On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

Posted on December 16, 2011 by munk

2011 12 16 1 On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

IMAG0145 On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

Good, cheap ribbon. I got like 6 of these at a paper store closeout table for 50 cents eash.

IMAG0151 On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

As you wind the ribbon onto your machine's original spools, take the time to install eyelets at the ends (a foot or so in) if your machine needs them to actuate the ribbon reverse mechanism.

IMAG0153 On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

This Swissa Junior has european-sized spool posts, which are slightly thicker than US-made typewriters, so the spools that came with it always need to be used. Sadly, they are plastic, so I will someday have to hunt down some metal spools in this size before the plastic ones break.

IMAG0156 On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

Happy Swissa! New Platen and Ribbon!

2011 12 16 2 On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

2011 12 16 3 On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

Ephemera of another dead and gone typewriter shop. This paper label came off of the back of the 1951 Smith-Corona Silent from last post.

IMAG0143 On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

The front-office desk of Bill Wahl at Mesa Typewriter Exchange. There is no computer anywhere in this office - instead, on the fold-out section if the desk is bolted an Olympia SG-1. The rest of the desk is covered in typewriters that are in for repair, but the SG1 is the one he types on. This Hermes Rocket is owned by someone who got too far into the "taking stuff apart" stage of a typewriter cleaning project without properly documenting where things went. (no, not me :D )

Posted on December 16, 2011 by munk

4 Responses to On the quality of Typewriter Ribbons

  1. Bill M says:
    December 17, 2011 at 4:07 am

    Thanks for the information on the ribbons. I wonder if the thin ones are Chinese? I have been re-inking mine using an ink pad. I have tried India ink and fountain pen ink and have not found much difference after I got the amount figured out after a few attempts of too much ink. Someone somewhere said WD-40 will work, but I am not too interested in putting oil on my ribbon(s) or paper.

    Reply
  2. deek says:
    December 18, 2011 at 6:46 am

    I’ve been using the DATAPRODUCTS #R3300 printer ribbons for Okidata ML80, ML82 and ML92 that I can find at my local Staples. It is $5.99 a ribbon and the ribbon already has eyelets and while the spools are plastic, they have fit every typewriter I have that uses a two inch spool.

    About a year ago, one out of every four was a bit light on the ink, but the past 6 months or so of new packaging, has proved to have very solid, all black ribbons.

    These get a thumbs up from me!

    Reply
  3. Matt Cidoni says:
    December 19, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    I love using the GRC ribbons, and if I were you, I’d try to stay away from calculator ribbons. They are inked differently, I hear, and so I just stick to getting my ribbons from Jay Respler and Cambridge Typewriter. But, if it works, use it!

    Reply

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