FAQ

We are a family workshop near Málaga, in Southern Spain, and the largest physical vintage typewriter shop in Europe. We have repaired, restored and sold typewriters since 2013.

Our stock runs to more than 500 machines from Olivetti, Hermes, Olympia, Erika, Royal, Remington and Underwood. Every machine is restored by hand in our own workshop and leaves with a quality certificate, a one-year warranty and online technical support.

We ship worldwide with full insurance, and we issue legal invoices for customers registered in the EU VIES database. Over 1,000 five-star reviews, from first-time buyers to collectors.

— Ania and Jacek

Five things decide it:

• Purpose. Creative writing, letters and lists, collecting, or display.
• Portability. Will it live on one desk, or travel? Portables come with a case.
• Keyboard layout. QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY or QZERTY, depending on the language you write in.
• Maintenance. A fully serviced machine needs almost nothing; an unserviced one needs you.
• Budget. A little more usually buys a better-preserved machine.

Tell us what you write and where, and we will shortlist two or three machines. We can also send a typing sample or video before you buy.

The machines we recommend most often:

• Olivetti Lettera 32 — light (4.5 kg), compact, comfortable key layout. The best all-round portable.
• Hermes 3000 — Swiss build, superb key action. Semi-portable, for a fixed desk.
• Olympia SM9 — excellent build, spacious keys, made for daily use.
• Smith Corona Silent Super — quiet and responsive.
• Royal Quiet De Luxe — classic feel, quieter action.
• Adler Tippa S — the lightest reliable option for writing away from home.

Key feel varies more than specifications suggest. If you can, try two before deciding — or ask us for a typing sample.

Manual machines are entirely mechanical and need no power. Levers and typebars do the work. They are simpler, more durable, easier to repair and generally cheaper. Long sessions are more physical, and they need cleaning more often.

Electric machines use a motor to assist the keystroke. They are lighter on the fingers over long sessions and often add correction and adjustable margins, and ribbons are easy to find. They are more complex, cost more, and parts are harder to source.

For most writers and collectors we recommend manual.

Portable — compact and light, usually with a carrying case. Easy to move and store, with slightly smaller keys and fewer features.

Semi-portable — the middle ground. More robust and feature-rich than a portable, still movable, but less convenient to carry regularly.

Desktop — large and heavy, designed to stay in one place. The most stable typing experience, the largest typing area and the most features, but they need dedicated space.

Antique machines were made before roughly the 1920s — broadly, anything over 100 years old. They often show rust, patina or heavy wear, and are valued for rarity and historical importance. Restoration aims to preserve as much original material as possible while making the machine work.

Vintage covers machines from the 1920s onward, at least 20 to 30 years old. These are valued for design, craftsmanship and how well they represent their era.

You can date a machine from its serial number, usually stamped on the right side of the frame. Send us the model and we will show you where to look.

The words on our listings are precise. From lightest to heaviest:

• Serviced — minor repairs and cleaning to return the machine to reliable working order.
• Revitalized — deeper cleaning and adjustment, minor parts replaced, function and appearance improved.
• Refurbished — thorough cleaning, minor repairs and cosmetic touch-ups to both looks and function.
• Restored — extensive repair toward original condition, often with original parts, original paint and replacement decals.
• Rebuilt — fully disassembled, major components replaced or reconstructed, reassembled to near-new condition.

Each listing states which level applies, so you know exactly what has been done before you buy.

Condition describes the machine as it stands, separately from the work done to it:

• Pristine — flawless, as if never used.
• Mint — nearly perfect, very minor wear.
• Used — previously owned, some wear, fully functional.
• Unboxed — removed from original packaging but essentially unused.
• Customized / Made to order — modified or built to a specific request.
• Repainted, Polished, Chrome plated — exterior finish altered or renewed.
• For decoration — display piece, not working.
• As is / For parts — sold uncleaned or incomplete, for a restoration project or spares.

