Underwood typewriter

It's still on the shelf for now, since we can only tackle so many of these projects at once. Would I be out of my league trying to clean this up? Is it best left sold like this to someone who knows what they're doing? All I can think is canned air and a damp cloth.

 

Do you have an air compressor?
Blow all the dust and dirt out.

Or just wipe as much off as you can.
No water on this.

Editing to add, maybe this isn't the best option. Read the next post.

 

I'm going to give you a bit of "been there, done that" advice re any cleaning of the typewriter.

1. Find a sturdy, level surface with sufficient room to set the typewriter on.

2. Put an old (preferably white) plain (not patterned) bed sheet (folded to
allow for at least 12 inches all the way around the typewriter) under the
typewriter.

3. I don't think that I would start the cleaning processing with the air
compressor or canister-type air-blowing device.

4. You could "start" cleaning it up with a dry soft to medium-soft
natural bristle toothbrush (not a toothbrush with "plastic" bristles).

Why am I saying all of this??? Because you may be (and probably will be) surprised at what could (will?) come out of the typewriter onto the (white) plain bed sheet underneath the typewriter: tiny screws, tiny pins, but hopefully not tiny bits of metal from the "key arms/key stems" or any other part of the typewriter.

 

Your turn is probably smart about not using the air compressor.
Never thought about loose screws.

 

What you've got there is an Underwood #5, I believe. A very common machine from 1900 to about 1930. They can be repaired, but they are tricky. The biggest challenge is removing and replacing the rubber on the rollers and the platen.

 

Thank you! I certainly won't be trying to repair it myself. This one I'll likely gently wipe down and sell to someone who can repair it.

 

Many of these have been, and are being stripped of their keys for miscellaneous 'jewelry'.

 

STOP!! TREASON! HERESY!! BLASPHEMY!! *covers ears*

I AM NOT HEARING THIS!!! *LALALALALALALALALALALALALALAA!!!!*

 

Ha!
Sorry for the truth.
Many for bracelets and found object pins/brooches.