Ribbon storage when traveling

[novelspapers01]

Hello everyone! I’m starting to write travel journals on a portable typewriter. My challenge is finding ribbon replacements while abroad. Any tricks for keeping supplies handy?

 

[happyCoffee]

wow, that sounds wonderful. but I think buying the right ribbons while abroad will be tricky. I would just bulk the ribbons I need
consider the duration of your trip and your writing frequency. it's better to have a few extra than to run short.

 

[phdezra]

Hello everyone! I’m starting to write travel journals on a portable typewriter. My challenge is finding ribbon replacements while abroad. Any tricks for keeping supplies handy?

@novelspapers01 Great question; this comes up a lot once you start moving around with a machine. What machine BTW?

I’d pack two spare ribbons on spools. In theory you only need ribbon on one spool; the old-school trick was to wind it onto the spools already in your machine (think tins in a bag, early days). But two full spares take almost no space and buy real peace of mind.

Universal nylon ribbon is easy to find almost anywhere now, so you’re rarely stuck. I still prefer silk when I can; it really does print differently; richer, quieter, nicer on the page. If you love it, pack it.

Beyond that? Not much. A small stack of paper and you’re basically set. War journalists managed with a compact typewriter, paper, and nerve; no Pelican case required.

Travel light. The machine wants to work.

Ezra

 

[phdezra]

Hello everyone! I’m starting to write travel journals on a portable typewriter. My challenge is finding ribbon replacements while abroad. Any tricks for keeping supplies handy?

Following up on what I just posted, in particular nylon v silk, see attached I typed in the two kinds of ribbon on a basic Olympia Splendid (similar to Smith-Corona Skyriter; both fairly slim, single color and so on for travel). There IS a difference in ribbon output!