Our accessories are chosen for vintage machines specifically, not generic modern equivalents:

• Fresh ink ribbons — consistent ink flow for crisp, sharp type, compatible with a wide range of models.
• Specialist brushes and spools — for clearing dust, debris and ink residue from parts you cannot otherwise reach.
• Transparent dust covers — custom-fitted to specific models, protecting the machine while leaving the design visible.

If you are unsure which ribbon or cover fits your machine, send us the model and we will confirm.

1. Confirm your country at the bottom of any page, so prices and shipping are correct.
2. Choose your items from the collection.
3. Pay at checkout with Shopify Payments or PayPal. Both accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
4. Check your total — it includes shipping and any duties we handle. Import taxes in your own country may still apply and are the buyer's responsibility.

For most countries you can pay duties at checkout or on delivery; a few allow only payment on delivery, which checkout will tell you. Please include a phone number — couriers need it.

Yes. We have shipped over 4,000 typewriters to 74 countries. Every item is wrapped in several protective layers inside two new eco-friendly boxes, and every shipment is 100% insured and tracked by us.

Standard economy shipping

• EU: 1–6 business days
• USA & Canada: 6–21 business days
• Australia & New Zealand: 10–21 business days
• Elsewhere: 10–21 business days

Expedited (priority)

• EU: 1–2 business days
• USA & Canada: 2–5 business days
• Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere: 3–6 business days

We use Correos, DHL and FedEx. Tracking on economy shipping is not always continuous. Ask us for an estimate before you buy.

We ship after a preparation period we call processing time:

• New products — 1–3 days
• Vintage and antique machines — 3–7 working days
• Custom, made-to-order or limited edition — 1–2 weeks, occasionally 3–4

If the machine is a gift with a deadline, ask us for the exact processing time before you buy and we will do our best to work to it.

You will receive a tracking number by email once your order ships. You can follow it on the carrier's website, in the Track Order section of our chatbox, or through the Shop app by Shopify, available for iOS and Android.

International tracking is often sporadic. A gap usually means the package is between stages, not lost.

Common causes:

• Multiple carriers. Packages pass through local, national and international handlers, each with its own scanning routine.
• Customs. Held items can sit for some time without a scan.
• New waybill numbers. Sometimes a package is relabelled in transit.
• Holidays and peak season. Facilities close or run at reduced capacity.
• Missed scans and technical faults. Common and usually temporary.

If the silence goes on longer than you would expect, contact us. We have years of experience chasing these.

1. Allow 10 extra days beyond the estimate, for weather, customs and backlogs.
2. Check tracking for the last recorded location.
3. Verify the shipping address you entered at checkout.
4. Ask neighbours and building reception — packages are sometimes left nearby.
5. Ask your local postal service, who often know more than the tracking page shows.
6. Contact us with your order number if it is still missing. We will trace it and, if needed, guide you through an insurance claim.

As a rough guide: neighbouring countries 2–7 days, long-distance up to 21 working days or more.

Rare, but it happens on overseas shipments. Usual causes are a delivery to the wrong address, a misread address, a scanning error, a damaged waybill, or theft from a doorstep.

What to do:

1. Contact us immediately with your order number.
2. Check the surroundings — reception, back door, local post office, neighbours, anyone at home who might have taken it in.
3. Contact the carrier with your tracking number for delivery details.
4. Wait a day or two. Packages are sometimes scanned as delivered early.
5. Check any doorbell or security footage.
6. File a police report if theft is suspected — insurers may require it.

Your shipment is insured. We will help you file the claim.

The Toxic Substances Control Act is a US law, administered by the EPA, regulating chemical substances entering the country. Customs sometimes requests a TSCA declaration before releasing a package.

It does not normally apply to manual typewriters and ordinary ink ribbons. These are finished products, not chemical substances. The ink contains chemicals, but once it is in the ribbon and packed with the machine, TSCA generally does not apply.

If your shipment contains only typewriters and ribbons, you can usually file a Negative Certification stating that nothing in the shipment is subject to TSCA.

Regulations change. Check current EPA and CBP guidance, or ask a customs broker, if you are unsure.

Yes. PayPal allows card payment without registration:

1. At checkout, select Proceed to PayPal.
2. Choose Pay with a Bank Account or Credit Card.
3. Enter your card, billing and contact details.
4. Select No, I don't want an account now, then Pay Now.

