The typewriter platen is one of the essential components in the machine’s complex mechanism. Made of rubber, it is easily recognizable as the largest of the various rollers located inside the carriage. The typebars strike against it, the paper wraps around it, and thanks to its precise geometry and proper elastic response, it allows for uniform and comfortable typing.

A hardened platen not only causes excessive noise during typing but can also severely damage the typefaces, even causing them to break off from the typebars. The ideal hardness for new rubber platens in manual typewriters is between 88 and 90 Shore A, while for electromechanical models, it should be slightly higher. The compound used is a blend of SBR and NR (styrene-butadiene and natural rubber), which ensures optimal elasticity, low noise, and long service life.

When a platen is delivered to the company, its hardness and diameter are measured and compared with reference table values. If either value is outside the acceptable range, the platen will undergo a complete new rubber coating. Based on past experience, a hardened platen with a maximum hardness of 96 Shore A can still be used by customers who type only occasionally. However, for customers who type intensively, the hardness should not exceed 94 Shore A. If the hardness is within spec but the rubber surface is corrugated, the platen will be only ground. If it has already been ground in the past and the diameter is now too small, remachining is no longer an option, and a new rubber coating will be applied.

The steps involved in recoating a platen are briefly as follows: the typewriter platen is mounted on a lathe to remove the old rubber, then sanded, coated with virgin rubber, vulcanized in an autoclave, turned to the correct dimensions, and finally manually finished on the lathe to achieve the required surface roughness and bevel.

The prices of service (VAT included) is:

-120 euro for portable typewriter platen.

-140 euro for standard typewriter platen.

-160 euro for standard typewriter platen bigger than 12 inches.

Platens with a recessed clutch must be sent complete, as the rubber must be precisely shaped to match the clutch profile. The clutch will also be disassembled, cleaned with petroleum solvent, lubricated, and reassembled. An additional charge of 10 euro applies.

Shipments available via DHL courrier throughout European Union: 

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Note that some ''typewriter repairmen'' use to cover the roller with heat shrink tubes. Vescovo-Restauri by a qualitative choice, does not do this work.

Hardness control with precise instruments

Removing the old rubber from the platen

Covering the platen with new rubber

Rubber vulcanization in autoclave

Machining to the precise size needed

Sanding to create a better paper grip

Ready to be shipped all over Europe!

Paper feed roller recovery service

 The perfection of the paper feed rollers is essential to ensure correct feeding, correct line spacing and above all the perpendicular advancement of the paper. So, customers typically ship both platen and feed rollers to Vescovo Restauri. If the roundness is ok as for the Platen the hardness is checked. If it is also ok they are refreshed with sandpaper on the lathe and the price will be only 15€. If it is necessary to re-do with new rubber, the price varies from type to type of feed roller. Usually we are talking about 60€ for portables and 80€ for standard, but typewriters with double platen have also double the rollers, so in this case the price can be equal to the price of a platen. You can request an exact free quotation by sending photos.

Vescovo Restauri use 100% new genuine rubber. Yes, we are talking about real rubber, not cheap 3D prints in soft plastic like many competitors do. If you want to fully enjoy the quality of your antique typewriter, choose the Made in Italy Platen and paper feed rollers from Vescovo Restauri!