{
  "store": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
  "website": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz",
  "currency": "NZD",
  "count": 13,
  "products": [
    {
      "id": "iron-typewriter-model",
      "sku": "(A)-iron-typewriter-model",
      "title": "Iron Typewriter Model Vintage Desk Ornament",
      "slug": "iron-typewriter-model",
      "price": 146.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "decor",
      "category_label": "Decor",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": "1.94 kg",
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/iron-typewriter-model/main-iron-typewriter-model.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/iron-typewriter-model/iron-typewriter-model-2.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/iron-typewriter-model/iron-typewriter-model-3.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/iron-typewriter-model/iron-typewriter-model-4.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/iron-typewriter-model/iron-typewriter-model-5.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/iron-typewriter-model/iron-typewriter-model-7.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/iron-typewriter-model/iron-typewriter-model-8.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "Handmade from high strength iron with manual polishing and finishing, this display-only ornament suits home tabletops, studios, offices and cafes.",
      "description": "The problem with a flat, forgettable shelf\n\nMost desks and shelves end up looking functional rather than interesting. Books, a lamp, a plant, maybe a photo frame. Everything serves a purpose, nothing has much personality. The room works, but it does not say anything about the person using it.\n\nThat is the gap a piece like this fills. An iron typewriter model is not useful in the practical sense. It does not hold pens or charge your phone. What it does is give the eye somewhere to land, and it carries an association almost everyone shares. Typewriters mean writing, patience, craft and a slower way of doing things. Put one on a shelf and the whole arrangement reads differently.\n\nIt also solves a specific problem for people who like the idea of a real typewriter but not the reality of owning one. A working machine needs ribbons, servicing and a flat permanent home. A decorative model gives you the shape and the feeling with none of that upkeep.\n\nWhat this piece actually is\n\nLet us be direct about it. This is a decorative model, not a working typewriter. There is no ribbon inside it and no way to print a letter with it. The keys and carriage are part of the sculpture.\n\nIt is made from high strength iron, which is the main reason it feels the way it does. Iron gives it weight and rigidity. The listed item weight is 1.94 kg, with packaging dimensions of 33 x 33 x 15 cm. In practice that means it sits firmly on a surface and does not slide or tip when you brush past it.\n\nThe finishing is done by hand. Manual polishing and finishing give the surface its antique tone, with the small variations you get from human work rather than a uniform machine coat. If you buy two, they will look like siblings rather than clones. For a retro desk ornament, that inconsistency is a feature.\n\nNo batteries are needed and no mounting hardware is supplied. It is meant to stand on a flat surface, full stop.\n\nWho tends to buy one\n\nWriters and readers are the obvious group. A typewriter model on a writing desk or among books looks like it belongs there, and the connection needs no explaining. Students, teachers, journalists and editors fall into the same bracket.\n\nThen there is the home styling crowd. People putting together a study, a reading nook or a vintage-leaning living room often want one object with real weight and age to anchor the rest. A bookshelf styling piece like this does that job well, because it breaks up rows of spines without needing a shelf to itself.\n\nBusinesses use these too. Cafes, bookshops, barbers, boutique hotels and small galleries all put retro objects on counters and ledges to set a mood. A typewriter is one of the safest choices, because it reads as literary and old-fashioned without being tied to one decade or style.\n\nFinally, gift buyers. This lands well for birthdays, graduations, retirements, housewarmings and office farewells. It is specific enough to feel thoughtful and general enough to suit someone whose taste you do not know in detail.\n\nWorking out whether it fits your space\n\nStart with the measurement. The maker lists the package at 33 x 33 x 15 cm and gives no separate size for the model, so plan on about that much space. Before you order, put a book or a box of roughly that footprint where you plan to display it and live with it for a day. That tells you more than a photo will.\n\nThink about depth as well as width. Shelves in a lot of homes are shallower than people assume, and a model that overhangs the front edge looks awkward and is easy to knock. If your shelf is narrow, a sideboard, hall table or windowsill may suit better.\n\nWeight is the other thing to check. Just under 2 kg is nothing for a solid timber shelf or a desk, but it is worth a thought on floating shelves or glass. A good rule of thumb is that if the shelf already carries a stack of hardbacks without flexing, this is well within range.\n\nFinally, consider what is around it. The piece has a lot of visual detail, so it does better with some breathing room than crammed between other ornaments. One clear patch of shelf, or a gap between two groups of books, is usually all it needs.\n\nStyling it so it looks intentional\n\nThe easiest approach is to give it a small supporting cast. A couple of books laid flat underneath lift it to a better height and make the grouping look considered. A short plant nearby adds a bit of green against the metal. Keep the supporting pieces simple, because the typewriter is doing the talking.\n\nIf you are styling an office desk ornament, place it to one side rather than directly in front of you. It will catch the eye when you look up without competing with your screen or your work surface.\n\nFor a cafe or shop, height helps. A counter, a ledge or a high shelf puts it in the sightline of people standing up, which is where it does the most work.\n\nLight matters more than people expect. The hand-finished surface shows its texture best with light coming from the side rather than straight on. A desk lamp at an angle, or a spot near a window, brings out the detail that a flat overhead light flattens.\n\nLooking after it\n\nMaintenance is minimal, which is part of the appeal. Dust is the main enemy, because it settles between the keys and in the gaps around the carriage where a cloth cannot reach. A clean dry paintbrush or a soft makeup brush handles that in under a minute, and doing it every few weeks keeps the piece looking sharp.\n\nFor the broader surfaces, a soft dry cloth is enough. Avoid soaking it, and avoid abrasive pads and chemical metal cleaners. Those can strip the hand-applied finish and leave you with something shinier and less characterful than what you bought.\n\nKeep it indoors and away from damp. Iron does not enjoy moisture, so bathrooms, laundries and spots directly under an open window are all poor choices. A dry room at normal household humidity is ideal.\n\nWhen you move it, lift it from the base with both hands. Carrying it by the carriage or a lever puts all 1.94 kg through a small joint, and that is how decorative pieces get damaged. A felt pad or fabric coaster under the base protects polished timber from scratches too.\n\nThe short version\n\nIf you want the look of an old typewriter without the upkeep a working one needs, this is the straightforward answer. It is iron, it is hand finished, it weighs just under 2 kg, and it sits where you put it.\n\nTreat it as decor and it asks very little of you. Expect it to type and you will be disappointed, because that is not what it is. Measure your shelf, pick a dry indoor spot with decent side light, dust it now and then, and the rest takes care of itself.",
      "llm_summary": "The Iron Typewriter Model is a decorative vintage style ornament made from high strength iron, with manual polishing and finishing that gives it a hand-finished antique appearance. It is a display piece and not a working typewriter, so it has no ribbon, paper feed or printing function. The listed package dimensions are 33 x 33 x 15 cm and the item weight is 1.94 kg. It requires no batteries and no mounting hardware is included, and the country or region of origin is listed as China. It is intended for home tabletops, living rooms, studios, offices, cafes and events, and is often bought as a gift. The maker does not state a colour; the photos show a cream body with black keys.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/iron-typewriter-model",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/iron-typewriter-model",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/iron-typewriter-model.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 175.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with a flat, forgettable shelf Most desks and shelves end up looking functional rather than interesting. Books, a lamp, a plant, maybe a photo frame. Everything serves a purpose, nothing has much personality. The room works, but it does not say anything about the person using it. That is the gap a piece like this fills. An iron typewriter model is not useful in the practical sense. It does not hold pens or charge your phone. What it does is give the eye somewhere to land, and it carries an association almost everyone shares. Typewriters mean writing, patience, craft and a slower way of doing things. Put one on a shelf and the whole arrangement reads differently. It also solves a specific problem for people who like the idea of a real typewriter but not the reality of owning one. A working machine needs ribbons, servicing and a flat permanent home. A decorative model gives you the shape and the feeling with none of that upkeep. What this piece actually is Let us be direct about it. This is a decorative model, not a working typewriter. There is no ribbon inside it and no way to print a letter with it. The keys and carriage are part of the sculpture. It is made from high strength iron, which is the main reason it feels the way it does. Iron gives it weight and rigidity. The listed item weight is 1.94 kg, with packaging dimensions of 33 x 33 x 15 cm. In practice that means it sits firmly on a surface and does not slide or tip when you brush past it. The finishing is done by hand. Manual polishing and finishing give the surface its antique tone, with the small variations you get from human work rather than a uniform machine coat. If you buy two, they will look like siblings rather than clones. For a retro desk ornament, that inconsistency is a feature. No batteries are needed and no mounting hardware is supplied. It is meant to stand on a flat surface, full stop. Who tends to buy one Writers and readers are the obvious group. A typewriter model on a writing desk or among books looks like it belongs there, and the connection needs no explaining. Students, teachers, journalists and editors fall into the same bracket. Then there is the home styling crowd. People putting together a study, a reading nook or a vintage-leaning living room often want one object with real weight and age to anchor the rest. A bookshelf styling piece like this does that job well, because it breaks up rows of spines without needing a shelf to itself. Businesses use these too. Cafes, bookshops, barbers, boutique hotels and small galleries all put retro objects on counters and ledges to set a mood. A typewriter is one of the safest choices, because it reads as literary and old-fashioned without being tied to one decade or style. Finally, gift buyers. This lands well for birthdays, graduations, retirements, housewarmings and office farewells. It is specific enough to feel thoughtful and general enough to suit someone whose taste you do not know in detail. Working out whether it fits your space Start with the measurement. The maker lists the package at 33 x 33 x 15 cm and gives no separate size for the model, so plan on about that much space. Before you order, put a book or a box of roughly that footprint where you plan to display it and live with it for a day. That tells you more than a photo will. Think about depth as well as width. Shelves in a lot of homes are shallower than people assume, and a model that overhangs the front edge looks awkward and is easy to knock. If your shelf is narrow, a sideboard, hall table or windowsill may suit better. Weight is the other thing to check. Just under 2 kg is nothing for a solid timber shelf or a desk, but it is worth a thought on floating shelves or glass. A good rule of thumb is that if the shelf already carries a stack of hardbacks without flexing, this is well within range. Finally, consider what is around it. The piece has a lot of visual detail, so it does better with some breathing room than crammed between other ornaments. One clear patch of shelf, or a gap between two groups of books, is usually all it needs. Styling it so it looks intentional The easiest approach is to give it a small supporting cast. A couple of books laid flat underneath lift it to a better height and make the grouping look considered. A short plant nearby adds a bit of green against the metal. Keep the supporting pieces simple, because the typewriter is doing the talking. If you are styling an office desk ornament, place it to one side rather than directly in front of you. It will catch the eye when you look up without competing with your screen or your work surface. For a cafe or shop, height helps. A counter, a ledge or a high shelf puts it in the sightline of people standing up, which is where it does the most work. Light matters more than people expect. The hand-finished surface shows its texture best with light coming from the side rather than straight on. A desk lamp at an angle, or a spot near a window, brings out the detail that a flat overhead light flattens. Looking after it Maintenance is minimal, which is part of the appeal. Dust is the main enemy, because it settles between the keys and in the gaps around the carriage where a cloth cannot reach. A clean dry paintbrush or a soft makeup brush handles that in under a minute, and doing it every few weeks keeps the piece looking sharp. For the broader surfaces, a soft dry cloth is enough. Avoid soaking it, and avoid abrasive pads and chemical metal cleaners. Those can strip the hand-applied finish and leave you with something shinier and less characterful than what you bought. Keep it indoors and away from damp. Iron does not enjoy moisture, so bathrooms, laundries and spots directly under an open window are all poor choices. A dry room at normal household humidity is ideal. When you move it, lift it from the base with both hands. Carrying it by the carriage or a lever puts all 1.94 kg through a small joint, and that is how decorative pieces get damaged. A felt pad or fabric coaster under the base protects polished timber from scratches too. The short version If you want the look of an old typewriter without the upkeep a working one needs, this is the straightforward answer. It is iron, it is hand finished, it weighs just under 2 kg, and it sits where you put it. Treat it as decor and it asks very little of you. Expect it to type and you will be disappointed, because that is not what it is. Measure your shelf, pick a dry indoor spot with decent side light, dust it now and then, and the rest takes care of itself."
    },
    {
      "id": "typewriter-building-brick-set",
      "sku": "(A)-typewriter-building-brick-set",
      "title": "Retro Electronics Typewriter Building Brick Set",
      "slug": "typewriter-building-brick-set",
      "price": 148.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "decor",
      "category_label": "Typewriter Decor",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": "0.54 kg",
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/typewriter-building-brick-set/main-typewriter-building-brick-set.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/typewriter-building-brick-set/typewriter-building-brick-set-3.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/typewriter-building-brick-set/typewriter-building-brick-set-4.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/typewriter-building-brick-set/typewriter-building-brick-set-5.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "A 658-piece interlocking brick kit that builds three retro favourites, a typewriter, a cassette player and a television, as display pieces for a desk or shelf. Listed for adult and teen builders.",
      "description": "The problem with most \"hobby\" purchases\n\nPlenty of hobbies look great on the shelf of a shop and then sit untouched at home. The paint kit nobody opens. The model aeroplane still in its shrink wrap. A lot of that comes down to a simple mismatch, the project was either too fiddly to start or too big to finish.\n\nA mid-size building brick set tends to avoid both traps. You open the box, you tip out the pieces, and within a few minutes something is taking shape. There is no drying time, no mess, no specialist tools. If you get interrupted, you push it to the side of the table and pick it up again later exactly where you left off.\n\nThis particular set has 658 pieces on a retro electronics theme. It builds three models: a typewriter, a Walkman-style cassette player and a television. They are display pieces. Nothing types and nothing switches on. That sounds obvious written down, but it is worth saying plainly, because the appeal here is purely visual and tactile.\n\nHow a brick set like this works\n\nInterlocking bricks clip together using friction. The studs on one piece push into the hollow underside of the next, and the grip of the plastic holds them. That grip is why the material matters. These pieces are moulded from ABS, which is a hard, rigid plastic that keeps its shape and holds tension through repeated clipping and unclipping. Softer plastics go slack. ABS does not, at least not quickly.\n\nBuilding follows a sequence, and the maker includes assembly instructions in the box. You generally start with a base layer, then work upward and outward, adding detail as you go. The satisfying part is usually in the middle, when a pile of unremarkable flat tiles suddenly reads as a row of typewriter keys or a television dial. Fine detail in a retro model is often done with small plates angled a certain way rather than with a single moulded part, which is part of the fun.\n\nAssembly is manual from start to finish, with nothing to power up. The maker lists the operation mode as manual and the educational objective as creative thinking, which is a fair description of what is happening when you work out how a shape is being faked with flat pieces.\n\nWho it suits\n\nThe maker gives the age range as adult and teen, and we sell it as decor for grown-ups. A 658-piece set with small parts is a project, not a plaything. It suits:\nAdults who want a calm indoor project that is not a screen\nTeenagers who have built smaller sets and are ready for more pieces\nAnyone who likes retro objects and wants one on a shelf without hunting down the real thing\nPeople who like a model they can split up, since the three pieces stand on their own\n\nIt is also a straightforward gift. Writers, musicians, collectors and people who grew up with this kind of gear tend to recognise the subject immediately. Because the build is part of the gift, you are giving an evening of something to do as well as an object. For a lot of recipients that is the better half. If you are after the best nostalgic gift for writers and you do not want to risk buying an actual old machine with unknown condition, a model sidesteps the whole problem.\n\nHow to choose a set like this\n\nA few things decide whether a brick set gets finished or abandoned.\n\nPiece count versus patience. Under 300 pieces is an afternoon. Over 2,000 is a commitment. At 658 pieces this sits in the comfortable middle, long enough to feel like a proper project, short enough that you can see the end from the start. For someone trying their first adult kit, that range is usually the best adult building brick kit territory.\n\nWhere it will live afterwards. This is the question people forget. A finished model has to go somewhere. Compact retro pieces are easy to place, which is why they work well as desk display models and shelf decor. Measure the spot you have in mind before you buy anything large. The maker describes these models as compact but does not state finished dimensions, so if you are working with a very tight shelf, ask us first.\n\nTheme. The theme here is retro electronics with household appliances as the subject: a typewriter, a cassette player and a television. That reads differently to a car or an architecture model. It suits offices, studios, writing desks and anywhere with a slightly nostalgic feel already going on. If the person you are buying for already has a shelf of brick models, a different theme is usually more welcome than another of the same.\n\nMaterial. ABS is the thing to look for. It is what makes pieces click firmly and stay clicked. Cheaper mixed plastics feel loose and the finished model sags over time.\n\nBuilding it well\n\nA little preparation saves a lot of hunting. Tip the pieces into a wide shallow tray or a few small bowls and sort roughly by colour before you start. It feels like a delay and it is not, you will get that time back three times over.\n\nWork on a flat surface with decent light. Overhead light alone throws shadows into the pile and the smallest pieces disappear. A lamp off to the side helps more than you would expect.\n\nGo slowly on the first few layers. Most build errors happen early, when everything looks the same and one stud out of place does not seem to matter. It does, because every later layer sits on top of it. Check your work against the instructions every few steps rather than every twenty.\n\nIf a piece will not sit flush, do not force it. Lift it off, look underneath for a stray stud or a half-seated part, then try again. ABS is tough but a brick forced at an angle can scuff.\n\nLooking after the finished model\n\nDust is the main enemy of any shelf model, especially one with lots of small surfaces and gaps. Give it a once-over with a soft dry brush or a quick blast of compressed air every couple of weeks and it will stay looking sharp. Skip the wet cloth, because water that gets down between bricks takes a long time to dry and can leave marks.\n\nKeep it indoors. The maker specifies indoor use, and that is sensible advice for any coloured plastic. Direct sun is what fades bricks, so a shelf away from a bright window will keep the colours true far longer.\n\nIf you move house or want the space back, take the model apart rather than throwing it in a box whole. Loose bricks in a sealed bag travel fine. An assembled model tumbling around a moving box does not.\n\nThe short version\n\nThis is a 658-piece interlocking brick set on a retro electronics theme, made from ABS, listed for adult and teen builders, and intended for indoor use. It builds a typewriter, a Walkman-style cassette player and a television, and all three are display pieces rather than working machines.\n\nBuy it if you want a hands-on project with a clear finish line and something worth keeping at the end of it. It works as a quiet evening activity, as desk or shelf decor, and as a gift for someone who likes old gear. Finished size and country of origin are not stated, so if either matters to your decision, ask us before you order and we will tell you what we know.",
      "llm_summary": "This is a retro electronics building brick set of 658 interlocking pieces moulded from ABS plastic in multicolour. It builds three vintage-style models, a typewriter, a Walkman-style cassette player and a television, as display pieces rather than working devices. The maker gives the age range as adult and teen, indoor use, manual operation and assembly required with instructions included, and creative thinking as the educational objective. Listed item weight is about 540 g; shipping weight is 0.54 kg. Model year is 2025. Brand, finished dimensions and country of origin are not stated. Sold as adult decor for New Zealand shoppers, priced in New Zealand dollars, with tracked delivery across New Zealand and timing shown at checkout.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-building-brick-set",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-building-brick-set",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/typewriter-building-brick-set.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 178.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with most \"hobby\" purchases Plenty of hobbies look great on the shelf of a shop and then sit untouched at home. The paint kit nobody opens. The model aeroplane still in its shrink wrap. A lot of that comes down to a simple mismatch, the project was either too fiddly to start or too big to finish. A mid-size building brick set tends to avoid both traps. You open the box, you tip out the pieces, and within a few minutes something is taking shape. There is no drying time, no mess, no specialist tools. If you get interrupted, you push it to the side of the table and pick it up again later exactly where you left off. This particular set has 658 pieces on a retro electronics theme. It builds three models: a typewriter, a Walkman-style cassette player and a television. They are display pieces. Nothing types and nothing switches on. That sounds obvious written down, but it is worth saying plainly, because the appeal here is purely visual and tactile. How a brick set like this works Interlocking bricks clip together using friction. The studs on one piece push into the hollow underside of the next, and the grip of the plastic holds them. That grip is why the material matters. These pieces are moulded from ABS, which is a hard, rigid plastic that keeps its shape and holds tension through repeated clipping and unclipping. Softer plastics go slack. ABS does not, at least not quickly. Building follows a sequence, and the maker includes assembly instructions in the box. You generally start with a base layer, then work upward and outward, adding detail as you go. The satisfying part is usually in the middle, when a pile of unremarkable flat tiles suddenly reads as a row of typewriter keys or a television dial. Fine detail in a retro model is often done with small plates angled a certain way rather than with a single moulded part, which is part of the fun. Assembly is manual from start to finish, with nothing to power up. The maker lists the operation mode as manual and the educational objective as creative thinking, which is a fair description of what is happening when you work out how a shape is being faked with flat pieces. Who it suits The maker gives the age range as adult and teen, and we sell it as decor for grown-ups. A 658-piece set with small parts is a project, not a plaything. It suits:\nAdults who want a calm indoor project that is not a screen\nTeenagers who have built smaller sets and are ready for more pieces\nAnyone who likes retro objects and wants one on a shelf without hunting down the real thing\nPeople who like a model they can split up, since the three pieces stand on their own It is also a straightforward gift. Writers, musicians, collectors and people who grew up with this kind of gear tend to recognise the subject immediately. Because the build is part of the gift, you are giving an evening of something to do as well as an object. For a lot of recipients that is the better half. If you are after the best nostalgic gift for writers and you do not want to risk buying an actual old machine with unknown condition, a model sidesteps the whole problem. How to choose a set like this A few things decide whether a brick set gets finished or abandoned. Piece count versus patience. Under 300 pieces is an afternoon. Over 2,000 is a commitment. At 658 pieces this sits in the comfortable middle, long enough to feel like a proper project, short enough that you can see the end from the start. For someone trying their first adult kit, that range is usually the best adult building brick kit territory. Where it will live afterwards. This is the question people forget. A finished model has to go somewhere. Compact retro pieces are easy to place, which is why they work well as desk display models and shelf decor. Measure the spot you have in mind before you buy anything large. The maker describes these models as compact but does not state finished dimensions, so if you are working with a very tight shelf, ask us first. Theme. The theme here is retro electronics with household appliances as the subject: a typewriter, a cassette player and a television. That reads differently to a car or an architecture model. It suits offices, studios, writing desks and anywhere with a slightly nostalgic feel already going on. If the person you are buying for already has a shelf of brick models, a different theme is usually more welcome than another of the same. Material. ABS is the thing to look for. It is what makes pieces click firmly and stay clicked. Cheaper mixed plastics feel loose and the finished model sags over time. Building it well A little preparation saves a lot of hunting. Tip the pieces into a wide shallow tray or a few small bowls and sort roughly by colour before you start. It feels like a delay and it is not, you will get that time back three times over. Work on a flat surface with decent light. Overhead light alone throws shadows into the pile and the smallest pieces disappear. A lamp off to the side helps more than you would expect. Go slowly on the first few layers. Most build errors happen early, when everything looks the same and one stud out of place does not seem to matter. It does, because every later layer sits on top of it. Check your work against the instructions every few steps rather than every twenty. If a piece will not sit flush, do not force it. Lift it off, look underneath for a stray stud or a half-seated part, then try again. ABS is tough but a brick forced at an angle can scuff. Looking after the finished model Dust is the main enemy of any shelf model, especially one with lots of small surfaces and gaps. Give it a once-over with a soft dry brush or a quick blast of compressed air every couple of weeks and it will stay looking sharp. Skip the wet cloth, because water that gets down between bricks takes a long time to dry and can leave marks. Keep it indoors. The maker specifies indoor use, and that is sensible advice for any coloured plastic. Direct sun is what fades bricks, so a shelf away from a bright window will keep the colours true far longer. If you move house or want the space back, take the model apart rather than throwing it in a box whole. Loose bricks in a sealed bag travel fine. An assembled model tumbling around a moving box does not. The short version This is a 658-piece interlocking brick set on a retro electronics theme, made from ABS, listed for adult and teen builders, and intended for indoor use. It builds a typewriter, a Walkman-style cassette player and a television, and all three are display pieces rather than working machines. Buy it if you want a hands-on project with a clear finish line and something worth keeping at the end of it. It works as a quiet evening activity, as desk or shelf decor, and as a gift for someone who likes old gear. Finished size and country of origin are not stated, so if either matters to your decision, ask us before you order and we will tell you what we know."