If that option does not appear — it varies by country — contact us and we will arrange another method.

We use Shopify Payments and Stripe, both established and secure gateways. Through them you can pay by:

• Credit and debit card — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
• Digital wallets — Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay and others

We also accept bank transfer and, for visitors to the workshop, cash. Ask us if you need something not listed.

Yes. We issue legal invoices for individuals and companies registered in the EU or the European VIES database.

To prepare one, send us:

• Full name and address of the person or company
• VAT number, if applicable, so we can verify VIES registration
• Order number or reference
• Preferred delivery method — usually PDF by email

Tell us if you have any specific formatting requirements and we will accommodate them.

Yes to both. Cash is welcome for in-person purchases at the workshop — you are always welcome to visit.

We also accept direct bank transfers. You will need our IBAN and SWIFT/BIC code, which we provide on request.

For international transfers we recommend wise.com: lower fees than most banks, usually same-day or a few days, strong security, and you can send it from home.

We will send you everything required. A transfer typically needs:

• Recipient name and full address
• Bank name and address
• IBAN — for European and most international transfers
• SWIFT/BIC code — for international transfers
• Account number — for domestic Spanish transfers
• Exact amount
• Reference — your order number

Contact us before sending and we will confirm the current details.

1. We curate. Every machine is selected for quality, authenticity and history.
2. We document. Listings carry detailed descriptions and photographs of the actual machine, including its condition.
3. You order. Checkout is secure, with several payment methods.
4. We process. We verify payment, prepare the machine and email you a confirmation.
5. We ship. Worldwide, insured, with tracking. We tell you if anything changes.
6. We stay available. Warranty and online technical support come with every machine.

If anything is unclear at any stage, write to us. We answer.

Assessment. We inspect the mechanics, typebars, platen and body, then decide whether the machine needs a service, a refurbishment or a full restoration, and which historical features must be preserved.

Cleaning. Machines in good order get compressed-air cleaning. Worn machines get deep chemical cleaning to remove rust, grime and old lubricant.

Disassembly. Parts are removed, catalogued and cleaned individually.

Repair and adjustment. Broken typebars, levers, gears and cords are repaired or replaced. Alignment, ribbon feed, platen pressure and carriage tension are all reset.

Parts. Worn platens and perished rubber feet are replaced with originals where possible, or precise 3D-printed equivalents.

Cosmetics. Where needed, we refinish with high-quality automotive paint and restore decals.

Reassembly and testing. The machine is rebuilt, typed on and re-tested.

Documentation. We record a video of the final typing test and include a test page signed by the technician, plus a summary of the work done.

• Scale and experience. The largest physical typewriter shop in Europe, working since 2013, with over 500 machines in stock.
• Our own workshop. Every machine is restored in-house by technicians with more than a decade of experience — not resold as found.
• Documentation. Quality certificate, typed and signed test page, and a video of the machine working.
• Warranty and support. One-year warranty and online technical support with every purchase.
• Proper invoicing. Legal invoices for EU and VIES-registered customers.
• Insured worldwide shipping. Full cover for damage or non-delivery, with repair, replacement or refund.
• Track record. Over 1,000 five-star reviews, from first-time buyers to Wes Anderson, Lady Gaga and Eddie Vedder.

We hold over 1,000 five-star reviews across Judge.me, eBay and Google, with an average rating of 4.9. Customers most often mention three things: the standard of the restoration, how carefully machines are packed, and how quickly we answer questions before and after a sale.

Reviewers range from parents buying a first typewriter as a gift to serious collectors and professional writers.

You can read the full set of verified reviews on our Reviews page.

Yes. We accept returns under our 14-day return policy, and we want you to be satisfied with your purchase.

Please read our full Refund Policy for items that are excluded, then see How do I return a vintage typewriter? below for the steps. Our customer service team can help at any point.

