Ink and Ribbon - Revision history

Cerafuki: /* Ribbon Widths for Different Machines */

2025-07-15T01:49:37Z

Ribbon Widths for Different Machines

DairyKing98 at 07:02, 14 January 2025

2025-01-14T07:02:17Z

Cerafuki: /* What Ribbon Should I Buy, and where? */

2023-10-25T14:24:16Z

What Ribbon Should I Buy, and where?

Cerafuki at 18:42, 22 May 2023

2023-05-22T18:42:42Z

Cerafuki: /* Types of Ribbon */

2022-08-13T07:50:49Z

Types of Ribbon

Cerafuki at 07:50, 13 August 2022

2022-08-13T07:50:39Z

Cerafuki at 07:36, 13 August 2022

2022-08-13T07:36:57Z

Cerafuki: Created page with "An integral part of typewriters' ability to print characters is applying ink to the paper itself. Typewriters commonly use ink ribbons to achieve this, although some early mac..."

2022-08-13T07:29:32Z

Created page with "An integral part of typewriters' ability to print characters is applying ink to the paper itself. Typewriters commonly use ink ribbons to achieve this, although some early mac..."

New page

An integral part of typewriters' ability to print characters is applying ink to the paper itself. Typewriters commonly use ink ribbons to achieve this, although some early machines will use ink rollers or pads. This article will describe ink and ribbon mechanisms, how they work, and what ribbons or ink supplies you need to replace the ones in your typewriter based on model.

__TOC__

==Types of Ribbon==

Ribbons come in three main materials: silk, cotton, and nylon. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

===What Ribbon Should I Buy?==

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 ==Ribbon Widths for Different Machines==
 {| class="wikitable"
 |-
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 | Woodstock Electric (one color only) || 1/2 || 12
 |}
 ==Other Methods of Inking==
 As so many typewriters use standard half-inch ribbon, it is easier to list the exceptions rather than the rules. Unfortunately, this list is not exhaustive.

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 https://www.ribbonsunlimited.com/Default.asp
 Baco Supply sells bulk reels of ribbon and is contactable via email or phone number. '''WILL UPDATE with info'''
 ==Other Methods of Inking==
 As so many typewriters use standard half-inch ribbon, it is easier to list the exceptions rather than the rules. Unfortunately, this list is not exhaustive.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:24, 25 October 2023
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	==What Ribbon Should I Buy, and where?==		==What Ribbon Should I Buy, and where?==
−	That question is ultimately dependent on the typewriter used. Generally, well-maintained typewriters will prefer a silk ribbon; if there is one machine that you intend to use to write pages upon every day, it is often worth paying the extra couple dollars for a silk ribbon. However, nylon and cotton ribbons are by no means poor choices. Cotton ribbon is especially good with [Noiseless] machines and any typewriter with a harder platen.	+	That question is ultimately dependent on the typewriter used. Generally, well-maintained typewriters will prefer a silk ribbon; if there is one machine that you intend to use to write pages upon every day, it is often worth paying the extra couple dollars for a silk ribbon. However, nylon and cotton ribbons are by no means poor choices. Cotton ribbon is especially good with [[Noiseless]] machines and any typewriter with a harder platen, as the thicker material and heavier inking often yields a darker imprint.

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 '''I NEED TO PUT A PIC HERE AND WILL DO THAT...EVENTUALLY'''
-Certain brands and models use special spools as well. A few common examples are listed below:
+Certain brands and models use special spools or inking methods as well. A few common examples are listed below:
 {| class="wikitable"
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 | Woodstock || Proprietary spoked spools. || Example
 |-
-| Royal Standard || Pr || Example
+| Royal Standard || Proprietary spools with ribbon reverse tabs on bottom. || Example
 |-
-| Example || Example || Example
+| Halda Portable || Proprietary spools with ribbon reverse tabs on bottom. || Example
 |-
-| Example || Example || Example
+| Oliver || Wooden spool cores. All models before No. 9 are designed to use 7/16th-inch ribbon but will take half-inch ribbon. || Example
 |-
-| Example || Example || Example
+| Remington, Smith Premier, and other Upstrike Typewriters || Use 1 3/4 inch ribbon. Spools are usually built into the machine body or difficult to remove. || Example
 |-
-| Example || Example || Example
+| Hammond || Uses wooden spool cores or proprietary spools. Designed for 7/16th inch ribbon. || Example
 |-
-| Example || Example || Example
+| Williams, Sun, and Blickensderfer || Use ink pads. || Example
 |}

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 '''Silk''' ribbon is made of thin silk and is the thinnest of the ribbon types. Silk ribbons are generally lauded for having the crispest print due to their thinner fabric and thus improved impact of the slugs as a result; however, it is also the most expensive. Most manufacturers do not offer silk ribbon in many colors, as well.
-'''Cotton'''ribbon is the thickest of the ribbon types. Cotton ribbons are generally quite ink-heavy and many users prefer them on older machines with harder platens, as their nature allows even hard platens to produce good impressions. However, they can be blurry, especially on machines with smaller (12CPI [Elite] or smaller) typefaces.
+'''Cotton''' ribbon is the thickest of the ribbon types. Cotton ribbons are generally quite ink-heavy and many users prefer them on older machines with harder platens, as their nature allows even hard platens to produce good impressions. However, they can be blurry, especially on machines with smaller (12CPI [Elite] or smaller) typefaces.
 '''Nylon''' ribbon is the cheapest and most common ribbon. Lying somewhere between silk and cotton ribbon, nylon is a good middle ground and is often available in an increased number of colors -- many manufacturers offer them in shades of pink, green, blue, and other colors. Nylon does suffer from longevity issues, however -- it is more vulnerable to being punched through on hard platens.
 ==What Ribbon Should I Buy, and where?==

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 Ribbons come in three main materials: silk, cotton, and nylon. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
-==What Ribbon Should I Buy?==
+'''Silk''' ribbon is made of thin silk and is the thinnest of the ribbon types. Silk ribbons are generally lauded for having the crispest print due to their thinner fabric and thus improved impact of the slugs as a result; however, it is also the most expensive. Most manufacturers do not offer silk ribbon in many colors, as well.
 As so many typewriters use standard half-inch ribbon, it is easier to list the exceptions rather than the rules. Unfortunately, this list is not exhaustive.

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 __TOC__
 ==Types of Ribbon==
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 Ribbons come in three main materials: silk, cotton, and nylon. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
-===What Ribbon Should I Buy?==
+==What Ribbon Should I Buy?==