    },
    {
      "id": "vintage-typewriter-ornament",
      "sku": "(A)-vintage-typewriter-ornament",
      "title": "Vintage Typewriter Ornament",
      "slug": "vintage-typewriter-ornament",
      "price": 299,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "decor",
      "category_label": "Typewriter Decor",
      "tags": [
        "typewriters",
        "ornament",
        "vintage decor",
        "cast iron",
        "photo prop",
        "gift"
      ],
      "colors": [
        "Distressed bronze and black (antique finish)"
      ],
      "materials": [
        "Iron"
      ],
      "dimensions": {
        "length": 24.5,
        "width": 31,
        "height": 19,
        "unit": "cm"
      },
      "weight": "1.5 kg",
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/decor/vintage-typewriter-ornament/main-vintage-typewriter-ornament.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "This decorative typewriter model stands about 31cm wide and 19cm tall in cast iron, with a distressed antique finish, sculpted keys, and a classic European look made for display, styling, and photos.",
      "description": "What this piece actually is\n\nLet us be clear up front, because it matters. This is a decorative typewriter ornament, not a working machine. You cannot type on it. The keys do not press, the type bars do not swing, and there is no ribbon or paper feed that works. What you get instead is a solid iron model that captures the shape and charm of a classic desk typewriter, made to sit on a shelf and look good.\n\nThat honesty is the whole point. Some people come looking for a real antique they can type on, and this is not that. But far more people just want the look. They want the old-school character on a bookshelf, the bookish touch on a desk, or a striking prop for photos. If that is you, a vintage typewriter ornament gives you exactly the look you are after, without the cost, weight, and constant repair that a genuine old machine brings.\n\nWhy cast iron makes a difference\n\nA lot of decor in this shape is made from light resin or hollow plastic. It looks fine in a photo, then disappoints in the hand because it feels cheap and slides around at the lightest touch. This one is cast from solid iron, and you feel the difference straight away.\n\nThe weight does two useful things. First, it makes the piece feel real and considered rather than like a novelty. Second, it keeps the ornament planted. It sits flat and stays put, so a knock to the shelf or a curious cat does not send it skidding. For a metal typewriter figurine that will live out in the open, that stability is worth a lot.\n\nThe distressed finish is a big part of the charm too. Glossy decor catches glare and shows every fingerprint. This worn, rubbed-back finish reads as aged and classic, with warm bronze and brown coming through a dark body. It plays nicely with warm lighting and stays looking good with far less fuss. It is the kind of detail that makes an antique style typewriter model look like it has a history rather than coming straight off a production line.\n\nPicking the right spot\n\nSize is the first thing to think about when you place any decor, and this one is judged well at about 31 cm wide. That is big enough to hold its own as a feature, but small enough to share a shelf with other things. You do not need a huge surface to make it work.\n\nA bookshelf is the natural home. Set it on a stack of two or three books laid flat, with the spines facing out, and you instantly get that library feel. Add a small plant or a framed photo nearby and you have a styled corner that looks like you thought about it, even if it took thirty seconds.\n\nA desk is the next best place. As a typewriter statue for a desk, it adds character to a home office or study without getting in the way of your actual work. It sits to one side, catches the eye on video calls, and reminds you that writing has a long, romantic history, even when you are firing off emails.\n\nDo not forget mantels and windowsills. A mantel gives it pride of place above a fireplace, and a windowsill lets the light pick out the texture of the iron. Just keep windowsills dry, since damp is the one thing the finish does not love.\n\nStyling it like a stylist would\n\nThe trick with vintage typewriter decor is to let it anchor a small group rather than float alone. Decorators talk about styling in odd-numbered clusters, so pair the ornament with two other items of different heights. Think a tall plant or a candlestick on one side and a short stack of books or a small frame on the other. The typewriter sits in the middle as the hero.\n\nTexture is your friend here. Iron loves the company of wood, leather, brass, and paper. A leather-bound notebook, a brass lamp, or a wooden tray under the group all play off the cast iron and warm it up. Because the finish is a warm, muted distressed tone, it will not fight with colour, so you can add a green plant or a deep red book without anything clashing.\n\nFor cafes, studios, and shops, the same rules scale up. As typewriter cafe decor it suits a bookshelf wall, a counter corner, or a window display with warm bulbs and a few props around it. It signals a certain unhurried, creative mood that fits coffee shops and bookstores especially well.\n\nA favourite for photos\n\nAnyone who styles photos for a living knows the value of a good prop, and this is a strong one. As a typewriter photo prop it brings instant story to a flat-lay or a styled corner. Drop it into a writing-themed shot with a notebook, a coffee, and a pair of glasses, and the scene tells itself.\n\nThe detail holds up close, which is what you need for a camera. The sculpted keys, the round type bars, and the texture of the iron all read clearly in a tight shot. That makes it useful for product photography, social posts, author headshots, and shop windows. A typewriter prop for photos earns its keep every time you reset a scene.\n\nA gift that feels considered\n\nIf you are shopping for someone else, this is an easy win. A writer gift ornament hits the mark for novelists, journalists, students, bloggers, and anyone who works with words. It also suits book lovers who may not write themselves but adore the romance of it.\n\nIt works for a lot of occasions. Graduations, new jobs, new offices, birthdays, and milestone moments all suit a gift that nods to writing and ideas. Because it looks far more thoughtful than its price suggests, an old fashioned typewriter model gives you that giving-a-great-gift feeling without a great-gift budget. Wrap it with a nice notebook and you have a small set that any writer would be glad to receive.\n\nLooking after it\n\nUpkeep could not be much simpler. Dust it now and then with a soft, dry cloth to keep the keys and crannies looking sharp. If it picks up a smudge, wipe it with a barely damp cloth and dry it off straight away so no water sits on the iron.\n\nAvoid harsh cleaners and never soak it. The only real enemy of iron is damp, so keep it out of bathrooms and off wet windowsills, and it will hold its look for years. Treat it like any heavy metal ornament, and it asks almost nothing of you in return.\n\nThe short version\n\nThe Vintage Typewriter Ornament is a decorative, non-working model that gives you the classic look of an old desk typewriter in solid cast iron. It is heavy in the right way, finished in a warm distressed antique tone, and sized at about 31 cm wide and 19 cm tall to stand out without crowding a shelf.\n\nIt earns its spot as home decor, as a photo and styling prop, and as a gift for the writers and readers in your life. It arrives ready to display, needs only the odd dust, and asks for nothing more than a dry indoor spot. If you love the romance of the typewriter and want that charm on your shelf, a cast iron typewriter figurine like this one is a simple, satisfying way to get it.",
      "llm_summary": "The Vintage Typewriter Ornament is a decorative, non-working model of a classic desk typewriter, made for display rather than typing. It is cast from solid iron with a hand-distressed antique finish that reads as warm bronze and brown over a dark body, with sculpted keys, aged cream keytops, round type bars, and the rolled-paper shape of an old typewriter. It carries faux markings (\"GY3905\" on the bar and \"NO 3\" on the front). It measures about 31 cm wide, 24.5 cm deep, and 19 cm tall and weighs about 1.5 kg, so it sits steady on a shelf, desk, mantel, or windowsill. Common uses are home and office decor, photo and styling props for cafes and studios, and gifts for writers and readers. It arrives in one piece with no assembly and needs only occasional dusting with a soft dry cloth, kept away from damp. Country of origin is not confirmed in this record, and the finish varies a little piece to piece because it is distressed by hand.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/vintage-typewriter-ornament",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/vintage-typewriter-ornament",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/vintage-typewriter-ornament.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 349,
      "description_text": "What this piece actually is Let us be clear up front, because it matters. This is a decorative typewriter ornament, not a working machine. You cannot type on it. The keys do not press, the type bars do not swing, and there is no ribbon or paper feed that works. What you get instead is a solid iron model that captures the shape and charm of a classic desk typewriter, made to sit on a shelf and look good. That honesty is the whole point. Some people come looking for a real antique they can type on, and this is not that. But far more people just want the look. They want the old-school character on a bookshelf, the bookish touch on a desk, or a striking prop for photos. If that is you, a vintage typewriter ornament gives you exactly the look you are after, without the cost, weight, and constant repair that a genuine old machine brings. Why cast iron makes a difference A lot of decor in this shape is made from light resin or hollow plastic. It looks fine in a photo, then disappoints in the hand because it feels cheap and slides around at the lightest touch. This one is cast from solid iron, and you feel the difference straight away. The weight does two useful things. First, it makes the piece feel real and considered rather than like a novelty. Second, it keeps the ornament planted. It sits flat and stays put, so a knock to the shelf or a curious cat does not send it skidding. For a metal typewriter figurine that will live out in the open, that stability is worth a lot. The distressed finish is a big part of the charm too. Glossy decor catches glare and shows every fingerprint. This worn, rubbed-back finish reads as aged and classic, with warm bronze and brown coming through a dark body. It plays nicely with warm lighting and stays looking good with far less fuss. It is the kind of detail that makes an antique style typewriter model look like it has a history rather than coming straight off a production line. Picking the right spot Size is the first thing to think about when you place any decor, and this one is judged well at about 31 cm wide. That is big enough to hold its own as a feature, but small enough to share a shelf with other things. You do not need a huge surface to make it work. A bookshelf is the natural home. Set it on a stack of two or three books laid flat, with the spines facing out, and you instantly get that library feel. Add a small plant or a framed photo nearby and you have a styled corner that looks like you thought about it, even if it took thirty seconds. A desk is the next best place. As a typewriter statue for a desk, it adds character to a home office or study without getting in the way of your actual work. It sits to one side, catches the eye on video calls, and reminds you that writing has a long, romantic history, even when you are firing off emails. Do not forget mantels and windowsills. A mantel gives it pride of place above a fireplace, and a windowsill lets the light pick out the texture of the iron. Just keep windowsills dry, since damp is the one thing the finish does not love. Styling it like a stylist would The trick with vintage typewriter decor is to let it anchor a small group rather than float alone. Decorators talk about styling in odd-numbered clusters, so pair the ornament with two other items of different heights. Think a tall plant or a candlestick on one side and a short stack of books or a small frame on the other. The typewriter sits in the middle as the hero. Texture is your friend here. Iron loves the company of wood, leather, brass, and paper. A leather-bound notebook, a brass lamp, or a wooden tray under the group all play off the cast iron and warm it up. Because the finish is a warm, muted distressed tone, it will not fight with colour, so you can add a green plant or a deep red book without anything clashing. For cafes, studios, and shops, the same rules scale up. As typewriter cafe decor it suits a bookshelf wall, a counter corner, or a window display with warm bulbs and a few props around it. It signals a certain unhurried, creative mood that fits coffee shops and bookstores especially well. A favourite for photos Anyone who styles photos for a living knows the value of a good prop, and this is a strong one. As a typewriter photo prop it brings instant story to a flat-lay or a styled corner. Drop it into a writing-themed shot with a notebook, a coffee, and a pair of glasses, and the scene tells itself. The detail holds up close, which is what you need for a camera. The sculpted keys, the round type bars, and the texture of the iron all read clearly in a tight shot. That makes it useful for product photography, social posts, author headshots, and shop windows. A typewriter prop for photos earns its keep every time you reset a scene. A gift that feels considered If you are shopping for someone else, this is an easy win. A writer gift ornament hits the mark for novelists, journalists, students, bloggers, and anyone who works with words. It also suits book lovers who may not write themselves but adore the romance of it. It works for a lot of occasions. Graduations, new jobs, new offices, birthdays, and milestone moments all suit a gift that nods to writing and ideas. Because it looks far more thoughtful than its price suggests, an old fashioned typewriter model gives you that giving-a-great-gift feeling without a great-gift budget. Wrap it with a nice notebook and you have a small set that any writer would be glad to receive. Looking after it Upkeep could not be much simpler. Dust it now and then with a soft, dry cloth to keep the keys and crannies looking sharp. If it picks up a smudge, wipe it with a barely damp cloth and dry it off straight away so no water sits on the iron. Avoid harsh cleaners and never soak it. The only real enemy of iron is damp, so keep it out of bathrooms and off wet windowsills, and it will hold its look for years. Treat it like any heavy metal ornament, and it asks almost nothing of you in return. The short version The Vintage Typewriter Ornament is a decorative, non-working model that gives you the classic look of an old desk typewriter in solid cast iron. It is heavy in the right way, finished in a warm distressed antique tone, and sized at about 31 cm wide and 19 cm tall to stand out without crowding a shelf. It earns its spot as home decor, as a photo and styling prop, and as a gift for the writers and readers in your life. It arrives ready to display, needs only the odd dust, and asks for nothing more than a dry indoor spot. If you love the romance of the typewriter and want that charm on your shelf, a cast iron typewriter figurine like this one is a simple, satisfying way to get it."
