Typewriter Repair Album: Auckland's Repaired Machines

An Olivetti Lettera 22. Everybody needs one. 

Get Familiar With Different Typewriter Options

   If you are wondering what kind of typewriter might give you the visual impetus you need to type for hours on end then please peruse this list of machines that have come through our Clackers Clinic workshop here in Onehunga, Auckland. I hope that this list will give you a clearer idea of what kind of shape and bulk might best suit your needs. I have waxed lyrical about the benefits of standard typewriters here but I fully acknowledge the well-deserved popularity of portables and ultra-portables as well. I believe that most writers will find it useful to have both - a standard in their studio and a portable for everywhere else. 

  A century of industry and ingenious competitive mechanical creativity went into perfecting these machines for the convenience of writers the world over. They are the best tool for overcoming writer's block. They are the most complete writing studio. They have never been outdone for their simplicity of purpose. To be a writer without a typewriter is to be a runner without shoes, an angler without leader, a tricolon without a third member. Don't cheat yourself out of a most essential tool, rather decide which versions of this marvellous machine you intend to make your own.
   

   Writers often ask what typewriter they should start with — and while nothing beats hands-on typing, getting familiar with how different machines look and feel is the next best thing. That’s why I’ve put together this photo showcase. If you’re new to the world of typewriters, the variety of designs, key actions, and visual aesthetics will more than likely influence your decision. Some writers know in advance whether the look of a machine will inspire in them a sense of dread or a feeling of joy.

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   This page features a tiny selection of typewriters repaired at Clackers Clinic. These machines arrived in various states of disrepair — keys jammed, carriages frozen, ribbons missing — but left the bench fully functional and ready for another round of creative work. Some now belong to journalists, students, collectors, and everyday writers across New Zealand.

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   Browse through the sections below, grouped by brand, to see what’s come through the workshop. Whether you're considering buying a typewriter or simply admiring these classic machines, you'll find a wide range of models and repair types represented.

Imperial Machines

Imperial 66 and 65: These desktop giants often need ribbon mechanism repairs. Fortunately, they come apart easily. 

Imperial 80: Click the image to explore more of these large-format standards. 

Good Companion Portables: Often come in with a bent guide arm beneath the ribbon — not an easy fix even when you know what to look for. 

This portable 1959 Imperial Good Companion 5 needed its timing fixed in order to get the carriage return lever to pull the carriage back to the left margin stop so you could type from the very beginning of the page. Also, there were skipping letters. I made a video about repairing these problems on the Clackers Clinic channel here: CLICK TO WATCH TYPEWRITER REPAIR VIDEO. 

Royal Typewriters

Royal Model O: Seems born to write detective fiction and steamy thrillers. 

Quiet De Luxe: Left the shop ready to write more novels. 

Royal 203: Lots of reshaping involved — now a punchy little portable. 

Olivetti Restorations

Lettera 35: A bold-looking machine that requires confidence — not for the faint of heart. 

Studio 46: This one came in with moving parts full of cat hair. 

The Lettera 32: everyone already knows about these. 

The Scribe, being a kind of Lettera 22, has a more cushioned touch than the, younger, 32. 

Hermes Machines

The highly lauded HK3 (Hermes 3000)

Hermes Media 3: Behold her rolling curves of seafoam green.

Remington Series

This big, meaty Remington Standard whom I refer to as 'The Surgeon', is a workhorse. 

Remington Noiseless: "noiseless" must be understand as a comparative term.

The International: No words.

Take your writing up to 95% with a Remington typewriter.

Smith-Corona and family

Blurry picture; crisp typer.

Sterling by name, and, by nature, sterling.

Classic 12: for all your daily 1960s F.B.I. Roswell U.F.O. scoop needs. 

An SCM dressed up as a Sears. 

A highly interesting crossover.

Olympia Models

These lil portable Olympia Splendid typers in the 33,66,99, and De Luxe ranges are eagerly sought and bitterly fought over.

A.K.A. the 'S.F.': Lightweight and sleek — perfect for summer writing retreats. The italic-script version was a pleasure to repair. 

Olympias are usually reliable.

The Traveller De Luxe: the only item an itinerant horror writer needs on a windswept tour of the derelict and windswept motels of the Autumnal and windswept coastline of 1970s New England. 

Olympia SG1 "Florence": Full of straw when she arrived, Florence was the first of the Big Meaty Beast series. 

Carina: gives off those 1990s, new fashioned, X-Files vibes.

Brother Typewriters

Brother 762TR: Once we fixed the spacer mechanism, this yellow model typed like it had just left the factory. 

Brother Deluxe 1510: After repairs, this compact portable went on display at MOTAT to help educate the public about writing technology. 

Brother 750TR: Re-shaped typebars and a flushed segment turned this into a dependable little workhorse. 

Miscellaneous Vintage Models

A Torpedo which I suspect was brought home as War booty. 

Silver Reed Portable: A futuristic orange machine, cleaned and restored after deep segment flushing. 

Maritsa 11: A quirky, cheerful typer with a toothsome grin to match. 

Erika Portable: A joy to type on after servicing — very nearly kept this one for myself. 

Another Erika, by Robotron. This is the 158. One of the most Wunderbarest ones of the lot!   

Wedgefield 100: Alignment issues sorted — another machine back in action. 

Adler Gabriele 25: Once part of my personal collection — now adopted by a local enthusiast. 

The Italics (script) of this Optima by Robotron were responsible for at least one published book 

Blue Bird: Formerly owned by Woman's Weekly editor Jean Wishart — now prepped for its next chapter. 

Consuls are made in Czechoslovakia. They are cool machines.

And of the cool Consuls perhaps none is cooler than the 1511.

This 1951 Groma Modell N had a backspacer which needed repairing.  

I was going to sell this Byron - essentially a rebranded Japy - but then, after repainting, I thought: no. 

Blue Bird portable. Her margin release is her back paper rest, which you pull forwards.  

Another glorious 1958/59 Consul 1511 which needed a line lock repair as shown in my video here.