How We Restore Typewriters

El Granero · Fuengirola, Málaga · Since 2013

Many hands.
One typewriter.
A new chapter.

Behind every typewriter we restore is a journey of discovery, patient craftsmanship and people who care. We are Ania and Jacek, and this is the work we love.

Follow a typewriter’s journey ↓

A craft built through experience

Seeing the possibility beneath the dust

A faded machine at a flea market can still have so much to give. We imagine the sound of its keys, a fresh sheet of paper and the person who will fall in love with writing on it again.

Since 2013, our family workshop has grown around that feeling. Every restoration teaches us something: a different mechanism, a stubborn fault, a clever solution from another era. Experience is built through this daily work, one machine at a time.

We want to preserve both the pleasure of using these machines and the character that makes each one its own.

A vintage typewriter stripped down to its frame and type bars, surrounded by workshop tools
Beneath the familiar shape: the mechanisms and small details that need our attention.

From discovery to a fresh sheet of paper

The journey behind the finished machine

These are the stages a restoration can involve. Each typewriter follows its own path: some need their original finish gently preserved; others need extensive mechanical work or the skills of specialist workshops. Several stages may overlap, and testing often takes us back to an earlier adjustment.

  1. The hunt begins

    Long before a typewriter reaches our bench, its next chapter is already taking shape. We search flea markets and follow promising leads, while collaborators across Spain keep their eyes open for machines worth rescuing. Finding a good candidate takes patience, travel and the experience to see beyond dust and a tired case.

  2. The first careful journey

    A find may be a long way from Fuengirola. Collectors, collaborators and couriers help bring it to our workshop. Packing and handling matter from the very beginning: a vintage machine has delicate mechanisms inside a surprisingly heavy body.

  3. Getting to know the machine

    On the bench, we examine how the keys, carriage, ribbon mechanism and paper feed work together. We look for wear, corrosion, missing pieces and earlier repairs. Two examples of the same model can need very different attention; each machine tells us where to begin.

  4. Taking it apart, thoughtfully

    We remove the components needed to reach the work beneath, keeping track of their position and how they fit together. Small springs, screws and linkages deserve as much attention as the outer shell. Disassembly is slow, careful work, and it often reveals problems that were invisible from outside.

  5. Cleaning away the years

    Dust, old ribbon ink and hardened residue can hide deep inside a mechanism. We clean carefully, choosing methods suited to the material and condition, and address corrosion where possible. Lubrication is selective: knowing where to use it, and where to keep a mechanism clean and dry, is part of the craft.

  6. Finding solutions, piece by piece

    A tired spring, damaged lever or missing part can bring the whole restoration to a pause. We repair what can be saved and search for suitable original or compatible parts. Where appropriate, a replacement may need to be reproduced. Finding, fitting and adjusting one small component can be a project in itself.

  7. Paint, metal and specialist hands

    Original finishes carry a machine’s history, and we preserve them where possible. When a restoration calls for repainting or renewed metal plating, specialist paint shops and chrome workshops become part of the journey. Preparation, finishing, drying and careful handling all take their own time. These stages depend on the individual machine.

  8. The bag and case have a story, too

    We also restore carrying bags and cases. Cleaning, repairing and caring for their coverings, interiors, handles and fittings can demand a different set of skills from the machine itself. Where their condition allows, we preserve the original character so that the typewriter and its travelling companion belong together again.

  9. Bringing everything into harmony

    As the machine comes back together, we adjust alignment, spacing, carriage movement, ribbon travel and paper handling. These mechanisms affect one another. A small adjustment can mean checking several other things again; experience helps us recognise what needs another patient look.

  10. Paper in. Time to type.

    We put the restored machine to work, checking the keys, capitals, margins, line spacing and carriage return. The feel matters alongside the typed page. We test, adjust and test again, listening and looking for the small details that make writing satisfying.

  11. Ready for its next chapter

    After the final checks, we prepare the machine for collection or carefully pack it for its next journey. Couriers become part of the story once more. What leaves our workshop carries the work of many hands, ready for someone else’s letters, poems, ideas and everyday words.

Typewriter components partially disassembled for cleaning and lubrication.
Mechanical repair work on the internal linkages of a vintage typewriter.
A reassembled typewriter being tested after service at El Granero.

The people behind the work

One typewriter connects many hands

You may meet the two of us in the showroom, but a restored typewriter has a much wider circle behind it. There are the people hunting for machines across Spain, the couriers bringing them safely to us, and the specialist paint and chrome workshops whose skills help with particular restorations.

There are conversations, searches, journeys, carefully packed components and work passed from one pair of skilled hands to another. Coordinating all of this is part of restoring a typewriter, too.

We are grateful to the people and companies who help keep this craft alive. Their contribution is there in the finished machine, even when you cannot see it.

Why patience belongs here

The smallest detail can take the most work

A screw that will not move. A spring that is almost right. A letter that sits just above the line. Problems like these ask for observation, a steady hand and sometimes another approach entirely.