    },
    {
      "id": "retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo",
      "sku": "(A)-retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo",
      "title": "Retro Round Keycap Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Set",
      "slug": "retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo",
      "price": 145.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "keyboards",
      "category_label": "Keyboards",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": null,
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo/main-retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo-2.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo-3.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo-4.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo-6.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "Full-size layout, 2.4G USB plus dual Bluetooth for three devices, quiet keystrokes, 12 multimedia shortcuts and a three-level DPI mouse that fits the palm.",
      "description": "The problem with most desk sets\n\nPlenty of people buy a keyboard once, hate it quietly for three years, then replace it with something almost identical. The usual complaints are predictable. The board is too small, so your little finger keeps missing the edge keys. It rattles loudly enough to annoy whoever else is in the room. It only works with one device, so the tablet sitting next to the laptop gets poked at with a fingertip instead.\n\nA retro keyboard and mouse combo like this one sets out to fix the practical problems while looking like something you actually want on the desk. The rounded keycaps and black finish give it that old machine shape, which is why people search for it as a typewriter style keyboard. It is worth being clear about what that means. This is a modern computer keyboard built to look like a typewriter. There is no ribbon, no platen and no paper. Plug it in or pair it, and it types into whatever is on your screen.\n\nHow the connection actually works\n\nThe useful part of this set is the way it connects. There are three channels. One is a 2.4G link through a small USB receiver you plug into a spare port, which suits a desktop or a laptop with ports to spare. The other two are Bluetooth, for devices with no USB socket or no spare one.\n\nTogether, that gives you three saved connections. In practice, that might be a work laptop on the USB receiver, a tablet on the first Bluetooth channel and a phone on the second. You switch between them rather than re-pairing, which is the whole reason a bluetooth retro keyboard set beats owning three separate keyboards.\n\nThe compatibility list covers a wide spread of hardware. Computers, PCs, laptops, notebooks, tablets, Mac, MacBook Pro and Air, iPad and iPhone are all named. Windows, Mac, iOS and Android are the named systems. If you work across two systems, expect a few shortcut keys to behave differently on each. That is normal for any multi device bluetooth keyboard and not a fault.\n\nFull size, and why that matters\n\nThe keyboard is full size with a QWERTY layout. If you have only used a laptop keyboard or a small travel board, the difference takes about ten minutes to appreciate and then becomes hard to give up. Keys sit where your hands already expect them. Edge keys are reachable without stretching. The number area makes data entry something other than a chore.\n\nThe trade-off is desk space. A full-size wireless keyboard needs more width than a compact one. The maker doesn't publish the dimensions, so if your desk has a tray, a shallow shelf or a monitor stand that limits width, measure the available space before you order. It is a two-minute job that saves a return.\n\nThere are also 12 multimedia shortcuts built in. Volume is the obvious one. Having playback and sound control on the board itself means you stop breaking concentration to hunt through a menu every time a video starts too loud.\n\nTyping feel and noise\n\nThe maker lists quiet typing as a feature and describes the keystrokes as responsive but quiet. This matters more than people expect. If you share an office, work in a lounge while someone watches television, or type during video calls, a noisy board makes you self-conscious and makes everyone else twitchy. The mouse clicks quietly as well, so the whole set behaves itself.\n\nThe keyboard sits on a built-in fixed tilt rather than flip-out feet. That means the typing angle is decided for you. The upside is that nothing collapses halfway through the afternoon, which is the classic failure of cheap plastic feet. The downside is that if you specifically want a flat board, this is not it.\n\nThe mouse\n\nThe mouse is shaped to sit under the palm rather than being pinched with the fingertips. For long sessions that spreads the load across the hand instead of concentrating it in two fingers. Comfort is personal, so no shape suits everyone, but a palm-fit body is the safer bet for most hands.\n\nIt has three DPI levels. Dropping the DPI slows the pointer, which helps with detailed work like selecting cells, trimming photos or placing objects precisely. Raising it speeds the pointer up, which is what you want when crossing a wide monitor or a dual-screen setup. Being able to change it on the fly means one mouse covers both jobs, and an adjustable DPI wireless mouse is genuinely more flexible than a fixed one.\n\nPower and the small print\n\nThe set is battery powered and the maker lists 1 AAA battery as required. The maker doesn't state battery life, so plan to keep a spare in a drawer. Rechargeable AAA cells work fine if you would rather not keep buying disposables.\n\nA keyboard protector is included. It is a simple thing, but on a desk that doubles as a dining table or a homework station it earns its place. Crumbs, dust and pet hair all end up in keycap gaps eventually, and clearing them out is tedious.\n\nThe maker doesn't publish weight, dimensions or material. The colour is black and the country of origin is China. If any of the unspecified details are a deal-breaker for you, ask before ordering rather than guessing.\n\nWho it suits\n\nThis set makes most sense for a few kinds of people. Someone running a hybrid setup where a work laptop and a personal tablet share one desk gets the most out of the three-device switching. Students who move between a notebook and a phone benefit for the same reason. Anyone who likes the look of old machines but needs a keyboard that works with current software will appreciate that it is a desk setup keyboard combo rather than a display piece.\n\nIt suits shared spaces too. Quiet keys, quiet clicks and no cables trailing across the desk all help in a room you share with other people.\n\nIt is less suited to anyone who needs a very small footprint, anyone who insists on an adjustable tilt, or anyone shopping for a mechanical gaming board. Those are different products for different jobs.\n\nLooking after it\n\nCare is straightforward. Switch both units off before cleaning. Wipe the housing and keycaps with a soft cloth that is barely damp, then dry straight away. Never spray liquid directly onto either unit. For crumbs and dust in the key gaps, tip the keyboard gently or use a soft brush or an air blower.\n\nIf you are putting the set away for a while, take the battery out. Leaving cells in an unused device for months is how you end up with corrosion. Store it somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight, and use the included protector on the keys when the desk is idle.\n\nBuying with confidence\n\nDelivery is tracked, and the estimated arrival time appears at checkout for your address. Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery as long as the set is unused and in its original packaging, so keep the box until you are certain.\n\nBefore you order, two checks are worth the time. Measure the width of your desk space, since this is a full-size board. And glance at the compatible devices list to confirm your particular setup is covered.\n\nThe short version\n\nThis is a modern full-size wireless keyboard and mouse styled with rounded keycaps so it looks like an old machine. It connects by 2.4G USB plus two Bluetooth channels, so three devices can share it. Typing and clicking are quiet, there are 12 multimedia shortcuts, the keyboard sits on a fixed tilt and ships with a protector, and the mouse offers three DPI levels on a palm-fit body. It runs on one AAA battery. If you want character on the desk without giving up a familiar layout, it is a sensible pick.",
      "llm_summary": "A full-size wireless retro keyboard and mouse combo in black, styled with rounded keycaps so it resembles an old typewriter while functioning as an ordinary computer keyboard. It is not a typewriter and does not print on paper. It connects by 2.4G USB receiver plus dual Bluetooth, allowing switching across three devices. The layout is QWERTY with 12 multimedia shortcuts and a fixed ergonomic tilt, and a keyboard protector is included. The maker lists compatible devices including computer, PC, laptop, notebook, tablet, Mac, MacBook Pro and Air, iPad and iPhone, and names Windows, Mac, iOS and Android as supported systems. The maker describes typing and mouse clicks as quiet, and the mouse has three DPI levels. Battery powered, 1 AAA battery required. Country of origin China. The maker does not publish weight, dimensions or material.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/retro-keyboard-and-mouse-combo.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 174.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with most desk sets Plenty of people buy a keyboard once, hate it quietly for three years, then replace it with something almost identical. The usual complaints are predictable. The board is too small, so your little finger keeps missing the edge keys. It rattles loudly enough to annoy whoever else is in the room. It only works with one device, so the tablet sitting next to the laptop gets poked at with a fingertip instead. A retro keyboard and mouse combo like this one sets out to fix the practical problems while looking like something you actually want on the desk. The rounded keycaps and black finish give it that old machine shape, which is why people search for it as a typewriter style keyboard. It is worth being clear about what that means. This is a modern computer keyboard built to look like a typewriter. There is no ribbon, no platen and no paper. Plug it in or pair it, and it types into whatever is on your screen. How the connection actually works The useful part of this set is the way it connects. There are three channels. One is a 2.4G link through a small USB receiver you plug into a spare port, which suits a desktop or a laptop with ports to spare. The other two are Bluetooth, for devices with no USB socket or no spare one. Together, that gives you three saved connections. In practice, that might be a work laptop on the USB receiver, a tablet on the first Bluetooth channel and a phone on the second. You switch between them rather than re-pairing, which is the whole reason a bluetooth retro keyboard set beats owning three separate keyboards. The compatibility list covers a wide spread of hardware. Computers, PCs, laptops, notebooks, tablets, Mac, MacBook Pro and Air, iPad and iPhone are all named. Windows, Mac, iOS and Android are the named systems. If you work across two systems, expect a few shortcut keys to behave differently on each. That is normal for any multi device bluetooth keyboard and not a fault. Full size, and why that matters The keyboard is full size with a QWERTY layout. If you have only used a laptop keyboard or a small travel board, the difference takes about ten minutes to appreciate and then becomes hard to give up. Keys sit where your hands already expect them. Edge keys are reachable without stretching. The number area makes data entry something other than a chore. The trade-off is desk space. A full-size wireless keyboard needs more width than a compact one. The maker doesn't publish the dimensions, so if your desk has a tray, a shallow shelf or a monitor stand that limits width, measure the available space before you order. It is a two-minute job that saves a return. There are also 12 multimedia shortcuts built in. Volume is the obvious one. Having playback and sound control on the board itself means you stop breaking concentration to hunt through a menu every time a video starts too loud. Typing feel and noise The maker lists quiet typing as a feature and describes the keystrokes as responsive but quiet. This matters more than people expect. If you share an office, work in a lounge while someone watches television, or type during video calls, a noisy board makes you self-conscious and makes everyone else twitchy. The mouse clicks quietly as well, so the whole set behaves itself. The keyboard sits on a built-in fixed tilt rather than flip-out feet. That means the typing angle is decided for you. The upside is that nothing collapses halfway through the afternoon, which is the classic failure of cheap plastic feet. The downside is that if you specifically want a flat board, this is not it. The mouse The mouse is shaped to sit under the palm rather than being pinched with the fingertips. For long sessions that spreads the load across the hand instead of concentrating it in two fingers. Comfort is personal, so no shape suits everyone, but a palm-fit body is the safer bet for most hands. It has three DPI levels. Dropping the DPI slows the pointer, which helps with detailed work like selecting cells, trimming photos or placing objects precisely. Raising it speeds the pointer up, which is what you want when crossing a wide monitor or a dual-screen setup. Being able to change it on the fly means one mouse covers both jobs, and an adjustable DPI wireless mouse is genuinely more flexible than a fixed one. Power and the small print The set is battery powered and the maker lists 1 AAA battery as required. The maker doesn't state battery life, so plan to keep a spare in a drawer. Rechargeable AAA cells work fine if you would rather not keep buying disposables. A keyboard protector is included. It is a simple thing, but on a desk that doubles as a dining table or a homework station it earns its place. Crumbs, dust and pet hair all end up in keycap gaps eventually, and clearing them out is tedious. The maker doesn't publish weight, dimensions or material. The colour is black and the country of origin is China. If any of the unspecified details are a deal-breaker for you, ask before ordering rather than guessing. Who it suits This set makes most sense for a few kinds of people. Someone running a hybrid setup where a work laptop and a personal tablet share one desk gets the most out of the three-device switching. Students who move between a notebook and a phone benefit for the same reason. Anyone who likes the look of old machines but needs a keyboard that works with current software will appreciate that it is a desk setup keyboard combo rather than a display piece. It suits shared spaces too. Quiet keys, quiet clicks and no cables trailing across the desk all help in a room you share with other people. It is less suited to anyone who needs a very small footprint, anyone who insists on an adjustable tilt, or anyone shopping for a mechanical gaming board. Those are different products for different jobs. Looking after it Care is straightforward. Switch both units off before cleaning. Wipe the housing and keycaps with a soft cloth that is barely damp, then dry straight away. Never spray liquid directly onto either unit. For crumbs and dust in the key gaps, tip the keyboard gently or use a soft brush or an air blower. If you are putting the set away for a while, take the battery out. Leaving cells in an unused device for months is how you end up with corrosion. Store it somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight, and use the included protector on the keys when the desk is idle. Buying with confidence Delivery is tracked, and the estimated arrival time appears at checkout for your address. Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery as long as the set is unused and in its original packaging, so keep the box until you are certain. Before you order, two checks are worth the time. Measure the width of your desk space, since this is a full-size board. And glance at the compatible devices list to confirm your particular setup is covered. The short version This is a modern full-size wireless keyboard and mouse styled with rounded keycaps so it looks like an old machine. It connects by 2.4G USB plus two Bluetooth channels, so three devices can share it. Typing and clicking are quiet, there are 12 multimedia shortcuts, the keyboard sits on a fixed tilt and ships with a protector, and the mouse offers three DPI levels on a palm-fit body. It runs on one AAA battery. If you want character on the desk without giving up a familiar layout, it is a sensible pick."
    },
    {
      "id": "retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb",
      "sku": "(A)-retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb",
      "title": "Retro Mechanical Keyboard with RGB Backlighting",
      "slug": "retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb",
      "price": 181.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "keyboards",
      "category_label": "Keyboards",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": "0.8 kg",
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb/main-retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb-2.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb-4.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb-6.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "104 anti-ghosting keys, clicky blue-style switches and 13 programmable RGB backlighting modes, all over a single USB cable with no driver software needed.",
      "description": "The problem with most keyboards\n\nMost keyboards that come with a computer are membrane boards. Under each key is a rubber dome. You press, the dome collapses, the key registers somewhere in that mush, and you have no real way of knowing when it happened. So you push every key all the way down, hard, because that is the only thing that feels definite. Do that eight hours a day and your fingers notice.\n\nThey also look like nothing. A flat grey slab with flat grey keys. Fine, functional, forgettable.\n\nA retro mechanical keyboard solves both of those at once. Each key sits on its own mechanical switch with a defined actuation point, so you feel exactly when the press has counted. And instead of a slab, you get round keycaps standing above a metal plate, which is a far more interesting thing to look at every day.\n\nWhat makes this one retro\n\nThe look comes from two choices. First, the keycaps are round rather than square, which is the single detail most people associate with old typewriters. Second, the keys float. The caps sit above the top plate instead of being recessed into a tray, so you can see the stems and the light underneath.\n\nIt is worth saying plainly: this is a computer keyboard that looks like a typewriter. It is not a typewriter. There is no paper, no ribbon, no carriage. It plugs into a PC and types on screen. People sometimes assume otherwise from the photos, so it is better to be clear up front.\n\nUnderneath the styling, everything is current. A USB cable, RGB lighting, 104 keys with anti-ghosting. The vintage part is purely the shape and the feel.\n\nHow clicky switches actually work\n\nInside each key is a switch. In a clicky switch, there is a small mechanism that produces both a tactile bump and a sharp click at the point the key registers. You feel it and you hear it at the same moment.\n\nThat matters more than it sounds. On a membrane board you learn to bottom out, slamming each key into the base. On a clicky mechanical board you learn the opposite, because the click tells you the job is done and you can lift off. Over a long document, that is a lot of unnecessary force you stop using.\n\nThe trade-off is noise. These switches are the loudest common type. In a room by yourself, it is satisfying. On a video call or in an open office, your colleagues will know what you bought. If quiet is a hard requirement, a clicky board is the wrong starting point, and that is better to know before you order than after.\n\nEach key here runs on its own independent switch, which is also why all 104 keys are anti-ghosting with N-key rollover. Press five keys at once and all five register. Fast typists hit this more often than they realise, because fingers overlap on quick words.\n\nWho this suits\n\nWriters and anyone who types a lot tend to get on well with clicky boards. The feedback keeps your rhythm honest.\n\nGamers are the other obvious group. The maker names gaming among its recommended uses, and the independent switches mean held combinations do not drop. If you want an anti-ghosting keyboard in a full-size body, this layout covers it.\n\nOffice and admin work is another case. The number pad is on the board, so spreadsheets, invoicing and data entry are quicker than reaching for the top number row. The only caveat is the noise again.\n\nWho it does not suit: anyone sharing a small quiet room, and anyone who wants a compact board. At 42.9 cm wide, this takes real desk space.\n\nFull size versus smaller boards\n\nA full-size board gives you everything, including the number pad. The cost is width. If you play games that need big mouse sweeps, your mouse arm has to start further to the right, and some people find that uncomfortable over hours.\n\nIf you mainly type, work with numbers, or do both, full size is the practical choice. If your desk is shallow or you want the mouse close in, a smaller layout is kinder, though you lose the number pad. This board is full size, so check your space with a tape measure before deciding. Width is 42.9 cm, depth 12.3 cm, height 3.7 cm.\n\nThe lighting, and how to think about it\n\nRGB on keyboards gets a lot of eye-rolling, usually because of the default rainbow wave that ships turned on. The useful thing here is that there are 13 modes and one of them is a solid colour. Set it to one steady shade and the lighting stops being a light show and starts being a quiet glow that helps you find keys in a dim room.\n\nTwo practical points. The modes are changed from the keyboard itself with a key combination, so there is no program to install. That is genuinely helpful on a locked-down work computer. And the keycaps are double-shot moulded, meaning the letters are a separate piece of plastic rather than paint. Light passes cleanly through the character, and more importantly the letters cannot wear off, which is the usual death of a printed keycap after a year of heavy use.\n\nBuild and weight\n\nThe case is metal and plastic with a metal keyboard plate under the switches. A metal plate is the part that matters most for feel, because it stops the board flexing as you type. The whole thing weighs 0.8 kg, which is enough to keep it in place. Cheap light boards slide across a desk during fast typing, and nothing breaks concentration quite like a keyboard drifting.\n\nThe switches are pluggable, and five spare switches come in the box, so a tired key can be swapped rather than sending the whole board away.\n\nThe maker rates it as water resistant. Read that as protection against a splash, not an invitation. If something does spill, unplug it immediately and let it dry out completely before plugging it back in.\n\nLiving with it\n\nMechanical keyboards collect dust and crumbs in the gaps, and the floating keycap design makes this easier to deal with than most. There is no recessed tray for debris to hide in. A soft brush or a short burst of compressed air between the keys every couple of weeks keeps it tidy.\n\nFor the surfaces, unplug it, wipe the case and caps with a slightly damp microfibre cloth, and dry it right away. Skip solvent cleaners. They can haze plastic and lift finishes.\n\nThe break-in period is worth mentioning too. New clicky switches can feel slightly stiff for the first week. They loosen with use, and so do your fingers. Give it a few days before deciding whether the feel is right.\n\nThe short version\n\nIf you want a keyboard that looks like a typewriter and types like a modern mechanical board, this does both. Round floating keycaps and a vintage profile on the outside, 104 anti-ghosting keys, clicky switches, a metal plate and 13 RGB modes on the inside, all over a single USB cable.\n\nBuy it if you like feedback you can hear and feel, you have the desk width for a full-size layout, and the clicking will not bother anyone nearby. Think harder if you need quiet or you are tight on space. Everything else, the lighting, the number pad, the build, is straightforward and easy to live with.",
      "llm_summary": "A full-size white retro mechanical keyboard with 104 keys, round floating keycaps and a vintage look over modern hardware. It uses clicky blue mechanical switches with tactile and audible feedback, and every key is anti-ghosting with N-key rollover. The switches are pluggable and five spares are included. Backlighting is full RGB with 13 modes, set by key combination with no driver needed, and the keycaps are double-shot moulded so the legends light through. The board connects by a corded USB cable, and the maker lists Windows and Mac OS X compatibility. Construction is metal and plastic with a metal keyboard plate, rated water resistant by the maker. It measures 42.9 by 12.3 by 3.7 cm and weighs 0.8 kg. Made in China.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/retro-mechanical-keyboard-rgb.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 217.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with most keyboards Most keyboards that come with a computer are membrane boards. Under each key is a rubber dome. You press, the dome collapses, the key registers somewhere in that mush, and you have no real way of knowing when it happened. So you push every key all the way down, hard, because that is the only thing that feels definite. Do that eight hours a day and your fingers notice. They also look like nothing. A flat grey slab with flat grey keys. Fine, functional, forgettable. A retro mechanical keyboard solves both of those at once. Each key sits on its own mechanical switch with a defined actuation point, so you feel exactly when the press has counted. And instead of a slab, you get round keycaps standing above a metal plate, which is a far more interesting thing to look at every day. What makes this one retro The look comes from two choices. First, the keycaps are round rather than square, which is the single detail most people associate with old typewriters. Second, the keys float. The caps sit above the top plate instead of being recessed into a tray, so you can see the stems and the light underneath. It is worth saying plainly: this is a computer keyboard that looks like a typewriter. It is not a typewriter. There is no paper, no ribbon, no carriage. It plugs into a PC and types on screen. People sometimes assume otherwise from the photos, so it is better to be clear up front. Underneath the styling, everything is current. A USB cable, RGB lighting, 104 keys with anti-ghosting. The vintage part is purely the shape and the feel. How clicky switches actually work Inside each key is a switch. In a clicky switch, there is a small mechanism that produces both a tactile bump and a sharp click at the point the key registers. You feel it and you hear it at the same moment. That matters more than it sounds. On a membrane board you learn to bottom out, slamming each key into the base. On a clicky mechanical board you learn the opposite, because the click tells you the job is done and you can lift off. Over a long document, that is a lot of unnecessary force you stop using. The trade-off is noise. These switches are the loudest common type. In a room by yourself, it is satisfying. On a video call or in an open office, your colleagues will know what you bought. If quiet is a hard requirement, a clicky board is the wrong starting point, and that is better to know before you order than after. Each key here runs on its own independent switch, which is also why all 104 keys are anti-ghosting with N-key rollover. Press five keys at once and all five register. Fast typists hit this more often than they realise, because fingers overlap on quick words. Who this suits Writers and anyone who types a lot tend to get on well with clicky boards. The feedback keeps your rhythm honest. Gamers are the other obvious group. The maker names gaming among its recommended uses, and the independent switches mean held combinations do not drop. If you want an anti-ghosting keyboard in a full-size body, this layout covers it. Office and admin work is another case. The number pad is on the board, so spreadsheets, invoicing and data entry are quicker than reaching for the top number row. The only caveat is the noise again. Who it does not suit: anyone sharing a small quiet room, and anyone who wants a compact board. At 42.9 cm wide, this takes real desk space. Full size versus smaller boards A full-size board gives you everything, including the number pad. The cost is width. If you play games that need big mouse sweeps, your mouse arm has to start further to the right, and some people find that uncomfortable over hours. If you mainly type, work with numbers, or do both, full size is the practical choice. If your desk is shallow or you want the mouse close in, a smaller layout is kinder, though you lose the number pad. This board is full size, so check your space with a tape measure before deciding. Width is 42.9 cm, depth 12.3 cm, height 3.7 cm. The lighting, and how to think about it RGB on keyboards gets a lot of eye-rolling, usually because of the default rainbow wave that ships turned on. The useful thing here is that there are 13 modes and one of them is a solid colour. Set it to one steady shade and the lighting stops being a light show and starts being a quiet glow that helps you find keys in a dim room. Two practical points. The modes are changed from the keyboard itself with a key combination, so there is no program to install. That is genuinely helpful on a locked-down work computer. And the keycaps are double-shot moulded, meaning the letters are a separate piece of plastic rather than paint. Light passes cleanly through the character, and more importantly the letters cannot wear off, which is the usual death of a printed keycap after a year of heavy use. Build and weight The case is metal and plastic with a metal keyboard plate under the switches. A metal plate is the part that matters most for feel, because it stops the board flexing as you type. The whole thing weighs 0.8 kg, which is enough to keep it in place. Cheap light boards slide across a desk during fast typing, and nothing breaks concentration quite like a keyboard drifting. The switches are pluggable, and five spare switches come in the box, so a tired key can be swapped rather than sending the whole board away. The maker rates it as water resistant. Read that as protection against a splash, not an invitation. If something does spill, unplug it immediately and let it dry out completely before plugging it back in. Living with it Mechanical keyboards collect dust and crumbs in the gaps, and the floating keycap design makes this easier to deal with than most. There is no recessed tray for debris to hide in. A soft brush or a short burst of compressed air between the keys every couple of weeks keeps it tidy. For the surfaces, unplug it, wipe the case and caps with a slightly damp microfibre cloth, and dry it right away. Skip solvent cleaners. They can haze plastic and lift finishes. The break-in period is worth mentioning too. New clicky switches can feel slightly stiff for the first week. They loosen with use, and so do your fingers. Give it a few days before deciding whether the feel is right. The short version If you want a keyboard that looks like a typewriter and types like a modern mechanical board, this does both. Round floating keycaps and a vintage profile on the outside, 104 anti-ghosting keys, clicky switches, a metal plate and 13 RGB modes on the inside, all over a single USB cable. Buy it if you like feedback you can hear and feel, you have the desk width for a full-size layout, and the clicking will not bother anyone nearby. Think harder if you need quiet or you are tight on space. Everything else, the lighting, the number pad, the build, is straightforward and easy to live with."
