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Add your first typewriter to start tracking maintenance. Click the button above or press the plus key.
How This Log Works
Owning a vintage typewriter means taking care of a machine that was built to last decades. But only if you maintain it. The problem is simple: when you own more than one, it gets hard to remember what you did to which machine and when.
This log gives each typewriter its own page of history. Every time you clean the typebars, swap the ribbon, adjust alignment, or replace a part, you record it. The dashboard then tells you which machines are due for service.
Getting Started
- Add a machine. Enter the brand, model, and year. Give it a nickname if you want. "Office Royal" or "Travel Smith" works fine.
- Log your first event. Pick the type, set the date, rate the machine's condition, and write a short note. Something like "Cleaned typebars with naphtha. Replaced ribbon with universal spool."
- Check the dashboard. Each machine card shows days since last service for each event type. Green means on schedule. Yellow means getting close. Red means overdue.
- Export regularly. Your data lives in your browser. Hit Export after each session to save a backup JSON file.
Suggested Maintenance Intervals
| Event Type | Light Use | Daily Use |
|---|---|---|
| Full Cleaning | 90 days | 30 days |
| Ribbon Change | 180 days | 90 days |
| Alignment Check | 180 days | 90 days |
| Typebar Cleaning | 120 days | 45 days |
| Carriage Service | 365 days | 180 days |
| Part Replacement | As needed | As needed |
Common Mistakes
- Using the wrong oil. Only use typewriter-specific or sewing machine oil. WD-40 attracts dust and gums up the mechanism.
- Over-cleaning the typebars. A light brush and naphtha is enough. Scrubbing too hard can bend delicate typebars out of alignment.
- Skipping the ribbon tracker. Old ribbons dry out and produce faint impressions. If you cannot read what you typed, it is time for a new ribbon.
- Ignoring sticky keys. One sticky key today becomes three next month. Log it and fix it early.
- Forgetting to export. Browser data can be cleared accidentally. Export your JSON file after every session.
Questions
What counts as a maintenance event?
Anything you do to keep a typewriter working well. Cleaning the typebars, changing the ribbon, adjusting the carriage alignment, oiling the mechanism, replacing a spring, or even just blowing out dust with compressed air. If you touched the machine to care for it, log it.
How often should I clean my typewriter?
For machines in regular use, a light cleaning every 30 days and a deep cleaning every 90 days is a good starting point. Display-only machines can go 180 days between cleanings. Adjust based on your environment.
Can I use this for a single typewriter?
Yes. The log works fine with one machine. Add it, log events as you go, and the history builds up over time.
What happens if I switch browsers or computers?
Your data stays in the browser where you created it. Use the export button to save a JSON file, then import that file on the other browser or computer.
Is there a way to print my maintenance history?
Open the machine detail view and use your browser's print function. The page is styled to print cleanly.