I ordered new typewriter ribbons in unusual colors

21 August, 2025 - Categories: typewriters - Tags: Ribbons Unlimited

By Steven Rosenberg

I have two manual typewriters — a Remington Noiseless Portable from the 1930s and a Royal 440 office model from the 1960s — and they both need new ribbons.

Sometimes the ribbons are "typed out," and have little ink left. Other times they dry out from age.

In the olden days (through the 1990s, I expect), when you bought new ribbons for most typewriters, you got them on a spool that fit your machine. Nowadays you still can get proper spools, but they're rare and often expensive.

Luckily almost all typewriters use 1/2-inch ribbon. The spools might be different, but what winds onto them is the same. So the move is to buy the ribbon on generic spools and then wind it onto your typewriter's existing spools.

Are you still with me?

My source of typewriter information, besides the internet, is Reddit, where r/typewriters has a wonderful community of enthusiasts who are regularly acquiring, cleaning, fixing and using typewriters — both manual and electric.

There are maybe a few "popular" vendors for replacement typewriter ribbons, and the one I just ordered from is Ribbons Unlimited. They sell a lot of ribbons for typewriters, adding machines and cash registers.

Shipping from Ribbons Unlimited is a $5.99 flat rate for the U.S., and they do charge sales tax (for California in my case).

Most typewriters allow for two different colors of typing -- generally black and red, on a two-color ribbon. A lever allows you to switch between the two.

Ribbons Unlimited sells a lot of interesting colors — and offers ribbons in nylon, silk and cotton. I went for nylon. I like the crisp output seen in the samples they offer on their website.

The colors I ordered:

purple / green

blue / red

green / orange

I'll see how they look once I get a couple wound into my two typewriters.

Update on 8/31/2025: The ribbons arrived a few days ago. I haven't had the chance to try them. I need to wait for my broken foot to heal more before I pull out the Royal 440, but I should be able to work on the Remington in the next week or so.