

🤝 The "Ready-to-Write" Package & Lifetime Support • Unbox & Start Writing: Your Blue Bird 18b arrives pre-installed with its fresh ribbon, secure locking case, and our primary step-by-step startup instructions. Simply unbox, release the carriage lock, and begin typing immediately. • Video Learning Academy: Your package includes a direct link to our dedicated YouTube video tutorial, teaching you exactly how to type on, care for, adjust the margins, and change ink ribbons on your specific typewriter. • Lifetime Technical Partnership: Every typewriter we sell comes with lifetime technical support. You receive direct email and video-call troubleshooting access to Walid and Joujou, the celebrated restoration experts from BBC's The Repair Shop and major Netflix productions.

🎬 We prepared a video on how to use this Typewriter on YouTube.

📖 Have questions about vintage typewriters or machine maintenance? Read our master guide: Typewriter FAQ: The Ultimate 100 Questions Answered