    },
    {
      "id": "retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard",
      "sku": "(A)-retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard",
      "title": "Retro Typewriter Bluetooth Keyboard with Magnetic Cat Figurine",
      "slug": "retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard",
      "price": 103.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "keyboards",
      "category_label": "Keyboards",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": null,
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard/main-retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard-3.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard-4.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard-8.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "Compact 84-key QWERTY layout, Bluetooth connection, media and function shortcuts, noise-reduced keys and a little magnetic cat figurine you can move wherever you like.",
      "description": "The problem with most keyboards on a nice desk\n\nYou spend a weekend getting a desk right. The lamp is warm, the plant is alive, the chair finally sits at the correct height. Then there it is in the middle of everything: a wide grey slab of plastic with a number pad you have used twice in three years.\n\nThat is the gap a retro typewriter Bluetooth keyboard fills. It takes the shape people associate with old writing machines, round keycaps laid out in neat rows, and puts it on top of a normal modern keyboard. You get the look without losing anything about how you type. No ribbon, no paper, no mechanical linkages to jam.\n\nIt also solves a second problem that has nothing to do with looks. Full-size keyboards are long. On a small desk, a narrow table, or a shelf in a bedroom, those extra centimetres are the difference between having room for a mouse and not. Dropping to 84 keys claws that space back.\n\nWhat a typewriter-style keyboard actually is\n\nWorth being clear, because the name confuses people. This is a computer keyboard. It connects over Bluetooth to a tablet, phone, laptop or desktop and sends keystrokes the same way any other keyboard does. It does not type onto paper and it is not a restored machine.\n\nThe typewriter part is the styling. Round keycaps instead of square ones, raised so each key has a clear edge, arranged in the stepped rows that old machines used. On this model the keycaps have a gradient colour running across them in the coffee colourway, which is softer than the bright pastels you often see on cute keyboards.\n\nThe maker lists the switch type as mechanical, which generally means each key has its own switch underneath rather than a shared rubber membrane, and says the keys use noise-reduction technology. It doesn't name the specific switch, so we won't pretend to know the actuation force.\n\nHow the Bluetooth side works\n\nPairing is the usual routine. You put the keyboard into pairing mode, open the Bluetooth menu on your device, and tap the keyboard in the list. After that first handshake, it generally reconnects by itself when you switch it on.\n\nThe maker lists tablets, iPad, iPhone, PCs, desktops and laptops, and names Windows, macOS, iOS and Android as supported systems. It runs Bluetooth 5.0 with a range of about 10 metres, stores three paired devices, and switches between them with Fn plus Q, W or E, which is handy if you move between a tablet and a laptop during the day.\n\nNo dongle is mentioned, which is good news. Dongles get lost, and they take up a USB port you probably need for something else.\n\nPower comes from a battery. The maker doesn't state the battery type or capacity, so we have left that out rather than invent a figure. There is a sleep mode that kicks in after 15 minutes of inactivity, with any keypress waking the board back up, which helps stretch battery life.\n\nWho it suits\n\nStudents come to mind first. A compact board fits in a backpack beside a tablet, and typing notes on a real keyboard in a lecture beats poking at glass. If you are shopping for a small desk, the 84-key footprint is the headline feature.\n\nWriters and anyone who drafts long text on a tablet are the next group. There is a real difference between composing a paragraph on a screen keyboard and composing it on physical keys. Your hands settle into position and you stop looking down.\n\nPeople setting up a home office that does not look like an office will like the colour and the round keys. So will anyone buying a gift for someone who has just moved into a first flat. The magnetic cat figurine is the sort of detail that makes a present feel chosen rather than ordered.\n\nWho it suits less: heavy spreadsheet users who live on the number pad, and competitive gamers who want specific switch characteristics documented down to the gram. Neither of those needs is served well by a compact styled board.\n\nChoosing between layouts and sizes\n\nThe main decision with any compact keyboard is how much you are willing to give up. A full-size board has around 104 keys. A tenkeyless board drops the number pad and sits near 87. This one sits at 84, which means the number pad is gone and the navigation cluster is tightened up, with arrows retained.\n\nIn practice that means:\nYou keep every letter, the number row, and the function row.\nYou keep arrow keys, which matters more than people expect when editing text.\nYou lose the dedicated number pad.\nSome keys like page up and page down may live behind a function layer.\n\nIf you enter long columns of figures every day, that last point will annoy you. If you mostly write, message and browse, you will forget the number pad existed within a week.\n\nThe other consideration is key feel. Round keycaps have less surface area than standard square caps, so your fingers sit in slightly narrower landing zones. Most people adapt in a day or two. If you touch type fast and never look down, expect a short settling-in period before your accuracy returns to normal.\n\nNoise, comfort and the desk around it\n\nThe maker builds in noise-reduction key technology aimed at quieter typing. Any keyboard sounds different depending on what is underneath it. A bare hard desk amplifies every keystroke. A felt or rubber desk mat absorbs a lot of it and also stops the board sliding around. If you share a room or type late, a mat is the cheapest improvement you can make.\n\nComfort comes down to height. The maker describes the layout as ergonomic and ambidextrous, so the shape does not favour one hand. What matters just as much is that your forearms sit roughly level when your fingers are on the keys. If your wrists bend upward, lower the desk or raise the chair before blaming the keyboard.\n\nThe maker doesn't publish dimensions or weight. If the exact footprint matters for a drawer or a particular bag, message us before ordering.\n\nLooking after it\n\nKeyboards collect crumbs. That is just life. A quick routine keeps it looking the way it did on day one.\n\nTurn it off before cleaning. Wipe the case and keycap tops with a soft cloth that is barely damp, then dry immediately so no moisture sits in the gaps. For the spaces between keys, use a soft brush or a short puff of air rather than digging with anything hard. Never spray cleaner directly onto the board; put it on the cloth instead.\n\nKeep drinks away from it, or at least behind it rather than beside it. If you are storing the keyboard for a long period, keep it somewhere dry and deal with the battery first, either charging it or removing it depending on how the board is built.\n\nTransport it in a sleeve. Round keycaps sit a little proud of the case, and loose items in a bag can catch on them.\n\nThe short version\n\nThis is a modern Bluetooth keyboard wearing a typewriter's clothes. Eighty-four keys in a QWERTY layout, mechanical switches, coffee gradient round keycaps, a plastic case, media and function shortcuts, and a magnetic cat figurine you can stick wherever you fancy. It pairs with tablets, iPad, iPhone, laptops, PCs and desktops, and holds three devices at once.\n\nBuy it if you want a desk that looks good, type mostly words rather than numbers, and are short on space. Think twice if you need a number pad every day or want published switch specifications.\n\nThe maker doesn't publish dimensions, weight or country of origin, and we have left those out rather than guess. Ask us if one of them matters to your decision.",
      "llm_summary": "The Retro Typewriter Bluetooth Keyboard is a compact 84-key QWERTY computer keyboard styled after a vintage typewriter, with round gradient keycaps in a coffee colourway and a plastic enclosure. It is not a typewriter and does not print on paper. It connects over Bluetooth 5.0 with a range of about 10 metres, stores three paired devices switched with Fn plus Q, W or E, and the maker lists tablets, iPad, iPhone, PCs, desktops and laptops as compatible, with Windows, macOS, iOS and Android named as supported systems. The maker lists the switch type as mechanical with noise-reduction key technology. It is battery powered and sleeps after 15 minutes idle, waking on any key press. Features include Fn hotkeys and media shortcuts, an ergonomic ambidextrous layout, and a magnetic cat figurine decoration included in the box. It is recommended for office, home, business, multimedia and everyday use. The maker does not publish weight, dimensions or country of origin.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/retro-typewriter-bluetooth-keyboard.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 124.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with most keyboards on a nice desk You spend a weekend getting a desk right. The lamp is warm, the plant is alive, the chair finally sits at the correct height. Then there it is in the middle of everything: a wide grey slab of plastic with a number pad you have used twice in three years. That is the gap a retro typewriter Bluetooth keyboard fills. It takes the shape people associate with old writing machines, round keycaps laid out in neat rows, and puts it on top of a normal modern keyboard. You get the look without losing anything about how you type. No ribbon, no paper, no mechanical linkages to jam. It also solves a second problem that has nothing to do with looks. Full-size keyboards are long. On a small desk, a narrow table, or a shelf in a bedroom, those extra centimetres are the difference between having room for a mouse and not. Dropping to 84 keys claws that space back. What a typewriter-style keyboard actually is Worth being clear, because the name confuses people. This is a computer keyboard. It connects over Bluetooth to a tablet, phone, laptop or desktop and sends keystrokes the same way any other keyboard does. It does not type onto paper and it is not a restored machine. The typewriter part is the styling. Round keycaps instead of square ones, raised so each key has a clear edge, arranged in the stepped rows that old machines used. On this model the keycaps have a gradient colour running across them in the coffee colourway, which is softer than the bright pastels you often see on cute keyboards. The maker lists the switch type as mechanical, which generally means each key has its own switch underneath rather than a shared rubber membrane, and says the keys use noise-reduction technology. It doesn't name the specific switch, so we won't pretend to know the actuation force. How the Bluetooth side works Pairing is the usual routine. You put the keyboard into pairing mode, open the Bluetooth menu on your device, and tap the keyboard in the list. After that first handshake, it generally reconnects by itself when you switch it on. The maker lists tablets, iPad, iPhone, PCs, desktops and laptops, and names Windows, macOS, iOS and Android as supported systems. It runs Bluetooth 5.0 with a range of about 10 metres, stores three paired devices, and switches between them with Fn plus Q, W or E, which is handy if you move between a tablet and a laptop during the day. No dongle is mentioned, which is good news. Dongles get lost, and they take up a USB port you probably need for something else. Power comes from a battery. The maker doesn't state the battery type or capacity, so we have left that out rather than invent a figure. There is a sleep mode that kicks in after 15 minutes of inactivity, with any keypress waking the board back up, which helps stretch battery life. Who it suits Students come to mind first. A compact board fits in a backpack beside a tablet, and typing notes on a real keyboard in a lecture beats poking at glass. If you are shopping for a small desk, the 84-key footprint is the headline feature. Writers and anyone who drafts long text on a tablet are the next group. There is a real difference between composing a paragraph on a screen keyboard and composing it on physical keys. Your hands settle into position and you stop looking down. People setting up a home office that does not look like an office will like the colour and the round keys. So will anyone buying a gift for someone who has just moved into a first flat. The magnetic cat figurine is the sort of detail that makes a present feel chosen rather than ordered. Who it suits less: heavy spreadsheet users who live on the number pad, and competitive gamers who want specific switch characteristics documented down to the gram. Neither of those needs is served well by a compact styled board. Choosing between layouts and sizes The main decision with any compact keyboard is how much you are willing to give up. A full-size board has around 104 keys. A tenkeyless board drops the number pad and sits near 87. This one sits at 84, which means the number pad is gone and the navigation cluster is tightened up, with arrows retained. In practice that means:\nYou keep every letter, the number row, and the function row.\nYou keep arrow keys, which matters more than people expect when editing text.\nYou lose the dedicated number pad.\nSome keys like page up and page down may live behind a function layer. If you enter long columns of figures every day, that last point will annoy you. If you mostly write, message and browse, you will forget the number pad existed within a week. The other consideration is key feel. Round keycaps have less surface area than standard square caps, so your fingers sit in slightly narrower landing zones. Most people adapt in a day or two. If you touch type fast and never look down, expect a short settling-in period before your accuracy returns to normal. Noise, comfort and the desk around it The maker builds in noise-reduction key technology aimed at quieter typing. Any keyboard sounds different depending on what is underneath it. A bare hard desk amplifies every keystroke. A felt or rubber desk mat absorbs a lot of it and also stops the board sliding around. If you share a room or type late, a mat is the cheapest improvement you can make. Comfort comes down to height. The maker describes the layout as ergonomic and ambidextrous, so the shape does not favour one hand. What matters just as much is that your forearms sit roughly level when your fingers are on the keys. If your wrists bend upward, lower the desk or raise the chair before blaming the keyboard. The maker doesn't publish dimensions or weight. If the exact footprint matters for a drawer or a particular bag, message us before ordering. Looking after it Keyboards collect crumbs. That is just life. A quick routine keeps it looking the way it did on day one. Turn it off before cleaning. Wipe the case and keycap tops with a soft cloth that is barely damp, then dry immediately so no moisture sits in the gaps. For the spaces between keys, use a soft brush or a short puff of air rather than digging with anything hard. Never spray cleaner directly onto the board; put it on the cloth instead. Keep drinks away from it, or at least behind it rather than beside it. If you are storing the keyboard for a long period, keep it somewhere dry and deal with the battery first, either charging it or removing it depending on how the board is built. Transport it in a sleeve. Round keycaps sit a little proud of the case, and loose items in a bag can catch on them. The short version This is a modern Bluetooth keyboard wearing a typewriter's clothes. Eighty-four keys in a QWERTY layout, mechanical switches, coffee gradient round keycaps, a plastic case, media and function shortcuts, and a magnetic cat figurine you can stick wherever you fancy. It pairs with tablets, iPad, iPhone, laptops, PCs and desktops, and holds three devices at once. Buy it if you want a desk that looks good, type mostly words rather than numbers, and are short on space. Think twice if you need a number pad every day or want published switch specifications. The maker doesn't publish dimensions, weight or country of origin, and we have left those out rather than guess. Ask us if one of them matters to your decision."
    },
    {
      "id": "typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set",
      "sku": "(A)-typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set",
      "title": "Typewriter Style Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Set",
      "slug": "typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set",
      "price": 103.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "keyboards",
      "category_label": "Keyboards",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": "0.71 kg",
      "images": [
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        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set-2.jpg",
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        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set-4.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set-5.jpg",
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        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set-7.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "A 102-key round-key wireless keyboard and a silent optical mouse share one USB receiver, with 2.4G connection and automatic power saving to stretch battery life.",
      "description": "The problem with a desk that feels like nothing\n\nMost computer keyboards are designed to disappear. Flat grey or flat black, low keys, no personality at all. That is fine if you only touch the thing for twenty minutes a day. If you sit at it for hours, writing emails, essays, chapters or spreadsheets, a dull desk starts to feel like part of the work.\n\nPeople buy a typewriter style keyboard for a simple reason. It makes sitting down to type feel like an occasion instead of a chore. The round keycaps, the colour, the shape of the deck, all of it changes the mood of the desk without changing how you actually work. The letters are still in the same places and the number pad is still on the right. Your shortcuts still work.\n\nThat is the honest pitch for this set. It is a cosmetic change with a few practical upgrades bundled in, and it costs a lot less than hunting down an actual antique machine that cannot talk to your computer at all.\n\nWhat this product actually is\n\nLet us be clear, because the name causes confusion. This is a modern wireless keyboard and mouse. It is styled to look like an old typewriter, with round keys and a retro shape. It is not a typewriter. There is no ribbon, no platen, no paper. It types into whatever program is open on your screen.\n\nThe keyboard has 102 keys in a QWERTY layout. That is a full size board. You keep the function row across the top, the arrow cluster, and the number pad. If you work with figures or play with shortcuts, a number pad is one of those things you only notice when it is gone.\n\nThe mouse that comes with it is a plain optical mouse with quiet buttons, shaped for the right hand. It is not a gaming mouse with fifteen thumb buttons. It moves the pointer, it clicks, it scrolls, and it does so without making noise.\n\nHow the wireless connection works\n\nBoth pieces run on a 2.4G wireless link, and here is the part worth paying attention to. They share one USB receiver. Plug a single small dongle into one port, and both the keyboard and the mouse connect through it.\n\nIf you use a laptop, you know why that matters. Ports are scarce. Every dongle you add is one less port for a drive, a charger or a monitor cable. A shared receiver halves that cost.\n\nThe stated range is up to 10 metres. In the real world, that figure assumes a fairly clear path. Thick walls, a metal desk frame or a crowded shelf of other wireless gear can cut it down. For a normal desk setup, where the receiver sits less than a metre from your hands, range is never the issue. For a living room where the computer feeds a television across the room, 10 metres gives you plenty of margin.\n\nBatteries and the sleep settings\n\nThe set is battery powered, and batteries are not included. Buy some before the parcel arrives so you are not stuck waiting.\n\nBoth pieces manage their own power. The keyboard goes to sleep after 8 minutes with no typing. The mouse drops into power saving after 5 minutes of no movement. Press a key or nudge the mouse and they wake back up. There is a short pause while they reconnect, which catches people out the first couple of times. After a day you stop noticing it.\n\nThose timers exist for a reason. A wireless device that stays fully awake all day chews through batteries fast. Letting it nap while you make a coffee means fewer battery swaps over the year. The maker doesn't state an exact battery life, and anyone who tells you a hard figure is guessing, since it depends on the batteries you use and how many hours you type.\n\nWho this suits\n\nThis set is a good fit if you want a full size wireless keyboard that looks interesting and types quietly. Writers, students, people working from a kitchen table, anyone setting up a home office that they actually want to look at. It also makes an easy gift, because the recipient does not need any technical knowledge to set it up.\n\nIt is less of a fit for a few groups. Competitive gamers want hardware built for that job, with faster response and keys designed for rapid repeated presses. Left-handed users should know the mouse is shaped for the right hand. And anyone who needs a Bluetooth connection, because their laptop has no usable USB port, should look elsewhere, since this set relies on the receiver.\n\nPeople who want quiet above all else are well served here. The keyboard is described as ultra-silent and the mouse uses a mute button design. If you share an office, record audio, or type while a baby sleeps in the next room, that combination is worth more than any styling.\n\nHow to choose between retro keyboards\n\nIf you are comparing a few options, a handful of things decide it.\n\nStart with size. Full size with a number pad, like this one, or compact. Compact boards free up desk space and put the mouse closer to your hand, which some people find easier on the shoulder. Full size keeps every key you might want. Think about whether you ever type long strings of numbers.\n\nThen look at connection type. Wired boards never need batteries and never drop out. Wireless boards clean up the desk and let you move. Within wireless, a 2.4G receiver like this one is usually faster to set up than Bluetooth and does not need pairing menus, but it does need a spare USB port.\n\nNoise is next. Retro styling and mechanical clack often come together, and some people buy a typewriter style board precisely because they want that sound. This one goes the other way. It gives the look without the volume. Decide which camp you are in before you order, because it is the thing people most often wish they had checked.\n\nFinally, consider the spill situation. The maker describes this keyboard as splash-proof. That is useful on a desk with a mug on it. Splash-proof is not waterproof, so a knocked-over glass is still bad news, but a few drops will not end the keyboard.\n\nLooking after it\n\nCare is simple and mostly about dust. Round keycaps have gaps around them where crumbs settle. Every few weeks, switch the keyboard off, turn it over and tap gently, or use a puff of air to blow the gaps clear.\n\nFor the surfaces, a soft cloth very lightly dampened with water does the job. Wring it out properly so nothing drips between the keys, wipe, then dry. Skip the harsh cleaners and never spray anything directly onto the board.\n\nThe mouse needs even less. Wipe the bottom pads occasionally, because dust collecting around the sensor makes the pointer stutter. If the mouse starts skipping on a glossy desk, put a simple mouse pad under it and the problem usually goes away.\n\nIf you are packing the set away for a while, take the batteries out. Batteries left in an unused device can leak and ruin the contacts. Put the USB receiver somewhere you will remember, ideally the storage slot if the mouse has one, because a receiver that goes missing makes the whole set useless until you find it.\n\nThe short version\n\nThis is a full size, 102-key wireless keyboard with round typewriter-style keys, paired with a quiet optical mouse. They share one USB receiver, run over 2.4G wireless up to 10 metres, and both sleep automatically to save battery. The keyboard deck is splash-proof and the key action is quiet. Colour is cyan, the set weighs 0.71 kg, and batteries are not supplied.\n\nBuy it if you want your desk to look like something, keep every key you already use, and prefer a soft typing sound. Skip it if you need Bluetooth, a left-handed mouse, or gaming-grade hardware.",
