Behind the Scenes: How We Revitalize Typewriters at CasaTempo
When you choose a vintage typewriter, you are not just acquiring a piece of history. You are inviting a mechanical partner into your creative life. But years spent tucked away in attics, accumulating dust and hardened grease, can turn even the finest piece of engineering into a stubborn paperweight.
At CasaTempo, we never just give a machine a superficial wipe down and hope for the best. Every single typewriter that leaves our workshop undergoes a thorough twelve-step process, from deep mechanical restoration to final print testing and honest daylight photography, ensuring it arrives at your desk ready to write for another lifetime.
Here is a look behind our workshop curtain at how we bring these wonderful machines back to life:
Our current workbench setup as of summer 2026. I like to move my station around from time to time, but as more typewriters accumulate, workbench real estate is getting harder to find!
1. The Deep Clean
A thorough cleaning always starts from the inside out. We carefully remove the outer body panels to reach the internal chassis, scrubbing away decades of trapped dust, lint, old grime, and the bits of ribbon fabric that accumulate on the typeslugs before making any mechanical adjustment.
A look inside the machine before and after cleaning. This was a machine on my bench recently, covered with decades of lint, dust, and hair. I did my best to scrub it down without losing my mind... I'd say it's pretty clean, but definitely not safe to lick!
2. Unsticking the Keys
We sit down and type through every single key to test its action. Sticky keys happen for a variety of reasons, so I always take the time to pinpoint the exact root cause first, whether it is trapped dust or alignment issues, before making the precise tweaks needed to get every key snapping forward crisp and lively.
Testing key responsiveness bar by bar to make sure the snap and return movement feel effortless.
3. Upper/Lower Case Alignment
Nothing ruins the rhythm of writing like text that bounces up and down across the page, even though I will admit there is a certain charm to a slightly misaligned font. We run print tests to check the position of uppercase and lowercase letters, adjusting the internal shift stops until your sentences sit flat and even on the baseline.
Before and after upper/lower case alignment. Correcting the internal shift stops brings those dancing letters right back up to a flat baseline.
4. Ribbon & Color Movement
A smooth ribbon mechanism is essential for clear, crisp print. We verify that the ribbon vibrator lifts high enough to stamp dark ink onto the paper, while making sure the color selector cleanly switches between the black and red halves without any issues.
Checking the elevation of the ribbon vibrator to ensure red prints red and black prints black.
5. Troubleshooting the Ribbon Reverse
When your ribbon reaches the end of its spool, your typewriter should automatically switch direction, though some models are designed to be reversed manually. We test and tune the directional levers and small internal gears so the ribbon reverses smoothly without jamming while you write.
Tuning the automatic ribbon reverse mechanics so you never get stuck typing with a dry ribbon mid sentence.
6. Consistent Line Spacing
When you pull the carriage return lever, the platen needs to advance a precise distance. On most machines, this mechanism moves in distinct notches across three levels (usually two, three, or four clicks on the platen gear). We test the ratchet across single, one and a half, and double line spacing settings to make sure your paragraphs remain consistently spaced.
Testing all line spacing gear settings to ensure your line spacing remains uniform line after line.
7. Tabulator Tuning
Whether you are formatting poetry or setting up margins for a screenplay, a reliable tabulator is essential. Over decades of use, some of these tiny internal parts can deform slightly. A gentle, careful push back into place is often all it takes so the carriage jumps smoothly and stops exactly on target.
A tabulator print test showing clean, precise carriage stops where it was set.
8. Escapement, Spacebar, & Backspace
The spacebar and backspace key require a light, responsive touch, even though they rely on distinct mechanics underneath. We dive beneath the carriage to adjust the escapement tension screw for crisp spacebar action, while independently checking and tuning the backspace linkage nearby so both functions move the carriage instantly with every press.
Diving beneath the carriage to fine tune the escapement tension screw for a responsive spacebar touch.
9. Drawband, Mainspring, Margins & Bell
The mainspring and drawband (the cord or strap pulling the carriage as you type) power the machine's movement. We inspect the drawband for wear and test the carriage travel, replacing damaged cords and adjusting mainspring tension only when necessary to ensure smooth, proper speed. Finally, we align the margin stops and tune the bell striker so you get a bright, cheerful ding! at the end of every line.
Inspecting the drawband and mainspring, replacing worn cords and/or adjusting tension when needed (top), and tuning the bell striker for that iconic end-of-line chime (bottom).
10. Exterior & Case Restoration
Once all the mechanical work is finished, we apply a thin layer of protective wax to preserve the original paintwork. Then we turn our attention to the carrying case. Depending on what it needs, we use soap, alcohol, and/or other solvents to lift decades of storage grime, repair stuck zippers, and put in a fresh interior lining if the original material is beyond saving.
Every case gets a tailored approach, ranging from a gentle soap wash to deep cleaning and new interior linings.
11. The Typing Sample Scan
Proof of performance is everything. We sit down and type out a comprehensive test sheet that shows every available key, line by line, in both uppercase and lowercase. It showcases the ribbon color, line spacing, tabulator setup, and the machine serial number. We scan this sample and upload it directly to the listing page so you can see exactly how it prints.
An example of our scanned typing sample, included in every listing to showcase the full key set, line spacing, ribbon output, serial number, and a matching keyboard reference photo. A quick note on line spacing: on this machine, the selector is labeled 1, 2, 3, but the output actually corresponds to 1, 1.5, and 2 spaces (or 2, 3, and 4 gear clicks). I labeled it "double/triple space" to avoid confusion... but if that explanation just made things more confusing, I am sorry!
12. Honest Daylight Photos
We believe in absolute transparency. We do not use professional studio lighting or Photoshop to hide imperfections or patina. Every typewriter is photographed in simple, natural daylight on my living room coffee table, usually on a bright afternoon when the sunlight comes through the window from an angle, giving you a true picture of its condition.
My photography "studio" on sunny afternoons, using simple window light to capture the true color and patina of each machine.
Breathing new life into these machines is a slow, methodical process, but nothing quite compares to taking a stuck, forgotten typewriter and bringing it back to a place where it is ready to write again. Thanks for taking a look behind the scenes at how we work! Feel free to check out what's currently available in our collection. Whether you shop with us or anywhere else, we hope you find a machine that you truly love.