1. Request an RMA form. Contact us with your order details and reason for return. We will review and send you the form with an RMA number.
2. Complete and print it. Make three copies, each signed, all pages.
3. Pack securely. Protect the machine properly and put one copy of the form inside the box.
4. Mark the package clearly with the RMA number. For international returns, mark it Return Merchandise so customs does not treat it as a new import.
5. Ship it insured and traceable to the address we give you, with the remaining two copies of the form. Keep your receipt.
6. Notify us. Photograph the packed parcel and email us the tracking number.

Returns are processed within 7–25 business days of arrival.

Exchanges — often yes, particularly if the wrong model or size was chosen. We can usually exchange for an item of equal value, provided you cover the costs of the exchange. Tell us when you first make contact.

Cancellations — normally not, once an order is placed. We list across several platforms, and a sold machine is immediately removed everywhere else to prevent overselling.

If you need to cancel, contact us as quickly as possible and we will do what we can. See our policy page for full details.

Yes. Our showroom holds restored Olivetti, Olympia, Erika, Remington and Royal machines, all serviced in our workshop and available to type on.

Address: Calle Huelva 7, Local 4, 29640 Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain
Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00–19:00

Contact us to book a personal visit, especially if you want particular models ready to try.

• Email: contact@typewriter.company
• Phone / WhatsApp: +34 639 305 263
• Chat: the chat box on any page

We work on Central European Time (UTC+1) and aim to reply within 24–48 hours.

Cool, dry and covered. Humidity is the main enemy — it brings rust and mould.

• Temperature. Ordinary room temperature, roughly 5–27 °C. Avoid hot attics and damp basements, which damage rubber parts.
• Humidity. Use silica gel packs, or a climate-controlled room.
• Clean first. Remove dust, dirt and ink residue before storing.
• Remove the ribbon and seal it separately, to prevent staining.
• Disengage the feed rollers so constant pressure does not flatten the rubber.
• Lock the carriage if the machine has a carriage lock.
• Cover it with a dust cover.
• Do not oil the type segment, typebars or key linkages. Oil there attracts dirt.

For long-term storage, pad the box well, avoid stacking anything on top, keep it off the floor, and check it occasionally for rust.

Work through these in order:

• Threading. Confirm the ribbon runs evenly through both spools and sits correctly in the guides.
• Position. It should sit between the typebars and the paper.
• Tension. Not too tight, not slack. Adjust if the ribbon does not advance smoothly.
• Winding direction. The ribbon should feed from the full spool to the empty one, with nothing blocking spool movement.
• Colour selector. Check the ribbon lever is set to the band you want.
• Alignment. Look for typebars or the ribbon path sitting visibly out of line.

Your model manual will show the exact ribbon path. If it still misbehaves, contact us — online technical support is included with every machine.

Almost always transit handling. Before your machine left us it was tested repeatedly, fitted with a new ribbon, and adjusted and cleaned — the signed test page you received is the proof. Typewriters were never designed for modern parcel networks, and knocks in transit can shift alignment.

Check these first:

• Ribbon. It may have shifted or a spool may have loosened. Confirm it is threaded correctly and winding from full to empty.
• Paper. Check it is properly seated in the feed rollers and the paper holder is in position.
• Alignment. Look for typebars sitting out of line.

If it persists, contact us. Online technical support is included.

Before contacting a technician, work through this:

• Consult the manual for your model's adjustment and maintenance procedures.
• Remove the top cover and look for loose, sticking or misaligned components.
• Check typebar alignment and the paper feed mechanism.
• Check the paper is straight and held firmly by the feed rollers.
• Check typing pressure. Inconsistent pressure gives uneven density — more common than people expect on a manual machine.

If none of that fixes it, contact us with a photo of a typed sample and we will diagnose it.

On a machine that has never been through a workshop, the usual culprits are:

• Ribbon. Old, dried or badly tensioned. Replace it and reset the tension.
• Dirty typebars. Dust and grime on the type faces. Clean the typebars and the striking area.
• Worn typefaces. Decades of use flattens them. They need inspection and sometimes replacement.
• Paper. Wrong weight, or badly aligned in the feed rollers.
• Sticking keys. Keys not returning cleanly. Clean and lubricate the linkages.
• Shift mechanism. Capitals misaligned usually means the shift needs adjustment.
• Feed rollers. Worn or dirty rollers move paper unevenly.
• General neglect. Old lubricant turns to varnish and stiffens everything.