      "llm_summary": "The Typewriter Style Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Set is a modern computer keyboard and mouse pair styled to resemble an old typewriter. It is not a working typewriter. The keyboard has 102 keys in a QWERTY layout with round keycaps, a splash-proof deck and ultra-silent key action. Keyboard and mouse connect over 2.4G wireless through one shared USB receiver, with a stated range of up to 10 metres. The mouse uses optical detection, is right-hand oriented and has mute-design buttons. Both are battery powered and batteries are not included. The keyboard sleeps after 8 minutes idle, the mouse after 5. The maker names Chrome OS, Linux, Mac OS X and Windows as compatible operating systems. Colour is cyan and item weight 0.71 kg. Material, dimensions and country of origin are not specified.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/typewriter-keyboard-and-mouse-set.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 124.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with a desk that feels like nothing Most computer keyboards are designed to disappear. Flat grey or flat black, low keys, no personality at all. That is fine if you only touch the thing for twenty minutes a day. If you sit at it for hours, writing emails, essays, chapters or spreadsheets, a dull desk starts to feel like part of the work. People buy a typewriter style keyboard for a simple reason. It makes sitting down to type feel like an occasion instead of a chore. The round keycaps, the colour, the shape of the deck, all of it changes the mood of the desk without changing how you actually work. The letters are still in the same places and the number pad is still on the right. Your shortcuts still work. That is the honest pitch for this set. It is a cosmetic change with a few practical upgrades bundled in, and it costs a lot less than hunting down an actual antique machine that cannot talk to your computer at all. What this product actually is Let us be clear, because the name causes confusion. This is a modern wireless keyboard and mouse. It is styled to look like an old typewriter, with round keys and a retro shape. It is not a typewriter. There is no ribbon, no platen, no paper. It types into whatever program is open on your screen. The keyboard has 102 keys in a QWERTY layout. That is a full size board. You keep the function row across the top, the arrow cluster, and the number pad. If you work with figures or play with shortcuts, a number pad is one of those things you only notice when it is gone. The mouse that comes with it is a plain optical mouse with quiet buttons, shaped for the right hand. It is not a gaming mouse with fifteen thumb buttons. It moves the pointer, it clicks, it scrolls, and it does so without making noise. How the wireless connection works Both pieces run on a 2.4G wireless link, and here is the part worth paying attention to. They share one USB receiver. Plug a single small dongle into one port, and both the keyboard and the mouse connect through it. If you use a laptop, you know why that matters. Ports are scarce. Every dongle you add is one less port for a drive, a charger or a monitor cable. A shared receiver halves that cost. The stated range is up to 10 metres. In the real world, that figure assumes a fairly clear path. Thick walls, a metal desk frame or a crowded shelf of other wireless gear can cut it down. For a normal desk setup, where the receiver sits less than a metre from your hands, range is never the issue. For a living room where the computer feeds a television across the room, 10 metres gives you plenty of margin. Batteries and the sleep settings The set is battery powered, and batteries are not included. Buy some before the parcel arrives so you are not stuck waiting. Both pieces manage their own power. The keyboard goes to sleep after 8 minutes with no typing. The mouse drops into power saving after 5 minutes of no movement. Press a key or nudge the mouse and they wake back up. There is a short pause while they reconnect, which catches people out the first couple of times. After a day you stop noticing it. Those timers exist for a reason. A wireless device that stays fully awake all day chews through batteries fast. Letting it nap while you make a coffee means fewer battery swaps over the year. The maker doesn't state an exact battery life, and anyone who tells you a hard figure is guessing, since it depends on the batteries you use and how many hours you type. Who this suits This set is a good fit if you want a full size wireless keyboard that looks interesting and types quietly. Writers, students, people working from a kitchen table, anyone setting up a home office that they actually want to look at. It also makes an easy gift, because the recipient does not need any technical knowledge to set it up. It is less of a fit for a few groups. Competitive gamers want hardware built for that job, with faster response and keys designed for rapid repeated presses. Left-handed users should know the mouse is shaped for the right hand. And anyone who needs a Bluetooth connection, because their laptop has no usable USB port, should look elsewhere, since this set relies on the receiver. People who want quiet above all else are well served here. The keyboard is described as ultra-silent and the mouse uses a mute button design. If you share an office, record audio, or type while a baby sleeps in the next room, that combination is worth more than any styling. How to choose between retro keyboards If you are comparing a few options, a handful of things decide it. Start with size. Full size with a number pad, like this one, or compact. Compact boards free up desk space and put the mouse closer to your hand, which some people find easier on the shoulder. Full size keeps every key you might want. Think about whether you ever type long strings of numbers. Then look at connection type. Wired boards never need batteries and never drop out. Wireless boards clean up the desk and let you move. Within wireless, a 2.4G receiver like this one is usually faster to set up than Bluetooth and does not need pairing menus, but it does need a spare USB port. Noise is next. Retro styling and mechanical clack often come together, and some people buy a typewriter style board precisely because they want that sound. This one goes the other way. It gives the look without the volume. Decide which camp you are in before you order, because it is the thing people most often wish they had checked. Finally, consider the spill situation. The maker describes this keyboard as splash-proof. That is useful on a desk with a mug on it. Splash-proof is not waterproof, so a knocked-over glass is still bad news, but a few drops will not end the keyboard. Looking after it Care is simple and mostly about dust. Round keycaps have gaps around them where crumbs settle. Every few weeks, switch the keyboard off, turn it over and tap gently, or use a puff of air to blow the gaps clear. For the surfaces, a soft cloth very lightly dampened with water does the job. Wring it out properly so nothing drips between the keys, wipe, then dry. Skip the harsh cleaners and never spray anything directly onto the board. The mouse needs even less. Wipe the bottom pads occasionally, because dust collecting around the sensor makes the pointer stutter. If the mouse starts skipping on a glossy desk, put a simple mouse pad under it and the problem usually goes away. If you are packing the set away for a while, take the batteries out. Batteries left in an unused device can leak and ruin the contacts. Put the USB receiver somewhere you will remember, ideally the storage slot if the mouse has one, because a receiver that goes missing makes the whole set useless until you find it. The short version This is a full size, 102-key wireless keyboard with round typewriter-style keys, paired with a quiet optical mouse. They share one USB receiver, run over 2.4G wireless up to 10 metres, and both sleep automatically to save battery. The keyboard deck is splash-proof and the key action is quiet. Colour is cyan, the set weighs 0.71 kg, and batteries are not supplied. Buy it if you want your desk to look like something, keep every key you already use, and prefer a soft typing sound. Skip it if you need Bluetooth, a left-handed mouse, or gaming-grade hardware."
    },
    {
      "id": "typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard",
      "sku": "(A)-typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard",
      "title": "Typewriter Style Gaming Keyboard with White Backlight",
      "slug": "typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard",
      "price": 154.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "keyboards",
      "category_label": "Keyboards",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": "0.86 kg",
      "images": [
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        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard-2.jpg",
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        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard-4.jpg",
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        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard-7.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "Full 104-key layout with clicky blue mechanical switches, white LED backlighting, an aluminium alloy top panel, a multimedia control knob and plug-and-play USB connection.",
      "description": "The problem with most keyboards\n\nMost keyboards are forgettable. They come free in a box with a computer, they are flat and quiet, and the keys mush down into nothing. You type on one for years without ever thinking about it, and then one day you notice your fingers are tired, your typos are up, and the thing has no character at all.\n\nA typewriter style gaming keyboard fixes both halves of that complaint at once. The round keycaps and aluminium alloy top panel look like something lifted off a desk from a century ago. Underneath, it is a current mechanical keyboard with clicky blue mechanical switches, white LED backlighting and a media knob. You get the look without giving up anything a modern computer needs.\n\nOne thing to be clear about from the start. This is not a typewriter. It does not take paper, ink or ribbon. It is a computer keyboard that borrows its styling from a typewriter, and it plugs into a USB port like any other keyboard.\n\nHow a mechanical keyboard actually works\n\nThe difference between a mechanical keyboard and a cheap membrane one is what sits under each key. A membrane board has a single rubber sheet with domes. Press a key, the dome squashes, a contact closes. It works, but every key feels the same and the feel goes soft as the rubber ages.\n\nA mechanical keyboard gives every key its own switch, with a spring and moving parts. That means a consistent feel across the whole board. It also means you get to pick the character of the press.\n\nA blue switch is the clicky one. Push down and you feel a clear bump partway through, and you hear a sharp click at the same moment. That bump tells your finger the keystroke has registered, so you can lift off early instead of hammering each key to the bottom. People who type all day often come to prefer it once they adjust. People who game like it for the same reason, because they know instantly whether an input went through.\n\nThe trade-off is noise. Blue switches are the loudest common type. If you work in a shared office or take a lot of calls with an open microphone nearby, that is worth thinking about. If you work alone, or you simply like the sound, it is a satisfying thing to type on.\n\nWhy full size and anti-ghosting matter\n\nThis board has 104 keys, which is the full standard layout. Function row, arrow cluster, navigation block, and a complete number pad on the right. Compact keyboards look tidy but they bury half those keys behind a function layer, and you spend the first month relearning shortcuts. If you deal with numbers, spreadsheets or accounting software, the full number pad alone justifies the extra desk width.\n\nAnti-ghosting is the less obvious feature, and it matters more than the name suggests. On a cheap keyboard, holding three or four keys at once can cause the board to drop a press or register one you never made. On this one, all 104 keys are non-conflicting, so simultaneous keystrokes land correctly. In a game that means your movement, your sprint and your action all fire together. In everyday use it means long shortcut combinations work first time.\n\nThe backlight and the knob\n\nWhite LED backlighting runs under the keys. In a dim room it keeps the legends readable, and on a retro-styled board the glow around round keycaps looks rather good on camera too. The lighting is single colour, so this is not an RGB rainbow board. If you want a calmer desk, that is a plus.\n\nThe knob is the clever bit. In media mode it controls volume and handles play, pause and track skipping. Hold it down for about three seconds and it switches to light mode, where turning it cycles through 30 lighting effects or adjusts brightness and speed. Having a physical dial for volume is one of those small things you miss once you have had it.\n\nWho it suits\n\nWriters and students get the most obvious benefit. Long sessions on a clicky board feel more engaging than tapping on a flat laptop keyboard, and the feedback helps keep a rhythm. If you write fiction, journals or long reports, a retro mechanical keyboard for typing can genuinely change how the work feels.\n\nGamers are the other core group. Full anti-ghosting and a wired USB connection cover the practical needs, and the styling stands out from the usual black plastic and neon.\n\nIt also lands well as a gift. For someone building a steampunk desk setup or anyone who has always admired old typewriters but needs a working computer keyboard, this hits a sweet spot. It arrives ready to use with no app to install.\n\nWho should skip it? Anyone who needs silence, and anyone who wants a wireless keyboard for a tidy desk, because this one is corded. Desk depth matters too, since a full-size board needs the room.\n\nHow to choose\n\nStart with noise. Decide honestly whether a clicky keyboard fits your room and the people in it. Blue switches are loud by design, and no amount of hoping changes that.\n\nNext, check your ports. The keyboard needs one free USB port and no software, which makes it simple on a desktop. On a laptop with only one or two ports, you may want a hub.\n\nThen think about layout. Full size is the most capable option, but measure your desk if space is tight, especially if you use a large mouse mat and sweep your arm when gaming.\n\nFinally, think about how you want the desk to look. A white backlit retro keyboard sits comfortably with wood, leather and warm lighting. If your setup is all RGB and glass, the single colour backlight will read as deliberately understated.\n\nGetting set up\n\nPlug it in. That really is the whole process. There is no driver and no companion app, so the board is recognised as a standard USB keyboard and starts working on Windows, Linux or Mac OS.\n\nOnce it is running, flip out the two rear feet if you like a raised typing angle, or leave them folded for a flatter position. Spend a few minutes with the knob to find a lighting effect you actually want to look at every day, then set the brightness so it is readable but not glaring.\n\nGive yourself a week to adjust. Coming from a flat membrane board, your fingers will bottom out on every key at first. Once you learn to stop at the click, typing gets lighter and quieter, and the keyboard starts doing more of the work.\n\nLooking after it\n\nKeyboards collect crumbs. That is just how it goes. Unplug the board, turn it over and tap gently, then use compressed air or a soft brush to clear whatever is left between the keys. A soft cloth, dry or barely damp, handles the aluminium panel and the keycaps.\n\nFor a deeper clean, the included keycap puller lifts the round caps off so you can get underneath. Pull them a few at a time rather than stripping the whole board, and photograph the layout first if you are not confident about putting them back. Let any washed keycaps dry completely before refitting them.\n\nKeep drinks away from it. Mechanical switches handle dust and crumbs far better than liquid, and a spill is the one thing that tends to end a keyboard early.\n\nThe short version\n\nThis is a full-size, wired mechanical keyboard with clicky blue mechanical switches, 104 anti-ghosting keys, white LED backlighting with 30 effects, an aluminium alloy top panel and a multimedia control knob. It weighs 0.86 kg, needs no batteries, no drivers and no software, and works with Windows, Linux and Mac OS.\n\nIt is loud, it is corded, and it takes up a full desk width. In exchange you get a clicky, responsive typing feel and a keyboard that looks like nothing else on the desk. If the sound appeals rather than worries you, it is an easy recommendation.",
      "llm_summary": "The Typewriter Style Gaming Keyboard is a wired, full-size mechanical computer keyboard styled after a classic typewriter, with round keycaps and an aluminium alloy top panel. It uses clicky blue mechanical switches for a clicky, tactile keystroke and has a 104-key QWERTY layout with anti-ghosting so simultaneous presses register correctly. Backlighting is single colour (white LED) with 30 selectable lighting effects plus adjustable speed and brightness, controlled by a knob that also handles media volume and playback. Connection is corded USB with no batteries, no drivers and no software required, and the maker lists Windows, Linux and Mac OS on PCs, laptops, desktops, tablets and Macs as compatible. The body colour is blue. Item weight is 0.86 kg and a USB cable is included. Dimensions and country of origin are not specified.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/typewriter-style-gaming-keyboard.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 185.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with most keyboards Most keyboards are forgettable. They come free in a box with a computer, they are flat and quiet, and the keys mush down into nothing. You type on one for years without ever thinking about it, and then one day you notice your fingers are tired, your typos are up, and the thing has no character at all. A typewriter style gaming keyboard fixes both halves of that complaint at once. The round keycaps and aluminium alloy top panel look like something lifted off a desk from a century ago. Underneath, it is a current mechanical keyboard with clicky blue mechanical switches, white LED backlighting and a media knob. You get the look without giving up anything a modern computer needs. One thing to be clear about from the start. This is not a typewriter. It does not take paper, ink or ribbon. It is a computer keyboard that borrows its styling from a typewriter, and it plugs into a USB port like any other keyboard. How a mechanical keyboard actually works The difference between a mechanical keyboard and a cheap membrane one is what sits under each key. A membrane board has a single rubber sheet with domes. Press a key, the dome squashes, a contact closes. It works, but every key feels the same and the feel goes soft as the rubber ages. A mechanical keyboard gives every key its own switch, with a spring and moving parts. That means a consistent feel across the whole board. It also means you get to pick the character of the press. A blue switch is the clicky one. Push down and you feel a clear bump partway through, and you hear a sharp click at the same moment. That bump tells your finger the keystroke has registered, so you can lift off early instead of hammering each key to the bottom. People who type all day often come to prefer it once they adjust. People who game like it for the same reason, because they know instantly whether an input went through. The trade-off is noise. Blue switches are the loudest common type. If you work in a shared office or take a lot of calls with an open microphone nearby, that is worth thinking about. If you work alone, or you simply like the sound, it is a satisfying thing to type on. Why full size and anti-ghosting matter This board has 104 keys, which is the full standard layout. Function row, arrow cluster, navigation block, and a complete number pad on the right. Compact keyboards look tidy but they bury half those keys behind a function layer, and you spend the first month relearning shortcuts. If you deal with numbers, spreadsheets or accounting software, the full number pad alone justifies the extra desk width. Anti-ghosting is the less obvious feature, and it matters more than the name suggests. On a cheap keyboard, holding three or four keys at once can cause the board to drop a press or register one you never made. On this one, all 104 keys are non-conflicting, so simultaneous keystrokes land correctly. In a game that means your movement, your sprint and your action all fire together. In everyday use it means long shortcut combinations work first time. The backlight and the knob White LED backlighting runs under the keys. In a dim room it keeps the legends readable, and on a retro-styled board the glow around round keycaps looks rather good on camera too. The lighting is single colour, so this is not an RGB rainbow board. If you want a calmer desk, that is a plus. The knob is the clever bit. In media mode it controls volume and handles play, pause and track skipping. Hold it down for about three seconds and it switches to light mode, where turning it cycles through 30 lighting effects or adjusts brightness and speed. Having a physical dial for volume is one of those small things you miss once you have had it. Who it suits Writers and students get the most obvious benefit. Long sessions on a clicky board feel more engaging than tapping on a flat laptop keyboard, and the feedback helps keep a rhythm. If you write fiction, journals or long reports, a retro mechanical keyboard for typing can genuinely change how the work feels. Gamers are the other core group. Full anti-ghosting and a wired USB connection cover the practical needs, and the styling stands out from the usual black plastic and neon. It also lands well as a gift. For someone building a steampunk desk setup or anyone who has always admired old typewriters but needs a working computer keyboard, this hits a sweet spot. It arrives ready to use with no app to install. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs silence, and anyone who wants a wireless keyboard for a tidy desk, because this one is corded. Desk depth matters too, since a full-size board needs the room. How to choose Start with noise. Decide honestly whether a clicky keyboard fits your room and the people in it. Blue switches are loud by design, and no amount of hoping changes that. Next, check your ports. The keyboard needs one free USB port and no software, which makes it simple on a desktop. On a laptop with only one or two ports, you may want a hub. Then think about layout. Full size is the most capable option, but measure your desk if space is tight, especially if you use a large mouse mat and sweep your arm when gaming. Finally, think about how you want the desk to look. A white backlit retro keyboard sits comfortably with wood, leather and warm lighting. If your setup is all RGB and glass, the single colour backlight will read as deliberately understated. Getting set up Plug it in. That really is the whole process. There is no driver and no companion app, so the board is recognised as a standard USB keyboard and starts working on Windows, Linux or Mac OS. Once it is running, flip out the two rear feet if you like a raised typing angle, or leave them folded for a flatter position. Spend a few minutes with the knob to find a lighting effect you actually want to look at every day, then set the brightness so it is readable but not glaring. Give yourself a week to adjust. Coming from a flat membrane board, your fingers will bottom out on every key at first. Once you learn to stop at the click, typing gets lighter and quieter, and the keyboard starts doing more of the work. Looking after it Keyboards collect crumbs. That is just how it goes. Unplug the board, turn it over and tap gently, then use compressed air or a soft brush to clear whatever is left between the keys. A soft cloth, dry or barely damp, handles the aluminium panel and the keycaps. For a deeper clean, the included keycap puller lifts the round caps off so you can get underneath. Pull them a few at a time rather than stripping the whole board, and photograph the layout first if you are not confident about putting them back. Let any washed keycaps dry completely before refitting them. Keep drinks away from it. Mechanical switches handle dust and crumbs far better than liquid, and a spill is the one thing that tends to end a keyboard early. The short version This is a full-size, wired mechanical keyboard with clicky blue mechanical switches, 104 anti-ghosting keys, white LED backlighting with 30 effects, an aluminium alloy top panel and a multimedia control knob. It weighs 0.86 kg, needs no batteries, no drivers and no software, and works with Windows, Linux and Mac OS. It is loud, it is corded, and it takes up a full desk width. In exchange you get a clicky, responsive typing feel and a keyboard that looks like nothing else on the desk. If the sound appeals rather than worries you, it is an easy recommendation."
