The importance of platens
Does your typewriter need a new platen?
The platen is the cylinder of rubber that the type slugs strike every time you press a key on your typewriter. It’s an essential part of the machine and while it lasts a long time, it doesn’t last forever.
Over time, the rubber becomes rock hard, and it can even grow brittle and start to crack.
A hard platen means a much louder sound when typing, as the rubber can’t absorb the blow the way it’s meant to, and the type might also be affected.
Here are a few ways to see if you might need a new platen:
The rubber feels very hard. Platen rubber isn’t soft, but you should be able to press your fingernail into it. If your platen feels hard as a rock, you might need a new one.
You can see tiny (or large!) cracks in the rubber. A cracked platen definitely needs to be replaced.
The platen has visible wear marks, gouges, dents, or rows of indented dots all across it. Platens should be mostly smooth and unmarked.
When you type, some characters punch through the paper, especially commas, periods, and apostrophes.
The platen might look shiny rather than matte.
A new platen isn’t cheap, usually costing around $80-100 depending on the machine, but if you love to type, it can be well worth the investment.
Want to know more? Contact us or stop by Type Townsend and we’ll be happy to answer all your questions!
An old, hard platen with visible wear.
Detail image of rows of indents. When touched, this platen feels dimpled.
A brand new, smooth, grippy platen ready for many more years of use.