A missing part can mean a long search. Specialist finishes involve their own preparation and waiting. Reassembly can reveal that a mechanism needs another adjustment. The progress is not always visible from the outside, but every careful decision shapes the result.

This is hands-on, artisanal work. Time, knowledge and patience are part of what you feel when you sit down to type.

Our family, at the heart of it

Made with love, and a little help from our dogs

El Granero is woven into our family life. Our sons, Kuba and Filip, are always there to help us, and their support is part of the story behind the machines that leave our workshop. We are proud to share this world of old mechanisms, discoveries and creativity with them.

Our dogs are part of that story too. Their company, affection and cheerful interruptions have helped us through countless busy days. They remind us to pause, smile and enjoy the life we are building around this work.

That warmth matters to us. We put love into what we do because we love the machines, the people around us and the thought of someone finding their own words on a typewriter we have brought back to life.

Ania and Jacek, founders of El Granero, in an Andalusian town square
Ania and Jacek — the family behind El Granero.
The four El Granero dogs, all rescues, running on the dunes of the Andalusian coast
Our dogs, forever part of the El Granero story.

From our workshop to your words

The next chapter belongs to you

When you see a finished typewriter, we hope you can also see a little of the journey behind it: the hunt, the many hands, the patient work and the family who cared for it along the way.

For us, the loveliest part is knowing that it will write again.

Ania & Jacek

Type What You Love.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Tihomir Miloš

The El Granero cover for my typewriter really met all expectations regarding durability and dust. Excellent product

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Julian Stachura

Very smooth shopping experience. Arrived with no problems. I can type away now!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Pablo Barceló Moreno

Hace poco conocí a Jacek y Ania para que me ayudaran a poner a punto mi máquina de escribir Olivetti Studio46. Me recibieron en su oficina-taller con mucho naturalidad y sobre todo compartiendo conmigo su simpatía, amabilidad, pasión y amor por su oficio. Y por supuesto consigueron un resultado espectacular con mi máquina, la cual cuidaré y utilizaré con mucha ilusión cada vez que escriba. Además, pronto empezarán con un curso de mecanografía, a cual, si mi trabajo me lo Permite, asistiré para sacarle e
Mayor rendimiento a mi “Oli” Mil gracias de nuevo, y a todos aquellos que tengáis una máquina de escribir que necesite de mantenimiento o reparación, no dudéis en contactar con ellos! Un abrazo fuerte!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Frank Broccoli

This company is absolutely fantastic the work is very professional polished can't ask for better service love this company

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Cristina Guimarães

Comunicação ótima com a equipa da El Granero, quer na escolha da máquina quer no seu envio. Tive um atraso na sua entrega dado que queria a minha máquina para escrever os votos de casamento. Felizmente, ainda chegou a tempo. Estou deliciada. Muito bem acondicionada.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Keith

Order lost in shipping between Spanish shipper and USPS in states.
El Granero is staying in contact and working diligently on their end to try to locate the package and resolve the matter.
The extra effort they are expending to ensure this relatively small purchase gets found and delivered is greatly appreciated and speaks volumes about the integrity of this small, family owned business.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Michael Southam

Excellent service. I ordered typewriter ribbons for my Hermes Baby and they arrived in the mail within days.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Cecilia Cortés

He tenido problemas con mi máquina Olivetti Collegue y, la verdad, que encontrar a esta gente ha sido toda una suerte. Muy formales en cuanto a los tiempos de recogida y entrega, muy atentos en el trato y muy cuidadosos en el embalaje. La máquina ha regresado nueva, y además me han hecho algún obsequio! Muchas gracias por todo.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Justin Goodstein

El Granero provided me with an exceptional level of service, attention to detail, and authentic communication. I purchased the Olympia typewriter from a friend and noticed the "a" key was not working properly. When I attempted to make the adjustment myself, the arm broke off, which began my journey of research to find a professional restoration service. Coming across El Granero, I noticed they had a 50 euro option to repair the typewriter (with shipment to-and-from their location in Spain). The process was not as difficult as I had anticipated, and the owners provided updates, videos, and demos of the fixes they made to my typewriter. I am truly grateful that they were able to not only fix the "a" key, but fully tune and restore my typewriter to its former glory. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I am now creating performance pieces with confidence, and writing with great pleasure.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Jose Antonio Ramos

Son encantadores, unos profesionales como la copa de un pino. Trabajo rápido e impecable. Repetiré sin dudarlo.
Tuvimos la gran suerte de conocerlos en persona, a ellos y a sus mascotas.
Experiencia de 10.
Maquina repasada, limpia, engrasada y en perfecto estado.
La maquina tiene mucho valor sentimental, por eso ocupa el mejor sitio de casa.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Araceli Osuna

Total confianza, muy profesionales y amables, tienen unas piezas muy exclusivas y cuidadas. Totalmente recomendables!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Angel Blanco

Excelente en todos los sentidos. Amabilidad y compromiso. Muchas gracias por todo.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Jeff Bender

Ania and Jacek were so helpful and made this purchase as easy as can be. My typewriter was packed incredibly well and arrived safely and is a real beauty. I'm thankful I don't live near their shop, otherwise I'd probably be buying more of their beautifully restored machines. :-)

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Michele Simeoni

A beautiful accessory for your typewriter. Quality craftsmanship that perfectly matches the spirit of a 'vintage' object. Highly recommended!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Margarida Pinto

Absolutely beautiful Typewiter, restored to perfection, all wrapped with great love and care. It was a present for my husband’s 50th birthday and it couldn’t have been any more perfect. Thank you Ania and Jacek!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Margarida Pinto (Portugal)
Absolutely perfect!