    },
    {
      "id": "typewriter-style-mechanical-keyboard",
      "sku": "(A)-typewriter-style-mechanical-keyboard",
      "title": "YUNZII QL75 Typewriter Style Mechanical Keyboard",
      "slug": "typewriter-style-mechanical-keyboard",
      "price": 299,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "keyboards",
      "category_label": "Typewriter Keyboards",
      "tags": [
        "typewriters",
        "mechanical keyboard",
        "wireless",
        "retro",
        "hot swappable",
        "rgb"
      ],
      "colors": [
        "Wood (walnut grain with gold accents)"
      ],
      "materials": [
        "Plastic body with wood-grain finish, metal handle and knobs"
      ],
      "dimensions": {
        "length": 21.4,
        "width": 32.8,
        "height": 6.4,
        "unit": "cm"
      },
      "weight": "1.46 kg",
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/typewriter-style-mechanical-keyboard/main-typewriter-style-mechanical-keyboard.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "This wireless retro keyboard (the YUNZII QL75) has round typewriter keycaps, hot-swappable switches, RGB backlight, three ways to connect, and a built-in stand for your tablet. It is a modern keyboard, not a typewriter.",
      "description": "What a typewriter style keyboard actually is\n\nA typewriter style mechanical keyboard is a modern computer keyboard dressed in vintage clothes. It has the round keys, the metal trim, and often a lever and knobs that copy an old typewriter. But it is a keyboard. You pair it with your laptop, tablet, or phone, and what you type appears on a screen, not on a sheet of paper.\n\nIt is worth saying that plainly, because the looks really are convincing. People see the wood-grain body and the round keycaps and assume it is an antique. It is not. It is a current piece of tech that happens to be styled like one, and that is exactly why it is popular. You get the charm of the old machine and the convenience of a modern keyboard at the same time.\n\nThe YUNZII QL75 is a good example of the breed. From across the room it looks like a typewriter on your desk. Sit down to use it and it behaves like a high-quality wireless mechanical keyboard, with features that keyboard fans care about.\n\nThe retro look, up close\n\nThe styling is the first thing you notice. The keycaps are round and slightly cupped, like the keys on a 1930s typewriter, with clear legends that are made to resist fading. The body has a warm wood-grain finish with gold-coloured metal knobs and a carry handle, and there is a lever sitting where a carriage return used to be.\n\nThat lever is not just for show. By default it acts as your Enter key, so every time you finish a line you get to flick it like the real thing. Little details like that are what make these keyboards fun to live with. It is a normal task turned into a small pleasure.\n\nBecause the keycaps pop off, you can clean under them easily or change the look entirely with a different set. The same goes for the feel, which brings us to the part that makes this a real enthusiast keyboard rather than just a pretty shell.\n\nHot-swap switches, in plain words\n\nMechanical keyboards use a separate switch under every key, and those switches decide how typing feels and sounds. Some are smooth, some have a bump, some are clicky. On most keyboards the switches are fixed in place. On a hot swappable mechanical keyboard like this one, they simply pull out and push in, with no soldering and no tools beyond a small puller.\n\nThat matters because feel is personal. This board ships with a pre-lubed linear switch called the Cocoa Cream V2, which is smooth from top to bottom. If you later decide you want something with a tactile bump or a louder click, you buy a set of switches and swap them in an afternoon. You are not stuck with one choice forever.\n\nIt is a feature you may never use, and that is fine. But it is nice to know the keyboard can change as your taste does, and it is one reason a round keycap keyboard like this holds its appeal longer than a sealed, throwaway board.\n\nConnecting it to your life\n\nFlexibility is where the modern side really shows. You can connect three ways: over Bluetooth 5.0, through a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, or with a USB-C cable. Bluetooth is tidy and good for tablets and phones, the dongle gives a rock-solid wireless link for a desktop, and the cable is there when you want zero lag or a quick charge while you type.\n\nIt also remembers up to five devices at once. Turn the device knob and you hop from your work laptop to your iPad to your phone without pairing again each time. It plays nicely with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and it has shortcut keys for both Mac and Windows so the layout feels right whatever you use.\n\nThe built-in stand rounds it out. There is a slot along the back that props up a tablet or phone behind the keys, which is handy for following a recipe, watching something, or taking a call while you type. It holds tablets up to about 11 inches, so most iPads and similar slates sit happily in it.\n\nA keyboard you can tune\n\nUnder the surface, the QL75 is programmable through QMK and VIA, two well-known tools in the keyboard world. With them you can remap any key, build layers that turn one key into many, and record macros that fire off a whole string of actions with one press. The lever and the knobs can be reassigned too.\n\nYou do not have to touch any of that. Out of the box it works like a normal keyboard, and most people will leave it as it is. But if you like to fine-tune your setup, the option is there, and it is the kind of depth that casual keyboards simply do not offer.\n\nThe RGB backlight is part of the fun as well. You can set colours and effects to match your desk, or keep it calm with a single warm tone that suits the vintage look. It glows around the round keycaps for a retro-meets-modern feel.\n\nWho it suits, and who it does not\n\nThis keyboard is a great match if you love the typewriter aesthetic but still need a real keyboard for work, writing, browsing, and everything else a computer does. Writers who want the mood of an old machine without losing spellcheck and editing tend to adore it. So do people building a stylish desk who want a centrepiece that also does a job.\n\nIt is less suited to someone who genuinely wants to type on paper. If that is you, a real working typewriter is the thing to buy, not a keyboard. It is also a bit of a splurge compared with a plain keyboard, because you are paying for the looks, the build, and the features.\n\nIf you want the best of both worlds, though, this is a smart pick. You get a keyboard that looks like a treasured antique, feels like a quality mechanical board, connects to anything, and can be tuned to your taste. It brings a little of the old world to a modern desk, which is a lovely place for it to sit.",
      "llm_summary": "The YUNZII QL75 Typewriter Style Mechanical Keyboard is a modern wireless mechanical keyboard designed to look like a vintage typewriter. It is a computer keyboard, not a working typewriter, and does not print on paper. It has round typewriter-style removable keycaps, a wood-grain body with gold-coloured metal knobs and a handle, and a lever that acts as the Enter key. It is a 75% compact layout with RGB backlight and is QMK/VIA programmable. Switches are hot-swappable (3-pin/5-pin) and pre-lubed, shipping with a linear Cocoa Cream V2 switch. It connects three ways (Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless, USB-C wired), pairs up to five devices switched by a knob, and works with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It has a built-in stand for tablets up to about 11 inches, a rechargeable 4000 mAh battery charged over USB-C, measures about 32.8 x 21.4 x 6.4 cm, and weighs about 1.46 kg. Country of origin is not confirmed in this record.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-style-mechanical-keyboard",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-style-mechanical-keyboard",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/typewriter-style-mechanical-keyboard.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 339,
      "description_text": "What a typewriter style keyboard actually is A typewriter style mechanical keyboard is a modern computer keyboard dressed in vintage clothes. It has the round keys, the metal trim, and often a lever and knobs that copy an old typewriter. But it is a keyboard. You pair it with your laptop, tablet, or phone, and what you type appears on a screen, not on a sheet of paper. It is worth saying that plainly, because the looks really are convincing. People see the wood-grain body and the round keycaps and assume it is an antique. It is not. It is a current piece of tech that happens to be styled like one, and that is exactly why it is popular. You get the charm of the old machine and the convenience of a modern keyboard at the same time. The YUNZII QL75 is a good example of the breed. From across the room it looks like a typewriter on your desk. Sit down to use it and it behaves like a high-quality wireless mechanical keyboard, with features that keyboard fans care about. The retro look, up close The styling is the first thing you notice. The keycaps are round and slightly cupped, like the keys on a 1930s typewriter, with clear legends that are made to resist fading. The body has a warm wood-grain finish with gold-coloured metal knobs and a carry handle, and there is a lever sitting where a carriage return used to be. That lever is not just for show. By default it acts as your Enter key, so every time you finish a line you get to flick it like the real thing. Little details like that are what make these keyboards fun to live with. It is a normal task turned into a small pleasure. Because the keycaps pop off, you can clean under them easily or change the look entirely with a different set. The same goes for the feel, which brings us to the part that makes this a real enthusiast keyboard rather than just a pretty shell. Hot-swap switches, in plain words Mechanical keyboards use a separate switch under every key, and those switches decide how typing feels and sounds. Some are smooth, some have a bump, some are clicky. On most keyboards the switches are fixed in place. On a hot swappable mechanical keyboard like this one, they simply pull out and push in, with no soldering and no tools beyond a small puller. That matters because feel is personal. This board ships with a pre-lubed linear switch called the Cocoa Cream V2, which is smooth from top to bottom. If you later decide you want something with a tactile bump or a louder click, you buy a set of switches and swap them in an afternoon. You are not stuck with one choice forever. It is a feature you may never use, and that is fine. But it is nice to know the keyboard can change as your taste does, and it is one reason a round keycap keyboard like this holds its appeal longer than a sealed, throwaway board. Connecting it to your life Flexibility is where the modern side really shows. You can connect three ways: over Bluetooth 5.0, through a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, or with a USB-C cable. Bluetooth is tidy and good for tablets and phones, the dongle gives a rock-solid wireless link for a desktop, and the cable is there when you want zero lag or a quick charge while you type. It also remembers up to five devices at once. Turn the device knob and you hop from your work laptop to your iPad to your phone without pairing again each time. It plays nicely with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and it has shortcut keys for both Mac and Windows so the layout feels right whatever you use. The built-in stand rounds it out. There is a slot along the back that props up a tablet or phone behind the keys, which is handy for following a recipe, watching something, or taking a call while you type. It holds tablets up to about 11 inches, so most iPads and similar slates sit happily in it. A keyboard you can tune Under the surface, the QL75 is programmable through QMK and VIA, two well-known tools in the keyboard world. With them you can remap any key, build layers that turn one key into many, and record macros that fire off a whole string of actions with one press. The lever and the knobs can be reassigned too. You do not have to touch any of that. Out of the box it works like a normal keyboard, and most people will leave it as it is. But if you like to fine-tune your setup, the option is there, and it is the kind of depth that casual keyboards simply do not offer. The RGB backlight is part of the fun as well. You can set colours and effects to match your desk, or keep it calm with a single warm tone that suits the vintage look. It glows around the round keycaps for a retro-meets-modern feel. Who it suits, and who it does not This keyboard is a great match if you love the typewriter aesthetic but still need a real keyboard for work, writing, browsing, and everything else a computer does. Writers who want the mood of an old machine without losing spellcheck and editing tend to adore it. So do people building a stylish desk who want a centrepiece that also does a job. It is less suited to someone who genuinely wants to type on paper. If that is you, a real working typewriter is the thing to buy, not a keyboard. It is also a bit of a splurge compared with a plain keyboard, because you are paying for the looks, the build, and the features. If you want the best of both worlds, though, this is a smart pick. You get a keyboard that looks like a treasured antique, feels like a quality mechanical board, connects to anything, and can be tuned to your taste. It brings a little of the old world to a modern desk, which is a lovely place for it to sit."
    },
    {
      "id": "wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever",
      "sku": "(A)-wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever",
      "title": "Wireless Typewriter-Style Mechanical Keyboard with Return Lever and Smart Screen",
      "slug": "wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever",
      "price": 599.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "keyboards",
      "category_label": "Keyboards",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": null,
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever/main-wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever-3.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever-4.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever-5.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/keyboards/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever-6.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "Eighty-three round keys, a hot-swappable board, tri-mode wireless, a rotary knob, RGB backlighting and a small onboard screen, plus a silicone wrist rest and a slot that holds a phone or tablet.",
      "description": "The problem this keyboard actually solves\n\nA lot of us like the way old typewriters look. The round keys, the lever, the honest mechanical feel. What we do not like is the reality of using one: no backspace, no undo, no copy and paste, and a ribbon that runs out halfway through a draft.\n\nSo people compromise. They buy a plain black keyboard because it works, and they put a typewriter on a shelf because it looks good. Two objects doing two jobs, and the one you touch every day is the boring one.\n\nThis board closes that gap. It is a modern mechanical keyboard built to look and feel like a typewriter, with 83 round keycaps, a return lever on the side, and a case with a clear retro styling. It connects by cable, Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz receiver, and it works with laptops, PCs, phones and tablets. It will not type on paper. Nothing with a USB-C port will. What it will do is make the thing already on your desk worth looking at.\n\nHow a typewriter-style keyboard works\n\nUnderneath the retro shell, this is a standard mechanical keyboard. Each key sits over its own switch, and pressing the key pushes a stem down until the switch registers. That is different to a membrane keyboard, where a rubber sheet presses onto a circuit board and the feel is softer and vaguer.\n\nThe switches here are Wisteria Linear V2, which are linear. A linear switch travels straight down with no bump partway through the press. Some people prefer that smoothness, especially for gaming, where you want a quick, clean press with nothing in the way. Others prefer a tactile bump so they can feel the moment a key registers. If you fall in the second camp, this board is still worth a look, because the PCB is hot-swappable.\n\nHot-swap means the switches are held in sockets rather than soldered to the board. You pull one out with the included tool and press a different one in. No iron, no solder, no risk of ruining the board. A set of spare switches and a 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller come in the box, which makes trying it out easy rather than a project.\n\nThe lever on the side is the detail most people ask about. On a real typewriter, that lever returned the carriage and advanced the paper. Here it works as the backspace key. You get the physical motion without the mechanical consequence, which is a fair trade when you want to delete a word rather than start a new line.\n\nThe screen, the knob and the slot\n\nA few features set this board apart from a plain retro-looking keyboard.\n\nThe rotary knob handles media by default, so volume is a twist away. Hold FN while turning it and it switches to controlling the onboard screen instead. That screen shows keyboard status and the time, and it is where you adjust the RGB lighting. The maker also says it can display images and GIFs if that appeals to you.\n\nThe slot across the top of the case holds a phone or tablet, in portrait or landscape. If you work from notes on a second screen, or you keep a reference document open on a tablet while you write, that slot removes the need for a separate stand.\n\nThe backlighting is per-key RGB with south-facing LEDs and diffusers, which means the light points towards you rather than away, and it is softened rather than raw. Whether that matters depends on how you work. If you type at night, a mellower glow is easier on the eyes than a hard white LED.\n\nWho this suits\n\nWriters who spend hours at a keyboard and want the act of typing to feel like something. The uniform key height and concave caps mean your fingers find a consistent landing spot, and the wrist rest helps on longer sessions.\n\nProgrammers and students who work across more than one device. Three connection modes means one board can serve a desktop by cable, a laptop over Bluetooth and a tablet over the 2.4GHz receiver, with the receiver stored inside the case when it is not in use.\n\nGamers who want a compact board. Dropping the number pad frees up desk width for mouse movement, and the 2.4GHz mode is the one to use when latency matters.\n\nAnyone buying a gift for a person with a tidy, considered desk. The retro look, the lever, the knob and the screen add up to something that feels deliberate.\n\nIt suits you less well if you need a number pad for data entry, if you work somewhere that frowns on any keyboard noise, or if you want the smallest possible travel keyboard. At 34.7 cm long and 5.7 cm high, this is a desk object, not a bag object.\n\nHow to choose, practically\n\nStart with space. Measure the width you have between your monitor stand and the edge of the desk, then allow for the wrist rest sitting in front of the board. A compact keyboard still needs room to sit square.\n\nThen think about switch feel. The board arrives with linear switches, which are smooth. If you have only ever used a laptop keyboard, linear will feel deeper and heavier at first. The maker describes the switches as factory-lubed at a 46gf mid-weight, which is heavy enough that resting your fingers will not fire a key. If you decide you want a bump, the hot-swap sockets make the change simple, and that flexibility is a large part of what makes this one of the more adaptable options if you are shopping for the best typewriter style keyboard rather than just a nice-looking one.\n\nThen connection. If you only use one computer at a desk, wired is the simplest and most reliable setup, and the cable is detachable so you can leave it out when you do not need it. If you move between devices, Bluetooth is the easier option for phones and tablets, while the 2.4GHz receiver is the one to reach for when you want the lowest latency.\n\nFinally, sound. Mechanical keyboards are not silent. This one has sound-dampening layers inside the case and linear switches, so it is on the quieter side of the mechanical family, but it is louder than a laptop keyboard. If you share a room with someone who works in silence, keep that in mind.\n\nLooking after it\n\nKeyboards collect crumbs, dust and skin oil. A quick clean every few weeks keeps it feeling right.\n\nPower the board off first. Turn it upside down and give it a gentle shake, then use a soft brush or a puff of air to clear what is between the keys. Wipe the case and the tops of the caps with a barely damp microfibre cloth and dry it straight away. Never pour liquid onto the board.\n\nEvery few months, pull the keycaps with the included puller and wash them in warm water with a drop of dish soap. Let them dry completely before they go back on. While they are off, that is your chance to clear the plate properly.\n\nKeep it out of direct sunlight, which can fade plastics over time, and store it somewhere dry. If you use the wireless receiver, drop it back into the compartment in the back of the case when you travel so it does not go missing in a bag.\n\nThe short version\n\nThis is a computer keyboard that looks like a typewriter, and it is honest about being exactly that. Eighty-three round keys, a return lever that works as the backspace, a hot-swappable board with Wisteria Linear V2 switches, per-key RGB, a rotary knob, a small onboard screen and a slot for a phone or tablet. It connects three ways and works with laptops, PCs, phones and tablets.\n\nBuy it if you spend real hours at a keyboard and want that time to feel better. Skip it if you need a number pad or absolute silence. The maker doesn't give the weight or colour, so if either is a deciding factor for you, ask us before you order and we will check.",
      "llm_summary": "A wireless typewriter-style mechanical keyboard with 83 round QWERTY keycaps, a side return lever that works as the backspace, and a slot that holds a phone or tablet. The PCB is hot-swappable and ships with Wisteria Linear V2 linear switches. Connection is tri-mode, covering a 2.4GHz receiver stored in the case, Bluetooth and a detachable USB-A to USB-C cable, with laptops, PCs, smartphones and tablets listed as compatible and Windows, macOS, Android and iOS named as operating systems. Features include per-key RGB backlighting, a rotary knob, an onboard screen showing status and time, programmable keys, and an ABS and aluminium plate. Measures 34.7 cm long and 5.7 cm high. Box includes a silicone wrist rest, spare switches, a keycap and switch puller and spare feet. Weight and colour are not specified.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/wireless-typewriter-keyboard-with-lever.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 719.99,
      "description_text": "The problem this keyboard actually solves A lot of us like the way old typewriters look. The round keys, the lever, the honest mechanical feel. What we do not like is the reality of using one: no backspace, no undo, no copy and paste, and a ribbon that runs out halfway through a draft. So people compromise. They buy a plain black keyboard because it works, and they put a typewriter on a shelf because it looks good. Two objects doing two jobs, and the one you touch every day is the boring one. This board closes that gap. It is a modern mechanical keyboard built to look and feel like a typewriter, with 83 round keycaps, a return lever on the side, and a case with a clear retro styling. It connects by cable, Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz receiver, and it works with laptops, PCs, phones and tablets. It will not type on paper. Nothing with a USB-C port will. What it will do is make the thing already on your desk worth looking at. How a typewriter-style keyboard works Underneath the retro shell, this is a standard mechanical keyboard. Each key sits over its own switch, and pressing the key pushes a stem down until the switch registers. That is different to a membrane keyboard, where a rubber sheet presses onto a circuit board and the feel is softer and vaguer. The switches here are Wisteria Linear V2, which are linear. A linear switch travels straight down with no bump partway through the press. Some people prefer that smoothness, especially for gaming, where you want a quick, clean press with nothing in the way. Others prefer a tactile bump so they can feel the moment a key registers. If you fall in the second camp, this board is still worth a look, because the PCB is hot-swappable. Hot-swap means the switches are held in sockets rather than soldered to the board. You pull one out with the included tool and press a different one in. No iron, no solder, no risk of ruining the board. A set of spare switches and a 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller come in the box, which makes trying it out easy rather than a project. The lever on the side is the detail most people ask about. On a real typewriter, that lever returned the carriage and advanced the paper. Here it works as the backspace key. You get the physical motion without the mechanical consequence, which is a fair trade when you want to delete a word rather than start a new line. The screen, the knob and the slot A few features set this board apart from a plain retro-looking keyboard. The rotary knob handles media by default, so volume is a twist away. Hold FN while turning it and it switches to controlling the onboard screen instead. That screen shows keyboard status and the time, and it is where you adjust the RGB lighting. The maker also says it can display images and GIFs if that appeals to you. The slot across the top of the case holds a phone or tablet, in portrait or landscape. If you work from notes on a second screen, or you keep a reference document open on a tablet while you write, that slot removes the need for a separate stand. The backlighting is per-key RGB with south-facing LEDs and diffusers, which means the light points towards you rather than away, and it is softened rather than raw. Whether that matters depends on how you work. If you type at night, a mellower glow is easier on the eyes than a hard white LED. Who this suits Writers who spend hours at a keyboard and want the act of typing to feel like something. The uniform key height and concave caps mean your fingers find a consistent landing spot, and the wrist rest helps on longer sessions. Programmers and students who work across more than one device. Three connection modes means one board can serve a desktop by cable, a laptop over Bluetooth and a tablet over the 2.4GHz receiver, with the receiver stored inside the case when it is not in use. Gamers who want a compact board. Dropping the number pad frees up desk width for mouse movement, and the 2.4GHz mode is the one to use when latency matters. Anyone buying a gift for a person with a tidy, considered desk. The retro look, the lever, the knob and the screen add up to something that feels deliberate. It suits you less well if you need a number pad for data entry, if you work somewhere that frowns on any keyboard noise, or if you want the smallest possible travel keyboard. At 34.7 cm long and 5.7 cm high, this is a desk object, not a bag object. How to choose, practically Start with space. Measure the width you have between your monitor stand and the edge of the desk, then allow for the wrist rest sitting in front of the board. A compact keyboard still needs room to sit square. Then think about switch feel. The board arrives with linear switches, which are smooth. If you have only ever used a laptop keyboard, linear will feel deeper and heavier at first. The maker describes the switches as factory-lubed at a 46gf mid-weight, which is heavy enough that resting your fingers will not fire a key. If you decide you want a bump, the hot-swap sockets make the change simple, and that flexibility is a large part of what makes this one of the more adaptable options if you are shopping for the best typewriter style keyboard rather than just a nice-looking one. Then connection. If you only use one computer at a desk, wired is the simplest and most reliable setup, and the cable is detachable so you can leave it out when you do not need it. If you move between devices, Bluetooth is the easier option for phones and tablets, while the 2.4GHz receiver is the one to reach for when you want the lowest latency. Finally, sound. Mechanical keyboards are not silent. This one has sound-dampening layers inside the case and linear switches, so it is on the quieter side of the mechanical family, but it is louder than a laptop keyboard. If you share a room with someone who works in silence, keep that in mind. Looking after it Keyboards collect crumbs, dust and skin oil. A quick clean every few weeks keeps it feeling right. Power the board off first. Turn it upside down and give it a gentle shake, then use a soft brush or a puff of air to clear what is between the keys. Wipe the case and the tops of the caps with a barely damp microfibre cloth and dry it straight away. Never pour liquid onto the board. Every few months, pull the keycaps with the included puller and wash them in warm water with a drop of dish soap. Let them dry completely before they go back on. While they are off, that is your chance to clear the plate properly. Keep it out of direct sunlight, which can fade plastics over time, and store it somewhere dry. If you use the wireless receiver, drop it back into the compartment in the back of the case when you travel so it does not go missing in a bag. The short version This is a computer keyboard that looks like a typewriter, and it is honest about being exactly that. Eighty-three round keys, a return lever that works as the backspace, a hot-swappable board with Wisteria Linear V2 switches, per-key RGB, a rotary knob, a small onboard screen and a slot for a phone or tablet. It connects three ways and works with laptops, PCs, phones and tablets. Buy it if you spend real hours at a keyboard and want that time to feel better. Skip it if you need a number pad or absolute silence. The maker doesn't give the weight or colour, so if either is a deciding factor for you, ask us before you order and we will check."
