# Typewriter ribbons **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 15, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-ribbons/201745 "2003-09-15T17:01:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kbean)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-ribbons/201745/1 "2003-09-15T17:01:32Z")
Hi! I am a bit of a lurker usually but I have a slightly mundane question and was wondering if any dopers could maybe help. How does one properly change a typewriter ribbon? I came into possesion of an old Royal Aristocrat electric typewriter. I have a replacement ribbon but I have no idea how to put it on since there are no manuals, and google has failed me. I did try myself but it did not work and my fingers are now an inky mess… I’m such a tool… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-ribbons/201745/2 "2003-09-15T17:16:56Z")
What’s a [slower] typewriter?[/slower] ---
**Author:** ![FriendBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@FriendBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendBill)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-ribbons/201745/3 "2003-09-15T23:53:34Z")
I suppose since you are asking that the old ribbon is no longer still in place… On any typewriter that I’ve seen, the ribbon goes from one side, through a little thing to hold it in place and also let it be lifted up for shifted characters, then back to the other side. You usually have to scrunch the ribbon to get it to go through these little things, so you will end up a bit inky. I cannot begin to imagine how to describe these little metal finger things that hold the ribbon in words, but here goes: They look like a very skinny U or backwards C shaped thingy, and the ribbon goes through that. Remember it has to go behind the bit right in the very center, and that when the letter comes up, there should be nothing between the letter and the paper but the ribbon. Hope this helps…if not, write back and I’ll seee what I can do! Good luck! Bill ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-ribbons/201745/4 "2003-09-16T03:41:09Z")
exactly the same way you change a reel to reel tape recorder. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-ribbons/201745/6 "2013-01-30T05:48:11Z")
What’s more useless than spamming typewriter ribbons on the internet? Reported. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-ribbons/201745/7 "2013-01-30T05:56:14Z")
> [@j\_sum1](#): > > exactly the same way you change a reel to reel tape recorder. No, it’s more like threading the [punch tape](http://www.carto.net/neumann/photographs/2006/fribourg_2006_04/17_monotype_typesetting_machine_model_c_with_punchtape.html) on a Monotype. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-ribbons/201745/8 "2013-01-30T06:08:07Z")
Some typewriters have a diagram printed inside the top cover. You might also try a [Youtube search](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=changing+typewriter+ribbon). They might not have your exact model, but there aren’t that many variations on the theme.