Home >> Collecting >> Antiques

How to Adjust Keys on an Underwood No. 5 Typewriter

Once as common as the modern keyboard, the Underwood No. 5 typewriter was the workhorse of offices across the country. With its solid black body and rank of rounded keys, this Underwood typewriter is an attractive addition to any collection of antique writing instruments. The tough construction on this model means that you can find them in relatively good condition, but yours may have some problems with crooked keys. Adjust the keys on your Underwood No. 5 to get the typewriter back into perfect typing condition.

Things You'll Need

Typewriter key bender or
Needle-nose pliers
Small screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Test the keys one by one to find which ones are out of alignment. As you strike each key, watch to see if it moves smoothly up and down, striking the paper and then resting in its slot on the comb afterward. The comb is the slotted bar in which all the keys rest when they are not in striking action.
- 2
  Slide a typewriter key bender onto the base of the twisted key near the screw holding it to the base. The key bender is a circular piece of metal with a slot designed to grasp and twist the keys. If you can't find a key bender, use a small pair of needle-nosed pliers.
- 3
  Twist the key gently to the left or right until the striker end hits the center of the mechanism when struck. Do this twisting gently, making small, incremental adjustments until the key is straight.
- 4
  Check all the slots in the comb to make sure none of them has closed up. Slide a small screwdriver into any slot that looks smaller than the others and gently pry the sides apart to widen the opening.
- 5
  Check all the levers once again after they are all straight. Each key should snap back smartly after striking the paper. If the action on any of the keys seems soft, tighten the tension screw at the bottom of the key inside the machine until the movement tightens up and no longer seems spongy.

Antiques