    },
    {
      "id": "typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack",
      "sku": "(A)-typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack",
      "title": "Typewriter Ribbon Twin Pack, Black and Red, Universal Spool",
      "slug": "typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack",
      "price": 46.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "ribbons",
      "category_label": "Ribbons",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": "50 g",
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/ribbons/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack/main-typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/ribbons/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack-2.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/ribbons/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack-5.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/ribbons/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack-6.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/ribbons/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack-7.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "Two universal 2-inch (5 cm) spools wound with 13 mm (half-inch) black and red ink ribbon, each fitted with two auto-reverse grommets so machines with that feature can turn the ribbon around on their own.",
      "description": "The problem with a faded page\n\nYou sit down at the typewriter, roll in a sheet of paper, and the first line comes out grey. The thin parts of the letters drop away. Full stops look like smudges. Nothing is broken, the machine still works perfectly, but the ribbon has given up most of its ink.\n\nThat is the whole story of a typewriter ribbon. It is a strip of inked fabric that sits between the typebars and the paper. Every strike presses a tiny bit of ink out of the weave and onto the page. Do that a few thousand times and the ribbon runs pale. It is a consumable, like a pen refill, and swapping it is a normal part of owning a manual typewriter.\n\nThe frustrating part is not the swap. It is realising you need one at the moment you want to type. That is the reason a typewriter ribbon twin pack is worth more than a single. The second spool sits in a drawer and turns a stalled afternoon into a one-minute job.\n\nWhat this ribbon actually is\n\nThe pack contains two ribbons, each wound on a universal 2-inch (5 cm) plastic spool. The spool is the plastic reel the ribbon sits on. The maker says this size suits most standard and portable vintage manual typewriters, but not all of them, which is why one ribbon style can cover so many machines from different makers.\n\nThe ribbon fabric itself is half an inch wide, about 13 mm. That number matters as much as the spool. The maker says the fabric can be used in any machine that accepts a half-inch ribbon, so even if the spool does not fit, the fabric can be wound onto spools your machine recognises.\n\nThe ink is two-colour. Black runs along one half of the ribbon's width and red along the other. Two small grommets are set near the ends, which is what lets a reversing machine know it has reached the end of the ribbon.\n\nHow two-colour ink works\n\nIf your typewriter has a colour selector, you will find a small lever or dial, usually near the keyboard or on the side of the ribbon mechanism. Moving it changes how high the ribbon lifts when a key is struck. Lift it a little and the typebars hit the black band. Lift it more and they hit the red.\n\nRed is a working colour, not a decorative one. Typists have long used it for corrections, for headings, for the odd word that needs to stand out, for crossing a line through a draft. Red ink typically prints a shade lighter than black, which is part of how it reads as an annotation rather than body text.\n\nMany selectors also have a third position, often marked with a white or clear band. That is stencil mode, which drops the ribbon out of the way entirely so the typebars strike directly. It is only for cutting stencils and you will rarely need it.\n\nIf your machine has no colour selector at all, that is fine. It will type on the black band and the red simply goes unused. You get a standard black ribbon out of it, which is what most people want anyway.\n\nThe auto-reverse grommets\n\nWhen a ribbon runs from one spool to the other and reaches the end, something has to happen or you stop typing. Older and simpler machines expect you to do it yourself. You unhook the ribbon, lift the spools, swap their positions and hook the ribbon back on. The ribbon then runs the other way and you type through it a second time.\n\nMachines with a reversing mechanism do this on their own. The grommet in the ribbon trips the reversing mechanism, and the drive flips direction. You keep typing and barely notice it happen.\n\nBoth grommets on this ribbon serve that purpose, one for each end. If your typewriter does not have the feature, the grommets just sit there harmlessly and you reverse the spools by hand. Neither situation is a problem. It is useful to know which kind of machine you own before you fit the ribbon, so you are not confused the first time typing goes pale halfway through a page.\n\nChecking fit before you order\n\nThe maker says it suits most vintage manual typewriters, standard and portable, and names several well-known makes. It also states plainly that it will not fit every machine ever made. That honesty is worth respecting, so do a two-minute check rather than guessing.\n\nOpen the typewriter cover or lift the ribbon guard. Look at the spool already in there. Measure its outside diameter. If it is around 5 cm (two inches), you are in the right territory. Then look at the ribbon fabric and check it is about 13 mm (half an inch) across.\n\nAlso note how the spool sits on its post. Some spools have a notch, a pin hole or a particular hub shape that engages the drive. If your spool has an unusual hub and the universal spool does not match it, you are not stuck. Keep your original spools, unwind the old dead ribbon from them, and wind the new half-inch ribbon on in its place. This is a common trick among collectors, and it is what the maker means when it says the fabric suits any machine that takes a half-inch ribbon.\n\nFitting it without making a mess\n\nYou need no tools. Work on a table with a cloth or sheet of newspaper underneath, because ink does transfer.\n\nStart by noting how the old ribbon threads. Trace its path from one spool, through the ribbon guides and vibrator, and across to the other spool. A phone photo before you touch anything is the single most useful step, and it saves a lot of guessing later.\n\nUnhook the old ribbon and lift both spools off their posts. Place the new full spool on one post and an empty spool on the other. Thread the ribbon through the same guides you photographed, then hook the end onto the empty spool and wind it on by hand a few turns to be sure it grips.\n\nCheck that the ribbon is not twisted anywhere along its path. A twisted ribbon types faintly on one side and can jam. Then close the cover, type a line, and look at it. Solid dark letters mean you are done.\n\nHold the plastic spools rather than the fabric wherever you can. If you do get ink on your fingers, soap and water handles it.\n\nCaring for the spare\n\nThe second ribbon in the pack will only be as good as the conditions you store it in. Heat and light dry ink out, so leave it in its packaging and keep it in a drawer or cupboard rather than on a sunny windowsill. A cool, dry spot is all it needs.\n\nWhen your typewriter is not in use, close the cover or put the case on. Dust settling on a ribbon does it no favours, and dust on the typebars will eventually transfer to the page as grubby letters. A dry, lint-free cloth wiped across the platen and typebars now and then keeps print clean.\n\nKeep your old spools too. They weigh almost nothing, they cost nothing to store, and they are the simplest fix if a future ribbon arrives on a hub your machine will not take.\n\nWho this suits\n\nAnyone with a working manual typewriter they actually use. Letter writers, journal keepers, poets who like the sound of keys, students who type drafts away from a screen. If you own more than one machine, the twin pack is even more useful, because the two ribbons can go into two different typewriters.\n\nIt also suits someone restoring a machine they have just brought home. Old ribbons in secondhand typewriters are nearly always dried out, and a fresh ribbon is usually the difference between a typewriter that looks lovely and one that writes well.\n\nThe short version\n\nTwo ribbons, black and red ink, universal 2-inch (5 cm) plastic spools, 13 mm (half-inch) ribbon width, two auto-reverse grommets. Check your existing spool against those numbers and you will know quickly whether it fits. If the spool is wrong but the width is right, wind the ribbon onto your own spools and carry on. Keep the spare somewhere cool and dark, and you will not be caught out the next time a page comes out grey.",
      "llm_summary": "A two-pack of replacement typewriter ribbons wound with two-colour black and red ink on universal 2-inch (5 cm) plastic spools. The ribbon is half an inch (13 mm) wide, and the maker says the fabric can be used in any machine that accepts a half-inch ribbon, so it can be wound onto other spools. Each ribbon carries two auto-reverse grommets, which let typewriters fitted with a reversing mechanism change feed direction at the end of the ribbon. The maker says it suits most standard and portable vintage manual typewriters but not every machine. Package dimensions are 11.1 x 10.69 x 2.01 cm and the item weight is 50 g. The maker does not state the ribbon fabric or a country of origin.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/typewriter-ribbon-twin-pack.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 55.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with a faded page You sit down at the typewriter, roll in a sheet of paper, and the first line comes out grey. The thin parts of the letters drop away. Full stops look like smudges. Nothing is broken, the machine still works perfectly, but the ribbon has given up most of its ink. That is the whole story of a typewriter ribbon. It is a strip of inked fabric that sits between the typebars and the paper. Every strike presses a tiny bit of ink out of the weave and onto the page. Do that a few thousand times and the ribbon runs pale. It is a consumable, like a pen refill, and swapping it is a normal part of owning a manual typewriter. The frustrating part is not the swap. It is realising you need one at the moment you want to type. That is the reason a typewriter ribbon twin pack is worth more than a single. The second spool sits in a drawer and turns a stalled afternoon into a one-minute job. What this ribbon actually is The pack contains two ribbons, each wound on a universal 2-inch (5 cm) plastic spool. The spool is the plastic reel the ribbon sits on. The maker says this size suits most standard and portable vintage manual typewriters, but not all of them, which is why one ribbon style can cover so many machines from different makers. The ribbon fabric itself is half an inch wide, about 13 mm. That number matters as much as the spool. The maker says the fabric can be used in any machine that accepts a half-inch ribbon, so even if the spool does not fit, the fabric can be wound onto spools your machine recognises. The ink is two-colour. Black runs along one half of the ribbon's width and red along the other. Two small grommets are set near the ends, which is what lets a reversing machine know it has reached the end of the ribbon. How two-colour ink works If your typewriter has a colour selector, you will find a small lever or dial, usually near the keyboard or on the side of the ribbon mechanism. Moving it changes how high the ribbon lifts when a key is struck. Lift it a little and the typebars hit the black band. Lift it more and they hit the red. Red is a working colour, not a decorative one. Typists have long used it for corrections, for headings, for the odd word that needs to stand out, for crossing a line through a draft. Red ink typically prints a shade lighter than black, which is part of how it reads as an annotation rather than body text. Many selectors also have a third position, often marked with a white or clear band. That is stencil mode, which drops the ribbon out of the way entirely so the typebars strike directly. It is only for cutting stencils and you will rarely need it. If your machine has no colour selector at all, that is fine. It will type on the black band and the red simply goes unused. You get a standard black ribbon out of it, which is what most people want anyway. The auto-reverse grommets When a ribbon runs from one spool to the other and reaches the end, something has to happen or you stop typing. Older and simpler machines expect you to do it yourself. You unhook the ribbon, lift the spools, swap their positions and hook the ribbon back on. The ribbon then runs the other way and you type through it a second time. Machines with a reversing mechanism do this on their own. The grommet in the ribbon trips the reversing mechanism, and the drive flips direction. You keep typing and barely notice it happen. Both grommets on this ribbon serve that purpose, one for each end. If your typewriter does not have the feature, the grommets just sit there harmlessly and you reverse the spools by hand. Neither situation is a problem. It is useful to know which kind of machine you own before you fit the ribbon, so you are not confused the first time typing goes pale halfway through a page. Checking fit before you order The maker says it suits most vintage manual typewriters, standard and portable, and names several well-known makes. It also states plainly that it will not fit every machine ever made. That honesty is worth respecting, so do a two-minute check rather than guessing. Open the typewriter cover or lift the ribbon guard. Look at the spool already in there. Measure its outside diameter. If it is around 5 cm (two inches), you are in the right territory. Then look at the ribbon fabric and check it is about 13 mm (half an inch) across. Also note how the spool sits on its post. Some spools have a notch, a pin hole or a particular hub shape that engages the drive. If your spool has an unusual hub and the universal spool does not match it, you are not stuck. Keep your original spools, unwind the old dead ribbon from them, and wind the new half-inch ribbon on in its place. This is a common trick among collectors, and it is what the maker means when it says the fabric suits any machine that takes a half-inch ribbon. Fitting it without making a mess You need no tools. Work on a table with a cloth or sheet of newspaper underneath, because ink does transfer. Start by noting how the old ribbon threads. Trace its path from one spool, through the ribbon guides and vibrator, and across to the other spool. A phone photo before you touch anything is the single most useful step, and it saves a lot of guessing later. Unhook the old ribbon and lift both spools off their posts. Place the new full spool on one post and an empty spool on the other. Thread the ribbon through the same guides you photographed, then hook the end onto the empty spool and wind it on by hand a few turns to be sure it grips. Check that the ribbon is not twisted anywhere along its path. A twisted ribbon types faintly on one side and can jam. Then close the cover, type a line, and look at it. Solid dark letters mean you are done. Hold the plastic spools rather than the fabric wherever you can. If you do get ink on your fingers, soap and water handles it. Caring for the spare The second ribbon in the pack will only be as good as the conditions you store it in. Heat and light dry ink out, so leave it in its packaging and keep it in a drawer or cupboard rather than on a sunny windowsill. A cool, dry spot is all it needs. When your typewriter is not in use, close the cover or put the case on. Dust settling on a ribbon does it no favours, and dust on the typebars will eventually transfer to the page as grubby letters. A dry, lint-free cloth wiped across the platen and typebars now and then keeps print clean. Keep your old spools too. They weigh almost nothing, they cost nothing to store, and they are the simplest fix if a future ribbon arrives on a hub your machine will not take. Who this suits Anyone with a working manual typewriter they actually use. Letter writers, journal keepers, poets who like the sound of keys, students who type drafts away from a screen. If you own more than one machine, the twin pack is even more useful, because the two ribbons can go into two different typewriters. It also suits someone restoring a machine they have just brought home. Old ribbons in secondhand typewriters are nearly always dried out, and a fresh ribbon is usually the difference between a typewriter that looks lovely and one that writes well. The short version Two ribbons, black and red ink, universal 2-inch (5 cm) plastic spools, 13 mm (half-inch) ribbon width, two auto-reverse grommets. Check your existing spool against those numbers and you will know quickly whether it fits. If the spool is wrong but the width is right, wind the ribbon onto your own spools and carry on. Keep the spare somewhere cool and dark, and you will not be caught out the next time a page comes out grey."
