Quiet electric typewriter without the hum

[d'mythical]

I am a novelist and I love using my manual typewriter for focus. But I need an easier option for my hands to keep up with my output goals. I think an early electric typewriter is the right answer. I want a smaller machine that is not one of those later, bulky electronic models.

The major issue I keep finding is the noise. Every electric I have seen has a constant, loud typewriter hum whenever it is just sitting there turned on. I do not mind the sound of the keys hitting the paper. But that constant electric noise is extremely distracting when I am trying to think or write. Were any of the older vintage electric typewriters designed to be quiet when they were idling? Can anyone recommend specific models with a low or nonexistent typewriter hum?

 

[0ldCuban]

hi @d'mythical if you don't want the hum, you should check out the Remington Quiet Riter or the Royal Quiet De Luxe. They are still manual machines, but they are famous for having the lightest, easiest touch of any vintage manual. It might be the middle ground you need, you know, a typewriter that has great speed with zero electric noise

 

[HixWarrior]

I have come across some Smith Corona electrics that are a lot quieter than others when they are well maintained. The hum you hear is usually from worn bearings or a motor that needs fresh lubrication. If you get one in good shape, or give it a proper tune up, the idle sound drops way down and is much less distracting.

 

[Alan]

Some older typewriters like the IBM Quietwriter and Remington Noiseless stay quiet when turned on. If you want an electric one with less hum, try looking at early IBM Selectric I models. Are you planning to use it every day or just now and then?

 

[phdezra]

I am a novelist and I love using my manual typewriter for focus. But I need an easier option for my hands to keep up with my output goals. I think an early electric typewriter is the right answer. I want a smaller machine that is not one of those later, bulky electronic models.

The major issue I keep finding is the noise. Every electric I have seen has a constant, loud typewriter hum whenever it is just sitting there turned on. I do not mind the sound of the keys hitting the paper. But that constant electric noise is extremely distracting when I am trying to think or write. Were any of the older vintage electric typewriters designed to be quiet when they were idling? Can anyone recommend specific models with a low or nonexistent typewriter hum?

I write short stories / novelist as well. My thoughts… I think with electrics, there’s always going to be a bit of a trade-off. Even the old Remington Noiseless 7s—which were marvels of quiet engineering—still made their share of sound. Any motor-driven machine will, especially if it uses a belt-drive system that keeps turning while idling. The hum you’re hearing is basically the heart of the thing staying awake.

For perspective, I’ve got about thirty manuals and two electrics in the collection. My Brother SX-4000 is one I’d recommend without hesitation. It’s extremely quiet for an electric, built in the 1990s, and even has a built-in dictionary that corrects spelling on the fly—quite civilized for its age. It uses Brother’s proprietary cartridges, but those are still easy to find.

My other is an SCM Coronet Automatic 12, one of those wonderful “bridge” electrics that still takes classic universal spools (originally designed for manuals before electrics came on scene) in an electric body. Quieter than you’d expect, with a satisfying thock to each strike.

You can also tame the sound further with some padding or felt damping under the hood—lint-free neoprene, wool, or even a strip of dense felt along the shell. Always helps to type on a cushioned desk pad too; every vibration you don’t transfer to the desk is a win.

For what it’s worth, I once owned a Selectric II, and as much as I admired the engineering, it drove me mad for actual writing—the urge to swap “golf balls” mid-paragraph was just too strong. YMMV.

Ezra