Gary tuned up my vintage Remington typewriter, installed a new ribbon, unrusted my stuck keys, found an "S" key (that he said he had to look all over the world for) and expertly soldered it on. It only took a little over a week and he charged a reasonable rate for everything. I tipped him a little bit just because I really appreciate his craft and that there is still a typewriter repair guy open locally. The storefront is hard to find as the signage is faded away, but he IS still here and OPEN for business. I never had a hard time finding him in the store (even on a Saturday), but I would call first to make sure he is in the in just to make sure. Some reviews say the shop is in a shady area, but I am Long Beach born and bred and I urge you not to let these reviews deter you. It's a little working class shop and in a working class neighborhood. Great little shop and a wonderful typewriter repair guy! Thank you, Gary! read more

See all

Finding a typewriter repair person is rare so pat yourself on the back for Gary's is the absolute best. He has many reviews and deserves it Know that you have found "one of a kind "for Gary is as honest kind hardworking as he is perfectly able to complete this task. He's a genious with machines and knows what to do then fixes it. Special machines from the past are coming back hang on to Gary's number for the repairmen are not coming back. I found a friend that values the past and present. You can trust him, he is a one man operation so realize he is the most valuable find even over your new vintage machine . He has a heart of gold! read more

Long Beach is very lucky to have Mr. Gary's Typewriter fix shop. He was able to fix this old machine that my siblings and I used in the 80s - 90s. The price was very reasonable. The service was completed in less than 48 hours. My kiddo who wanted a typewriter is so happy to make this part of his collection of antiques. Thank you, Mr. Gary. read more

Gary's Typewriter Repairs - Fixed Typewriter - Office Equipment Near Me - Long Beach, California

Gary fixed a very old, very heavy Underwood electric typewriter that was completely frozen and wouldn't turn on. So very happy with the results and the price. read more

I've gone to Gary 6 years ago when I found a lovely electric typewriter while thrifting. It clearly hadn't been in use for quite some time and was definitely not treated very kindly in the pile of things at the thrift store. I found Gary's shop and he fixed it up within about a week. Replaced a spring which helped the motor make automatic spaces in between the letters and the rapid return for the end of a line. He also put in a new ribbon I've gone back this week for a normal tune-up. I haven't used it for a couple years so, while most of it is working, I have one key that is sticking. I look forward to having him have it working to its fullest capacity very soon UPDATE August 8 2020 Completely disappointed in my service this time around. After I typed up two postcards it stopped working. I take a peak inside to see that a belt came off and is completely shredded. An electric typewriter won't work without these belts. My space at was replaced (it needed it) but I would've liked to have been informed ahead of time that it wouldn't match my machine. Also in the process of it being replaced he chipped chunks of the machine off It was also returned to me without the bottom panel attached. Nor was it cleaned at all. You can see my keys are all in worn condition. A simple spray of alcohol and a brush would've been all it took to spruce them up a bit. Thoroughly disappointed. I drove an hour out each way to get this and I'll just YouTube all my fixes from now on. Update August 26th: I took it back to get that belt replaced which shouldn't have been overlooked the first time. It took a week for the belt to be put in. But when I got it back he didn't have a test paper like the first time and one key isn't working... again... which is one of the reasons I took it in to begin with. The bottom panel is still completely gone so I can see it's from the little chain that links together the key to the button. It's the same letter that wasn't working when I took it in. I'm just going to do my best to work on my machine myself because it's a waste for me to be driving 80 miles round trip to get to this shop. For me, that's already over a full tank of gas just to not have a fully functioning machine (back and forth 4x has been 320miles and my very old truck only gets 260miles a tank) read more