    },
    {
      "id": "universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs",
      "sku": "(A)-universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs",
      "title": "Universal Typewriter Ribbon 4 Pairs",
      "slug": "universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs",
      "price": 33.99,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "ribbons",
      "category_label": "Ribbons",
      "tags": [],
      "colors": [],
      "materials": [],
      "dimensions": null,
      "weight": "90 g",
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/ribbons/universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs/main-universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/ribbons/universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs/universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs-6.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "Four pairs of nylon fabric ribbon, 13 mm (half an inch) wide, on twin spools in black ink. The maker says it suits most typewriters, and a swap takes minutes.",
      "description": "The problem with a tired ribbon\n\nA typewriter does not fail dramatically. It fades. One day the letters look a bit light, so you press harder. A week later the middle of each character has gone hollow. Then the top line of the page prints fine and the bottom half looks like a rubbing taken off a gravestone. Nothing is broken. The ribbon has simply run out of ink.\n\nThat is the most common reason a working machine ends up in a cupboard. The owner cannot find a replacement ribbon, assumes the typewriter is obsolete, and the whole thing gets put away. It is a shame, because a ribbon is a consumable, the same as ink in a pen. You are meant to change it. Buying a few pairs at once means the day the type fades, you fix it in two minutes instead of spending a fortnight searching.\n\nHow a typewriter ribbon actually works\n\nThe mechanism is lovely and simple. The ribbon is a long strip of inked fabric wound between two spools. One spool feeds, the other takes up. As you type, a small arm called the vibrator lifts the ribbon up in front of the paper at the exact moment the typebar swings forward. The typebar hits the ribbon, the ribbon presses against the paper, and ink transfers in the shape of the letter.\n\nBecause the tape only advances a fraction with each strike, the same stretch gets reused many times before it moves past. When the feed spool empties, most machines reverse direction and run the tape back the other way, using the untouched lower band. That is why a good ribbon seems to go on and on, then suddenly stops delivering once both passes are spent.\n\nThe tape here is nylon fabric, half an inch (13 mm) wide. The maker chose nylon for clean, crisp printing, and it is a common ribbon fabric because it holds ink and keeps character edges sharp. A loosely woven or worn ribbon spreads the ink sideways and your letters get fuzzy.\n\nBlack ink, and a note on red\n\nThis is a black ribbon. The product name says black, the maker's specification says black, and every photo shows a plain black tape. One line in the maker's listing mentions black and red ink, so it is worth being clear: don't buy this pack expecting a red band. If you want two colours, choose a ribbon that is plainly sold as black and red.\n\nFor most typing that is no loss. Letters, drafts, envelopes, labels and forms are all black-ink jobs. Your typewriter's colour selector, the small lever or dial near the keyboard that raises or lowers the vibrator, can stay on the black setting.\n\nSome machines also have a stencil setting on the same lever, which drops the ribbon out of the way entirely so the typebars hit the paper directly. That is for cutting stencils, not for everyday typing, and you will get blank pages if you leave the lever there by accident.\n\nWill it fit your machine?\n\nThis is the question that matters, and the honest answer is measure first. The format here is a twin spool pair with half-inch (13 mm) tape. That combination covers a very wide range of manual portables and desktop typewriters, which is why it gets described as universal. It is not a promise about any particular named model.\n\nHere is what to check before you order. Open the ribbon cover and look at what is inside. If you see two round spools sitting on posts, you have a twin spool machine. If you see a single sealed plastic unit that clicks in and out, you have a cartridge machine and you need a cartridge instead.\n\nNext, pull the ribbon out slightly and measure the tape against a ruler. Half an inch, about 12.7 mm, is the match. Quarter inch and wider ribbons exist, mostly on specialised machines.\n\nFinally, look at the spools themselves. Some older typewriters use a spool with a particular hub shape or a notch that engages a drive pin. If yours is unusual, you are not stuck. Plenty of people buy ribbon for the tape alone and wind it onto their original spools. It takes patience and clean hands, but it works, and it is how most collectors keep rare machines running.\n\nFitting a new pair\n\nSet yourself up before you start. Lay a sheet of newspaper on the desk, have a paper towel handy, and take a photo of the existing ribbon path with your phone. That photo will save you if the threading looks confusing once the old ribbon is out.\n\nWind the remaining ribbon onto one spool so nothing trails loose. Lift both spools off their posts and set them aside. Place the new pair on the posts, making sure each one seats fully and turns freely. Then thread the tape outward from the feed spool, through the ribbon guide, across the vibrator at the front, through the second guide and onto the take-up spool. Most spools have a small hook or slot to hold the end.\n\nTurn the take-up spool by hand a few times to pull the tape taut. Check that the ribbon sits in the guides and not above or below them. Then type a line of test characters. If the letters are dark and even, you are done. If the ribbon is not advancing, the usual culprit is a spool that is not properly seated or a tape end that slipped off its hook.\n\nHandle the tape by the spool edges rather than the fabric. Fresh ink transfers readily to fingers and from there to paper, shirt cuffs and door handles.\n\nWho this pack suits\n\nFour pairs is a sensible quantity for someone who types regularly. A writer working through drafts will get through ribbons steadily. A small office still using a typewriter for forms and envelopes will too.\n\nIt also suits anyone who has just bought a second-hand machine. Almost every typewriter that comes out of a garage or an auction has a dried ribbon in it, and the first job is always a replacement. Having spares means you can test the machine properly rather than wondering whether the weak print is the ribbon or the mechanism.\n\nCollectors with several machines can spread the four pairs across them. And if you are typing for the look of it, on labels, tags, place cards or craft projects, you want strong ink, so changing ribbons more often is part of the job.\n\nStorage and care\n\nInk dries when it is exposed to heat, air and light. Leave the spares sealed in their packaging and keep them in a drawer or cupboard rather than on a sunny windowsill. A cool, dry spot is all you need.\n\nKeep your typewriter covered between sessions. Dust that lands on a ribbon gets pressed into the paper along with the ink and leaves speckles. If the machine lives on a desk, a cover or a case is worth it.\n\nWash your hands after fitting a ribbon, before you touch paper. And if ink does get onto a page, do not rub it. Blot it and leave it.\n\nThe short version\n\nA ribbon is a consumable, not a repair. When your type fades, you change it, and the machine is as good as it was before. This pack gives you four pairs of half-inch (13 mm) nylon fabric tape on twin spools, in black ink.\n\nMeasure your current ribbon before ordering, check that your machine uses two spools rather than a cartridge, and you will know straight away whether this is the right format. Fitting takes a couple of minutes and needs no tools or power. Store the spares somewhere cool and dark, and you will have sharp, dark type available whenever you sit down to write.",
      "llm_summary": "A pack of four pairs of universal typewriter ribbons for machines that take twin spools. The ribbon tape is nylon fabric, half an inch (13 mm) wide, in black ink. The product name, specification and photos all show a plain black ribbon, although one line of the maker's listing mentions black and red. No batteries are required and fitting needs no tools. The package measures 17 x 9.6 x 2 cm and weighs 90 g. Country or region of origin is listed as China. The maker does not state a spool diameter or ribbon length. Compatibility is stated only as suiting most typewriters that accept half-inch twin spool ribbons.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/universal-typewriter-ribbon-4-pairs.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 40.99,
      "description_text": "The problem with a tired ribbon A typewriter does not fail dramatically. It fades. One day the letters look a bit light, so you press harder. A week later the middle of each character has gone hollow. Then the top line of the page prints fine and the bottom half looks like a rubbing taken off a gravestone. Nothing is broken. The ribbon has simply run out of ink. That is the most common reason a working machine ends up in a cupboard. The owner cannot find a replacement ribbon, assumes the typewriter is obsolete, and the whole thing gets put away. It is a shame, because a ribbon is a consumable, the same as ink in a pen. You are meant to change it. Buying a few pairs at once means the day the type fades, you fix it in two minutes instead of spending a fortnight searching. How a typewriter ribbon actually works The mechanism is lovely and simple. The ribbon is a long strip of inked fabric wound between two spools. One spool feeds, the other takes up. As you type, a small arm called the vibrator lifts the ribbon up in front of the paper at the exact moment the typebar swings forward. The typebar hits the ribbon, the ribbon presses against the paper, and ink transfers in the shape of the letter. Because the tape only advances a fraction with each strike, the same stretch gets reused many times before it moves past. When the feed spool empties, most machines reverse direction and run the tape back the other way, using the untouched lower band. That is why a good ribbon seems to go on and on, then suddenly stops delivering once both passes are spent. The tape here is nylon fabric, half an inch (13 mm) wide. The maker chose nylon for clean, crisp printing, and it is a common ribbon fabric because it holds ink and keeps character edges sharp. A loosely woven or worn ribbon spreads the ink sideways and your letters get fuzzy. Black ink, and a note on red This is a black ribbon. The product name says black, the maker's specification says black, and every photo shows a plain black tape. One line in the maker's listing mentions black and red ink, so it is worth being clear: don't buy this pack expecting a red band. If you want two colours, choose a ribbon that is plainly sold as black and red. For most typing that is no loss. Letters, drafts, envelopes, labels and forms are all black-ink jobs. Your typewriter's colour selector, the small lever or dial near the keyboard that raises or lowers the vibrator, can stay on the black setting. Some machines also have a stencil setting on the same lever, which drops the ribbon out of the way entirely so the typebars hit the paper directly. That is for cutting stencils, not for everyday typing, and you will get blank pages if you leave the lever there by accident. Will it fit your machine? This is the question that matters, and the honest answer is measure first. The format here is a twin spool pair with half-inch (13 mm) tape. That combination covers a very wide range of manual portables and desktop typewriters, which is why it gets described as universal. It is not a promise about any particular named model. Here is what to check before you order. Open the ribbon cover and look at what is inside. If you see two round spools sitting on posts, you have a twin spool machine. If you see a single sealed plastic unit that clicks in and out, you have a cartridge machine and you need a cartridge instead. Next, pull the ribbon out slightly and measure the tape against a ruler. Half an inch, about 12.7 mm, is the match. Quarter inch and wider ribbons exist, mostly on specialised machines. Finally, look at the spools themselves. Some older typewriters use a spool with a particular hub shape or a notch that engages a drive pin. If yours is unusual, you are not stuck. Plenty of people buy ribbon for the tape alone and wind it onto their original spools. It takes patience and clean hands, but it works, and it is how most collectors keep rare machines running. Fitting a new pair Set yourself up before you start. Lay a sheet of newspaper on the desk, have a paper towel handy, and take a photo of the existing ribbon path with your phone. That photo will save you if the threading looks confusing once the old ribbon is out. Wind the remaining ribbon onto one spool so nothing trails loose. Lift both spools off their posts and set them aside. Place the new pair on the posts, making sure each one seats fully and turns freely. Then thread the tape outward from the feed spool, through the ribbon guide, across the vibrator at the front, through the second guide and onto the take-up spool. Most spools have a small hook or slot to hold the end. Turn the take-up spool by hand a few times to pull the tape taut. Check that the ribbon sits in the guides and not above or below them. Then type a line of test characters. If the letters are dark and even, you are done. If the ribbon is not advancing, the usual culprit is a spool that is not properly seated or a tape end that slipped off its hook. Handle the tape by the spool edges rather than the fabric. Fresh ink transfers readily to fingers and from there to paper, shirt cuffs and door handles. Who this pack suits Four pairs is a sensible quantity for someone who types regularly. A writer working through drafts will get through ribbons steadily. A small office still using a typewriter for forms and envelopes will too. It also suits anyone who has just bought a second-hand machine. Almost every typewriter that comes out of a garage or an auction has a dried ribbon in it, and the first job is always a replacement. Having spares means you can test the machine properly rather than wondering whether the weak print is the ribbon or the mechanism. Collectors with several machines can spread the four pairs across them. And if you are typing for the look of it, on labels, tags, place cards or craft projects, you want strong ink, so changing ribbons more often is part of the job. Storage and care Ink dries when it is exposed to heat, air and light. Leave the spares sealed in their packaging and keep them in a drawer or cupboard rather than on a sunny windowsill. A cool, dry spot is all you need. Keep your typewriter covered between sessions. Dust that lands on a ribbon gets pressed into the paper along with the ink and leaves speckles. If the machine lives on a desk, a cover or a case is worth it. Wash your hands after fitting a ribbon, before you touch paper. And if ink does get onto a page, do not rub it. Blot it and leave it. The short version A ribbon is a consumable, not a repair. When your type fades, you change it, and the machine is as good as it was before. This pack gives you four pairs of half-inch (13 mm) nylon fabric tape on twin spools, in black ink. Measure your current ribbon before ordering, check that your machine uses two spools rather than a cartridge, and you will know straight away whether this is the right format. Fitting takes a couple of minutes and needs no tools or power. Store the spares somewhere cool and dark, and you will have sharp, dark type available whenever you sit down to write."
    },
    {
      "id": "vintage-manual-typewriter",
      "sku": "(A)-vintage-manual-typewriter",
      "title": "Vintage Manual Typewriter (1980)",
      "slug": "vintage-manual-typewriter",
      "price": 449,
      "currency": "NZD",
      "availability": "in_stock",
      "category": "typewriters",
      "category_label": "Typewriters",
      "tags": [
        "typewriters",
        "manual typewriter",
        "vintage",
        "working",
        "portable",
        "1980"
      ],
      "colors": [
        "White (off-white)"
      ],
      "materials": [
        "Metal mechanism with metal and plastic body"
      ],
      "dimensions": {
        "length": 30,
        "width": 30,
        "height": 10,
        "unit": "cm"
      },
      "weight": null,
      "images": [
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/typewriters/vintage-manual-typewriter/main-vintage-manual-typewriter.jpg",
        "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/dropship-images/typewriters/vintage-manual-typewriter/vintage-manual-typewriter-2.jpg"
      ],
      "description_short": "This working vintage typewriter is a portable mechanical machine in off-white, with a QWERTY keyboard, a two-colour ribbon, adjustable line spacing, and its own hard carry case. No power needed.",
      "description": "What you are actually buying\n\nThis is a genuine manual typewriter made in 1980. It is worth being plain about that from the start, because it sets the right expectations. You are not buying a new machine, and you are not buying a decorative model that only looks the part. You are buying a real, working tool that is more than 40 years old and still types.\n\nThat comes with good and with trade-offs. The good is that it has the weight, the sound, and the feel that only a real vintage machine has. The trade-off is age. Expect a few marks, scuffs, or small signs of wear on the body, and know that every machine is a little different. If you want something flawless and modern, this is not the right pick. If you want the real thing, it is exactly right.\n\nTo make these machines reliable, each one is tested before it ships and fitted with a fresh ribbon. That is an important step with vintage gear, because an old typewriter that has sat in a cupboard for years can be stiff or dry. A test and a new ribbon mean yours should type cleanly from the first page.\n\nHow a manual typewriter works\n\nThe appeal of a manual typewriter is how simple and direct it is. You wind a sheet of paper around the roller, you press a key, and a metal type bar swings up and strikes an inked ribbon against the paper. The letter prints. You move along, and at the end of a line you push the carriage return lever to start the next one. No power, no menus, no screen.\n\nThis machine has the controls you would expect. The keyboard is a familiar QWERTY layout in English. A case shift gives you capital letters, either one at a time or locked on for a run. The ribbon is a two-colour type, black and red, with a selector so you can switch colours, which is handy for marking edits or headings. And the line spacing adjusts, so you can set tight spacing for a rough draft or wider spacing for a letter.\n\nNone of this needs explaining once you have a page in front of you. It is the kind of tool you understand by using it. And if you have never touched a typewriter before, the maker can send an electronic manual so you can get the hang of it in a few minutes.\n\nWhy people are going back to typewriters\n\nThere is a real reason a retro manual typewriter feels good to use in a world full of screens. When you type on one, you cannot scroll, you cannot check your phone, and you cannot delete a sentence the second you write it. You just write. A lot of writers find that this single feature does more for their focus than any app ever has.\n\nIt is also about the feel. The press of the keys, the clack of the type bars, and the ding at the end of a line are part of the pleasure. A typed letter on real paper carries a weight that an email never will. For handling envelopes, writing letters, taking notes, or drafting a novel, a mechanical machine turns a chore into something you look forward to.\n\nAnd there is the object itself. A genuine 1980 typewriter is a collectible typewriter that you can also use every day. It looks wonderful on a desk, it starts conversations, and unlike a decorative model it earns its place by actually working.\n\nGetting set up\n\nSetup takes a minute. Lift the machine out of its hard carry case and set it on a steady table at a comfortable height. Take a sheet of ordinary paper, feed it behind the roller, and turn the knob to wind it up to where you want to start. Standard printer or letter paper works fine, and lighter weights feed most smoothly.\n\nCheck the ribbon colour selector is set where you want it, usually black. Then just type. Use a firm, even press rather than a light tap, since the keys need a little more force than a computer keyboard. At the end of each line, swing the carriage return lever back to move down and start again. That rhythm becomes second nature fast.\n\nIf you want capitals, hold the shift. If you want a run of capitals, use the shift lock. To change how far apart your lines sit, set the line spacing control before you start a page. None of it is complicated, and a page or two of practice is all most people need.\n\nLooking after it\n\nA vintage typewriter rewards a little basic care. Keep it dry and out of damp rooms, because moisture is the enemy of old metal. Dust the keys and the body now and then with a soft, dry cloth or a soft brush, and close the case when you are finished so dust stays out of the mechanism.\n\nThe best maintenance is simply using it. Typing a few lines every so often keeps the moving parts free and stops them seizing up. Avoid drowning it in oil, and never wash any part with water. If a key feels sticky, gentle use and a soft brush usually free it.\n\nWhen the print starts to look faint, the ribbon has run low. Replacing it is a standard job. You lift out the old spools, wind a new two-colour ribbon along the same path, and clip it in. The first time takes a few minutes, and after that it is quick.\n\nIs it right for you\n\nThis typewriter suits a particular kind of buyer, and it is worth knowing if that is you. It is a great match if you are a writer who wants to get off a screen, a letter writer who likes the personal touch, a student or journalist who wants to focus, or a collector who would rather own a working machine than an ornament. As a manual typewriter for writers, it does one job and does it honestly.\n\nIt is less of a match if you need flawless, modern looks, or if you are not comfortable with the marks and quirks of a 40-year-old machine. There is no spellcheck, no delete key, no undo button, and no autocorrect waiting to fix you. For many people that is the whole point. For others it is a deal breaker, and that is fine.\n\nIf you do want the real thing, this is a straightforward way to get it. A genuine 1980 machine, tested, re-ribboned, and packed in its own case, ready for you to roll in a sheet of paper and write the way it used to be done.",
      "llm_summary": "The Vintage Manual Typewriter is a genuine working manual typewriter made in 1980, sold as a used vintage machine rather than a new product or a decorative model. It is fully mechanical and needs no power, battery, or screen. Before dispatch it is tested and fitted with a fresh two-colour (black and red) ribbon so it is ready to type on arrival. It has a QWERTY English keyboard, a case shift for capitals, a ribbon colour selector, and adjustable line spacing. The body is off-white and measures about 30 x 30 x 10 cm, and it comes in its own hard carry case with a handle. Being over 40 years old, each machine shows honest marks and wear that vary piece to piece. An electronic user manual is available on request. Exact weight, original maker, and country of origin are not confirmed in this record.",
      "returnable": true,
      "return_policy": "Voluntary 14-day change-of-mind returns in original condition, buyer pays return postage; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 rights for faulty goods. Return postage on faulty goods is ours.",
      "shipping_profile": "standard",
      "warranty": null,
      "brand": "Vintage Typewriter Company",
      "gtin": null,
      "mpn": null,
      "condition": "new",
      "url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/vintage-manual-typewriter",
      "canonical_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/vintage-manual-typewriter",
      "json_url": "https://vintagetypewriter.co.nz/api/products/vintage-manual-typewriter.json",
      "updated_at": "2026-10-21",
      "compare_at_price": 499,
      "description_text": "What you are actually buying This is a genuine manual typewriter made in 1980. It is worth being plain about that from the start, because it sets the right expectations. You are not buying a new machine, and you are not buying a decorative model that only looks the part. You are buying a real, working tool that is more than 40 years old and still types. That comes with good and with trade-offs. The good is that it has the weight, the sound, and the feel that only a real vintage machine has. The trade-off is age. Expect a few marks, scuffs, or small signs of wear on the body, and know that every machine is a little different. If you want something flawless and modern, this is not the right pick. If you want the real thing, it is exactly right. To make these machines reliable, each one is tested before it ships and fitted with a fresh ribbon. That is an important step with vintage gear, because an old typewriter that has sat in a cupboard for years can be stiff or dry. A test and a new ribbon mean yours should type cleanly from the first page. How a manual typewriter works The appeal of a manual typewriter is how simple and direct it is. You wind a sheet of paper around the roller, you press a key, and a metal type bar swings up and strikes an inked ribbon against the paper. The letter prints. You move along, and at the end of a line you push the carriage return lever to start the next one. No power, no menus, no screen. This machine has the controls you would expect. The keyboard is a familiar QWERTY layout in English. A case shift gives you capital letters, either one at a time or locked on for a run. The ribbon is a two-colour type, black and red, with a selector so you can switch colours, which is handy for marking edits or headings. And the line spacing adjusts, so you can set tight spacing for a rough draft or wider spacing for a letter. None of this needs explaining once you have a page in front of you. It is the kind of tool you understand by using it. And if you have never touched a typewriter before, the maker can send an electronic manual so you can get the hang of it in a few minutes. Why people are going back to typewriters There is a real reason a retro manual typewriter feels good to use in a world full of screens. When you type on one, you cannot scroll, you cannot check your phone, and you cannot delete a sentence the second you write it. You just write. A lot of writers find that this single feature does more for their focus than any app ever has. It is also about the feel. The press of the keys, the clack of the type bars, and the ding at the end of a line are part of the pleasure. A typed letter on real paper carries a weight that an email never will. For handling envelopes, writing letters, taking notes, or drafting a novel, a mechanical machine turns a chore into something you look forward to. And there is the object itself. A genuine 1980 typewriter is a collectible typewriter that you can also use every day. It looks wonderful on a desk, it starts conversations, and unlike a decorative model it earns its place by actually working. Getting set up Setup takes a minute. Lift the machine out of its hard carry case and set it on a steady table at a comfortable height. Take a sheet of ordinary paper, feed it behind the roller, and turn the knob to wind it up to where you want to start. Standard printer or letter paper works fine, and lighter weights feed most smoothly. Check the ribbon colour selector is set where you want it, usually black. Then just type. Use a firm, even press rather than a light tap, since the keys need a little more force than a computer keyboard. At the end of each line, swing the carriage return lever back to move down and start again. That rhythm becomes second nature fast. If you want capitals, hold the shift. If you want a run of capitals, use the shift lock. To change how far apart your lines sit, set the line spacing control before you start a page. None of it is complicated, and a page or two of practice is all most people need. Looking after it A vintage typewriter rewards a little basic care. Keep it dry and out of damp rooms, because moisture is the enemy of old metal. Dust the keys and the body now and then with a soft, dry cloth or a soft brush, and close the case when you are finished so dust stays out of the mechanism. The best maintenance is simply using it. Typing a few lines every so often keeps the moving parts free and stops them seizing up. Avoid drowning it in oil, and never wash any part with water. If a key feels sticky, gentle use and a soft brush usually free it. When the print starts to look faint, the ribbon has run low. Replacing it is a standard job. You lift out the old spools, wind a new two-colour ribbon along the same path, and clip it in. The first time takes a few minutes, and after that it is quick. Is it right for you This typewriter suits a particular kind of buyer, and it is worth knowing if that is you. It is a great match if you are a writer who wants to get off a screen, a letter writer who likes the personal touch, a student or journalist who wants to focus, or a collector who would rather own a working machine than an ornament. As a manual typewriter for writers, it does one job and does it honestly. It is less of a match if you need flawless, modern looks, or if you are not comfortable with the marks and quirks of a 40-year-old machine. There is no spellcheck, no delete key, no undo button, and no autocorrect waiting to fix you. For many people that is the whole point. For others it is a deal breaker, and that is fine. If you do want the real thing, this is a straightforward way to get it. A genuine 1980 machine, tested, re-ribboned, and packed in its own case, ready for you to roll in a sheet of paper and write the way it used to be done."
    }
  ]
}