Tools, encyclopedia & collecting guides for antique typewriters
Antique Typewriter Toolbox
Relive the clack of a 1950s machine, learn the brands and the lingo, date your finds — everything vintage-typewriter lives here.
Online Tools — free, no install
Typewriter Simulator
Type like it's 1955: key clicks, the end-of-line bell, carriage return — and export your text.
ToolTypewriter Text Generator
Turn plain text into retro typewriter typography with red/black ribbon and postage borders.
ToolTyping Speed Test (WPM)
Measure your WPM and accuracy in 60 seconds on typewriter-themed passages.
ToolTypewriter Sound Generator
Key, bell, return, jam — royalty-free typewriter sounds synthesized live in your browser.
ToolTypewriter Spec Converter
Pica/Elite conversion, character density, units — plus serial-number dating for major brands.
Brand Encyclopedia
Underwood
Pioneer of the visible typewriter; the No.5 ruled the world for thirty years.
BrandOlivetti
Italian design legend: Letter 22, Valentine and the Compasso d'Oro.
BrandRemington
Where the first commercial typewriter and QWERTY were born.
BrandRoyal
The flatbed revolution and the Quiet De Luxe legend.
BrandSmith-Corona
Pioneers of the portable; America's household name.
BrandHermès
Swiss-made mini-portables, companions of famous writers.
BrandOlympia
German engineering — rated by many as the best-feeling typewriters ever.
BrandIBM Selectric
How the golf ball ended the typewriter era.
Guides & Reference
Typewriter History Timeline
From 1714 to 1991: two centuries of milestones.
GuideTypewriter Glossary
Platen, escapement, pica, elite… 26 terms explained.
GuideCare & Repair Guide
Clean, oil, re-ribbon, fix jams — essential for owners.
GuideBuying & Collecting Guide
What to buy first, how to inspect, what drives value.
GuideFAQ
The 14 questions every beginner asks — answered.
Why old typewriters?
A typewriter is the only writing machine that rewards every keystroke with a sound and a physical mark. No notifications, no autocorrect, no battery — just you, the paper and the rhythm of the keys. That is why writers, creators and collectors keep them alive, and why this site exists: to help you experience, understand and enjoy them.
Start with the simulator to feel the machine, browse a brand to learn its story, or check the buying guide before you hunt for your first one.