Typewriter Ribbons

It is in itself an artistic medium, the means by which an operator presses ink to a page, one letter at a time. A vital, and near forgotten carrier of information for nearly two centuries. All Ribbons are brand new and rolled by hand.

Reviews
Sample Sheet

Photo Credit: Ellis Noel

Each shipment is made to order, so please allow a few days for processing.

Below are instructional videos on replacing ribbons should you find yourself lost

I work hard to keep my prices low!

Please select the product you want below - you can add whatever you want and it will be saved to cart. All ribbons are universal half inch stock unless otherwise noted.

RIBBON TINS ARE BACK - Keeping your ribbons fresh, safe, and secure until you are ready to use them. A throwback to the old days. You can use the tins for a variety of other things once their ribbon purpose has been served.

PLEASE READ THE PRICING SHEET IF YOU HAVE PRICING QUESTIONS special spools are listed separately for machines like Olivetti. Otherwise, standard universal spools for metal and plastic are your go-to. You’ll be prompted to tell me what machine they’re for, and I’ll make sure the metal spools or plastic spools will work for your model. Ribbons also come with KNOTS instead of GROMETS for the auto reverse. It is cheaper for both of us.

  • WHAT IS SINGLE VS. TWIN: Ribbons travel spool to spool, the twin spool option ships your ribbon on two spools. The tin option ships your ribbon on a single spool.

    RIBBON TINS: are an old way of packaging ribbons. The user would take the used ribbon and wind it onto one spool within the machine, and then discard that spool while retaining the empty one to be used with the new ribbon. Shipping single spools reduces waste, and leaves you with a robust metal tin to be used for many other things. Storage, parts trays (for repair people), candle holders, soap dishes, tiny plant pots, etc… Please don’t discard your metal spools.

    COTTON VS. NYLON: a question I am very frequently asked. You can find a sample sheet comparing the two stocks up at the top. Cotton Ribbon yields a thicker, bolder, and darker text. Nylon prints crisp and clean, very similar in nature to silk. Cotton ribbons will actually degrade overtime and clog your type slugs, so be sure to clean them monthly while using cotton ribbons. Cotton stock is good for those who are typing on darker colored backgrounds, it stands out more. Nylon is great for professional work and neat-freaks (like me).

    PLASTIC SPOOLS will not work on the pre 1930 Royal Portables with open top exposed ribbon spools. They have a spring catch that gets hung up on the injection mould seam for the spools, which prevents the machine from advancing the ribbon.

    DO I NEED EYELETS? No, you don’t. I knot the ends of the ribbons in order to trip the auto reverse on a typewriter. That accomplishes the same exact purpose, but with one key difference: it allows me to maintain low cost which in turn saves my customers money!

    HOW DO I BUY A T-SHIRT? Go to www.typewriterchicago.com/shop

  • I accept all major credit cards!! Please use the form field at the very bottom to report any payment issues!

    Please see the above pricing sheet for more detailed information on prices.

  • Ribbons are consumable and all sales are final, but I work to ensure total customer satisfaction. Please notify me via email or letter if there is an issue with your order. I will either partially or fully refund, or replace missing or defective product. Everything is checked before it goes out. Have your order number handy!

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Universal Standard Nylon Typewriter (FOR ALL TYPEWRITERS UNLESS NOTED)
from $12.72

Universal Half Inch Typewriter Ribbons. Spool diameter is 2 inches.

Single spools ship in a ribbon tin - one ribbon, one spool. Double spools are one ribbon, two spools. You can chose extra empty spools.

2026 BASE PRICES

Nylon Ribbon on two plastic spools: $12.72

Nylon Ribbon on one spool in a tin: $14

INFO:

The tin keeps your ribbon fresh and protected in the best way possible. Through rain or shine it will remain ready for your next need at a moment’s notice. After being used, the tin can be repurposed for nearly anything from storage containers on your desk, to small pots or candle holders. Maybe even a soap dish, or a geocache, or a satellite if you have a strong enough potato canon. Ribbon tins have been used for many decades as a tried and true means of ensuring the freshness and longevity of your ribbons.

Fit exceptions are listed below. You can take your pick from either plastic spools, or from antique metal spools (cosmetic condition will vary).

NOTE: Universal 2 Inch Spools DO NOT FIT: Olivetti, Remington, Royal Standards (desktops excluding the flatbed models), Underwood Noiseless, Halda, Corona Folding, Corona 4, Corona Skyriter, Corona Zephyr, L.C. Smith, Woodstock, or any machine that uses cartridge ribbons with the exception of Roy-Type machines.

Blue Typewriter Ribbons for Oceanic Conservation Blue Typewriter Ribbons for Oceanic Conservation
Blue Typewriter Ribbons for Oceanic Conservation
$15.00

The world’s oceans have been in danger for many years due to pollution, climate change, and commercialization. With the current administration here in America targeting protected waters, the oceans are in need of even more help.

These inked ribbons feature a custom drawn label parodying the famous print “The Great Wave of Kanagawa” by Hokusai. They are inked with a dense high-quality blue ink, fresh and ready to go!

100% of proceeds will be donated to organizations helping protect marine life and the world’s oceans.

Please note that these are single spool ribbons.

$510 RAISED AS OF 12/19

Blue and Pink Ribbons for LGBT+ youth Blue and Pink Ribbons for LGBT+ youth
Blue and Pink Ribbons for LGBT+ youth
$15.00

The LGBT+ community has always been a massive support to Typewriter Chicago, as well as the creative sphere as a whole. Now more than ever, our fellow creatives are facing insurmountable odds. Through recent legislation, and the narrow-minded public, the Trans community is being especially attacked. It is time for us to show our support in return. Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are, and to have their right to exist as themselves protected. It’s time to tell those folks in charge that they picked the wrong people to fuck with. It’s time to put ink to paper.

100% of proceeds will be donated to local organizations protecting trans youth.

$1,368.88 RAISED AS OF 12/19

Click Here to see the full selection of ink and cartridges