I saw this Olympia Traveler at an antique mall some months ago. It was selling for $130, if I can recall correctly. No thank you. It was filthy. The slugs were junked up. The carriage wheezed. I checked in on it during some other visits. Each time the price dropped a bit more. $80? No thank you. $60? Nope. Today it was on sale for $25. I’ll take it. I’ve been cleaning it up. It’s working much better. With a little more elbow grease, it will be in ship-shape. As much as I love Olympias, this is not my favorite model. However, it’s my first Spanish keyboard, which might be useful for a class project.
Before: 
During:
After:
The case is in good shape, too.
The Untimely Typewriter:Daily Writings Against the Tides of Distraction 
Good things come to those who wait. Nice job!
I have a couple of older typewriters that are essentially in great shape. No need to to take them to the repair shop, but I would like to give them a once over. Any thoughts for a complete novice?
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I think the general advice is to stick to simple cleaning methods. I use q-tips and alcohol to clean the mechanics. If you need to oil anything, never use WD40, which gunks up the machine after time passes. For the body, start with soap and water. I use basic dishwater soap. Avoid using chemicals that could harm the surface on old machines (1930s and before). Oh, and a brass brillo pad is great for cleaning up carriage levers and carriage rails. Sometimes rust isn’t rust, but don’t use it if the enamel is chipped.
I don’t have the skills to fix platens. I will have to send out for that. Oh, and one piece of advice that I used to always see in FB groups: clean without removing the carriage. Unless it’s a machine that makes that easy to do (I had success with Olivetti Lettera 22s), it’s a big mistake that usually puts the carriage out of alignment. Even worse, there could be ballbearings under the carriage. That’s a major hassle. It’s always nice to have a magnet nearby. Place your screws on it so that they don’t disappear into the abyss.
Anyway, don’t leave me hanging! What are your machines?
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Thanks for the reply. Good advice. When I was younger I had no fear of taking things apart and reassembling them. It’s how I learned most things as a youth. Now I’m a bit more fumbled fingered and drop things a bit too often.
I have seven machines now. ’27 Underwood four band, ’49 Remington All New, ’56ish Remington Quiet Riter, same year Olympia SM3, ’64 Royal Royalite, ’74 SMC Galaxy 12 and a ’75 Adler J5.
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The price became right! Enjoy.
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That was a good price. Good work on the cleaning and servicing.
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Thank you.
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