How to test a typewriter before buying

Make sure you check out sections for specific matters if you have a particular aspect of a machine you want to know more about.

I sometimes get questions from people who have bought a typewriter and find it doesn't work. Not many today know how they work, or rather how they should work. That goes the same for both buyers and sellers. Because of this, many machines are sold in ads "as is". Meaning, they sell it as the pictures show, and they serve no guarantee for it working. Some don't want to test it because they can't be asked, but some just don't know how to. In these cases it is smart to get it tested before you buy, in case there is something wrong. This video then is for anyone looking to get their first typewriter, anyone who has tried to get their first and ended up with broken machines, or anyone selling a machine and who wants to know what it is they are selling. It could also be a video for someone looking to buy a typewriter, but who wants the seller to do a test before buying it for shipping. The idea is that you can send them this video and have them do the same tests.

Disclaimer: Many of the things I go through in this video is particular to the Olympia manufacturer, or even the SM9 model. You cannot expect the various levers I demonstrate here to be the same or located in the same place on other models. You can always expect most machines to have the same functions, but not necessarily used as I demonstrate in this video. To get familiar with whatever model you are evaluating, either just try all the levers you see and see if you can guess what it is, or look up a user manual PDF online to get familiar that way.

Sections:
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - Short note about escapements
01:37 - Carriage Locks
02:38 - Carriage stability
04:05 - Always bring paper
05:26 - Paper feed mechanisms
07:08 - Does it type?
07:32 - Escapement integrity
08:55 - Total key check
09:22 - A word on silent return springs
10:40 - Backspace
10:50 - Shift alignment
11:50 - Ribbon forwarding
12:30 - Ribbon reversing mechanism
13:57 - Some words on ribbon eyelets
15:11 - Return arm
16:18 - Platen ratchet release
16:56 - Margins and bell
17:39 - Margin release
18:11 - Ribbon colour selector
19:59 - Rust and white oxidation inspection
20:33 - Tabulators
21:44 - Paper rest arm
22:08 - Inspection of the underbelly
22:25 - Ending