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How to Lubricate a Royal Typewriter

According to Alan Seaver, creator of the typewriter collectors' website "Machines of Loving Grace," the Royal Typewriter Company was one of the longest-surviving typewriter manufacturers. After the Royal #1 was introduced in 1906, the company continued making typewriters into the 1970s. Because of this longevity, a great many Royal typewriters have survived to be prized by today's collectors. Vintage typewriters, including Royals, require regular cleaning to stay in usable condition. Experts say to use oil sparingly and only on typewriters which are kept covered, as accumulated dust and oil can quickly gum up sensitive mechanisms.

Things You'll Need

Brushes
Compressed canned air
Soft cloths
Cotton-tipped swabs
Liquid soap
Light sewing or gun oil

Instructions

- 1
  Before applying oil, brush the internal and external surfaces free of dust and debris, using a small brush (an artist's paint brush works well) and compressed, canned air.
- 2
  Rub surfaces gently with a soft, wet (but not dripping) cloth. For heavier soiling, use a tiny bit of mild liquid soap and for soiled, textured surfaces, rub with a paste of baking soda mixed with dishwashing detergent. Swab hard-to-reach areas, such as underneath keys and space bars, with slightly dampened, cotton-tipped swabs.
- 3
  Choose a light, high-grade oil, such as sewing machine oil or gun oil and apply with the end of a straight pin or the end of an open paper clip. Apply oil only to functioning mechanism areas that will benefit from lubrication, such as carriage rails.
- 4
  Place the typewriter, after oiling, on a stack of newspapers (to catch oil drainage) and leave sitting out, uncovered, for 48 hours.

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