Aside from the keys, typewriter terminology is relatively very straight forward. The following is true for manual typewriters generally pre dating WWII. It's true for many other non-specialty typewriters and is standard on all machines. read more
Aside from the keys, typewriter terminology is relatively very straight forward. The following is true for manual typewriters generally pre dating WWII. It's true for many other non-specialty typewriters and is standard on all machines. The only differences: sometimes a machine has extra cool functions that nobody cares about. read more
Generally, manual typewriters use inked cloth ribbons on spools, and electric typewriters use carbon cartridge ribbons. Surprisingly, both are still made. Carriage. Older typewriters use a moving carriage that consists of a cylindrical platen, paper table, paper bail and other parts. This is where you insert your paper. read more
Here are some terms that you may find handy in describing the basic parts of your typewriter. Pictured (in a pretty distorted way, I know!) is a conventional typebar typewriter -- plus one part from a less conventional typewriter. read more