Absolutely beautiful Typewiter, restored to perfection, all wrapped with great love and care. It was a present for my husband’s 50th birthday and it couldn’t have been any more perfect. Thank you Ania and Jacek!

We are thrilled to hear that your husband's 50th birthday gift was a success! A typewriter as a gift is such a unique and meaningful idea. bery special. We can only imagine the joy it brought to your husband on his special day. Thank you for sharing your experience, and I'm sure this positive review will encourage others to consider similar gifts for their loved ones!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Nikita

These guys are very knowledgeable and super helpful! They answered my queries with patience and shipped my order securely. I will be buying more typewriters from them in the near future!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Sarah Cabrera (United States)
2021 and happy

In 2021 I had bought a beautiful Olympia Traveler de Luxe...it looked like new. Between moving from one country to another and place to place I was finally able to bring it with me. I lost the manual and was stuck. I was scared so I contacted them quickly via Instagram. Not even 2 minutes passed and I was resolving the mess I had. They sent me the manual and wow it was working again. They even sent me photos with drawings so I could understand since I am new to this world of clippers. Super happy, and now let's write!

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that your Olympia Traveler de Luxe made the journey with you and is back to working like new. It was our pleasure to assist you quickly and provide the manual and helpful drawings. We're glad to have made the process easier for you as you dive into the world of typewriters. Happy writing!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Ryan Buesgens

El Granero does a fine job. I once had two rare typewriters of the same make and model. Both had problems. However, they were able to fashion one working and complete Groma Kolibri typewriter to me. I was on holiday in southern Spain shortly after the work was complete. he went out of his way to deliver the machine to our hotel. superb service everytime I have worked with El Granero typewriter.company.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Cristina Colucci

I am very pleased with the typewriter I ordered. The restoration is great and I’m very much looking forward to writing with it.

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Francisco Martinez ramos

Ha sido fantástico: me dejaron en un estado fenomenal una máquina antigua que no había quien diese algo por ella. 100 por 100 recomendables

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Cristina Di Sandro
Articolo non funzionante troppo caro

Articolo non funzionante troppo caro

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Amy Shatila
It's gorgeous and perfectly restored!

It's gorgeous and perfectly restored!

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Lamprini Koleidou

I'm so happy with the service experience provided by Ania and Jacek. I am also thrilled with my typewriter, which arrived in perfect condition. Despite placing my order on New Year’s Eve, they were open and promptly responded to my emails, offering suggestions and helping me find what was best for me. I was looking for a typewriter with a Danish keyboard and they were the only ones I found in Europe that could accommodate my needs. I was amazed by their effort to accommodate my needs. It was a perfect service experience. I will definitely recommend them to anyone looking to buy a typewriter. They are true professionals.

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arantxa suso

No tengo palabras para describir lo que sentí al recibir la máquina de escribir. Fue indescriptible. Está super bien restaurada y funciona a la perfección. Es una de esas cosas que no pasan desapercibidas por la vida de uno y que tienen un valor que va más allá del material. Gracias por hacerlo posible.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Lu Mac

This is my first Hermes Baby, It is in good condition it is clean and pretty ! really an ultraportable one ,ready to use .Thanks to Ania of El Granero for keeping track of the shipment ,for packing it securely and giving an additonal extra touch of wrapping in time for Christmas .I really appreciate it .Of course for the wonderful cute typweriter Pin and dust cover freebies ! 😍

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Mads Bolaris

I couldn’t be happier with my shopping experience with El Granero! To no fault of their own, the first typewriter I purchased was lost in the mail, but El Granero was quick to help me out. They found a replacement that fit all of my needs and were able to refurbish it and send it to me before a deadline that I had.

During every step of the process they were there to answer my questions and to make sure I felt great about my purchase. I definitely felt supported by them.

I’ve already begun using the typewriter I purchased to write personal letters to friends and family and it couldn’t be more perfect. It’s been professionally serviced and works flawlessly! Thank you for the great typewriter; it’s already one of my favorite things I own.

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
victor

Beautiful little black Olympia typewriter. Eager to start using it. Thanks for the excellent service. A big thank you to the team for providing such outstanding El Granero service. Your efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Best!
ANDRÉS

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ElGranero Typewriter.Company
Daniela Arreola Seg
Beautiful machine and excellent craftsmans...

Beautiful machine and excellent craftsmanship. Shipping was a little delayed but Ania was super communicative and wonderful. Will buy again!

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