Most of this is what a full service resolves in one pass. We service machines sent to us from anywhere.

QWERTY, used across many countries and standard for English.

For Spanish, the Spanish QWERTY layout adds the characters the language needs — the ñ key and accented vowels á, é, í, ó, ú.

The right layout depends mostly on the language you write in. If you write in several, you may want a machine per layout, or simply accept the compromise of one.

It comes down to one question: what language do you write in most?

• QWERTY — English, and the default for most machines sold today.
• AZERTY — French. Accents and French characters are far easier to reach.
• QWERTZ — German and Central European languages with umlauts.
• QZERTY — Italian, arranged for the frequencies of the language.

Switching layouts feels awkward at first but settles quickly. If you are firmly used to one, stay with it. If you write in two languages regularly, learning both is a genuine advantage.

To save space and keep the mechanism simple. Typists used lowercase l for the number 1 and uppercase O for zero. The shapes were close enough that nobody minded, and leaving out two typebars reduced both complexity and production cost.

Dedicated 1 and 0 keys arrived as keyboards standardised in later decades.

Screens and daylight do not agree, and no photograph is a perfect match.

• Daylight changes. Morning, midday and evening light all cast different tones.
• Artificial light. Incandescent, fluorescent and LED bulbs each shift colours warmer or cooler.
• Camera settings. White balance, exposure and colour profile all change how a colour records.
• Your screen. Every display renders colour slightly differently.
• Surface texture. Gloss, chrome and matte finishes reflect light in ways a flat image cannot reproduce.

If exact colour matters, ask us for extra photographs in daylight, or a short video.

Vintage typewriters contain many delicate parts — keys, springs and typebars — that rough handling can damage. Even when the packaging arrives intact, internal parts can be knocked out of alignment or bent by shocks in transit.

Each machine is wrapped in several layers of protective material, placed in a reinforced box, and surrounded by cushioning that stops it moving. We also photograph and film its condition before it leaves the workshop.

Rarely, but it can happen through mishandling by carriers, which is outside our control. Good packing materials and pre-shipping documentation have substantially reduced the risk.

Yes, and we will help you do it. Because we record the machine's condition before shipment, that documentation serves as evidence when dealing with carriers or insurers.

They prove the machine was in good condition when it left our workshop. That evidence is what makes a damage claim straightforward, and it also shows you exactly how your machine was packed.

No. They may help, but sorting facilities move fast and stickers get overlooked. That is why we rely on the packing itself rather than the label.

Yes, and we strongly recommend insuring the machine for its full value. Every shipment we send includes 100% insurance cover, protecting both you and us against loss or damage.

Contact us immediately. Keep the original packaging, photograph the damage and the box, and we will guide you through the claim with the carrier or insurer.

Be available to receive the package in person if you can. That avoids it being left unattended or mishandled after delivery. Providing a phone number at checkout also helps couriers reach you.

Vintage typewriters generally fall under HS 8469.00 — typewriters other than printers of heading 8443, and word-processing machines.

A machine over 100 years old may instead qualify under HS 9706.00 — antiques of an age exceeding 100 years.

Using the correct code helps customs clearance and can reduce import duty.

1. Send your request. Contact us by chat or email with the part you need. Include photos or video, measurements, and your model and serial number so we can confirm compatibility.
2. Pay the assessment fee. A one-time €25 fee covers checking availability and compatibility, and exploring custom options if the part is not in stock.
3. Confirm the final price. Your €25 is deducted from the total.
4. We ship. Shipping is calculated by location, with tracking provided.

If we cannot find the part, you receive a €50 gift card valid on any product or service.

• Standard parts in stock — shipped within 1–3 business days of payment.
• Rare models or custom parts — 7–14 business days for sourcing, design or 3D printing.
• Complex or multi-part orders — up to 2–3 weeks.

We confirm an estimated completion time once we have reviewed your request, and keep you updated. Quality of fit comes before speed.