Electric Typewriter Help Needed VERY Much. Smith Corona XL1800. Letter "I" won't work. It is irritating :)

Question

I bought an XL 1800 electric typewriter from Goodwill in hopes of freaking out my teachers but sadly the letter "i" doesn't work. That is one of the most important letters! When I turn it on the typewriter repeats the letter over and over again until I press a key. When I try to press the key to type later it won't work. I've already taken it apart and looked around but nothing seemed to be out of place.

Help please. I love this thing so much. I don't want to have to use the semicolon everytime I have to say I. ; apprec;ate any adv;ce ; can get.

Answer 1

Hi there!

I tried to find a specific manual for your Typewriter but didn't have luck. I suspect the issue is related to dirty contacts for the affected keys, however there are other possibilities.  I'm not familiar with your specific model but it's possible the keyboard contacts can be cleaned with electrical contact cleaner to remove any built up dirt or corrosion. Doing this would require opening up the machine enough to get to the keyboard contacts inside.  If this turns out to be an electronic component problem than it MAY end up being uneconomical to repair, or even impossible if the parts are unavailable anymore.

Smith-Corona is still around, I have included their website below with the contact page; perhaps they can point you towards something more specific.

Good luck!

Answer 2

With a flashlight, look carefully down in the area of the I key and see if something could be stuck in there which would hold the key down slightly and not let it fully return to the up position.  Like a hairpin, or gum wrapper etc.  I think the I key is not returning to the full up position.  There might be something stuck down in the mechanism, even food or a spilled drink could do this.

If you cannot find anything like I described, then you are not going to be able to fix this yourself.  Check the link below to see if there is a typewriter shop near your location.

Good Luck.