See all

Gary is awesome! I bought a 1950's era Hermes 3000 recently and although it looked great, it was in horrible working condition. I decided to try Gary because of all his great fantastic reviews on Yelp. Gary's shop filled to the brim with typewriters and typewriter parts. I called him in advanced and found Gary to be the nicest, most knowledgeable man with many many years of experience on all kinds of machines. He took a quick look at my machine and knew exactly what was wrong with it. My typewriter spacebar wasn't moving, it was making a horrible noise when you moved the carriage back and forth, a strange ribbon was tangled in the back, the tabs weren't working, and the ribbon was dry. In a just a few days, Gary was able to get my machine back to practically 100%!! The previous owner broke part of one of the cool features on it but Gary was able to fix as much of it as possible. I thought it was going to be impossible but getting that part even 50% fixed was a miracle. Now everything is working beautifully. Gary explained all the buttons and features on the typewriter. Did I mention how knowledgeable he is? He even complimented me on the great deal I got on it and was just a really nice man to meet. Best of all, Gary's services are so FAIR and REASONABLE!! I am truly pleased with his work and will go back to him again and again. Now that I have someone who can fix my typewriters, I can go buy more! read more

Gary's Typewriter Repairs - Hermes 3000 Gary repaired for me - Office Equipment Near Me - Long Beach, California

Extremely satisfied! Dropped my Typewriter off a week ago and called Gary to check in on it and he said it would be ready in a few days as he finalized some test on it. Respect his attention to detail and wanting to make sure it was in perfect working order. Picked it up and it looks great! Had paper ready for me so I could test it, and even explained a few of its features to me since I haven't had this model long(1950 Royal). Extremely happy with his service. read more

I needed my Royal Safari typewriter fixed after my grandson did something to it. Left it here and picked up in a few days. It works great now, better that before. I loved visiting the shop and talking typewriters. read more

Always affable and enthusiastic, Gary is a true typewriter aficionado and respects everyone from the old-timers who know the bells and whistles of their typewriters to the young literary hipsters looking to return to a golden age of literature. Call ahead, because Gary is frequently on service runs and dashing between different shops. He doesn't have set hours, but will accommodate his customers whenever they're available (he is closed on Sundays). His shop is filled with various typewriter bits and you will feel overwhelmed by the fond antiquities that have gained so much in romantic value. Hemingway typed, Fitzgerald typed, and there's a link to the past that guys like Gary have been working hard at preserving. His television is always on MeTV, and he's always more than happy to show you the latest typewriters he's working on, and willing to give you a cheerful history lesson on the various typewriters that he comes across in his store. His prices are reasonable and fair. For standard maintenance, he charges $55 - this includes a tune-up, lubrication, and an overall gauge of the machine's condition. New parts and accessories like bumpers, rollers, or ribbons are extra. Overall, very upfront and good. read more

Gary is gone. There is no Gary's at the address listed, it's a vacant building with no signs or even an address. I'm surprised to see a review as of 5/3/19, the place looks as if it's been vacant for years. I tried calling no answer, no message. As Karen S. said, it is in a not so inviting area of Long Beach, I didn't get out to ask any of the folks loitering around what had happened to Gary, but I feel confident in saying that Gary is gone. read more

I took in a 1926 Underwood Standard 4 Bank, the typewriter came out in worse shape than when it entered. First off, while cleaning the machine Gary stripped the original decal on the paper table. This was not noticed until I got home and removed the test paper he put in the typewriter to show it was typing just fine. Shortly after his repairs the typewriter started to freeze up again. I ended up having to take the typewriter in to another repair shop in Los Angeles to get everything fixed and working right. read more

Gary's Typewriter Repairs is a diamond in the rough. Tucked away in a tiny little space in North Long Beach, you'll find Gary, a very energetic and excited typewriter repairman. His little shop is full of old typewriters, keyboards, computer parts, and accessories. He was great at restoring an old Royal typewriter from the 1940s. Works like it's brand new out of the box! His pricing is fair (I think, since I've never had a typewriter repaired before), and his work is immaculate. I highly recommend his services! A tip though: Make sure to call before heading over. He isn't always at the shop, but he almost always answers his phone. read more

I was at Gary's today and can assure an earlier reviewer that he is still there. I walked into his small store today without calling ahead. I was looking for a particular typewriter that was similar to the one my mother owned which she gave me when I went off to college. Gary had two that were similar and I bought one of them. The one I wanted did not have a case, but Gary found one that fit. I felt that the price was fair and he also included a 6 month warranty if I discovered any problem with the machine. I was very pleased with my experience and can recommend Gary to anyone interested in typewriters. read more

I appreciate the professional and prompt service provided. I know using a typewriter might seem old fashion, but at times it is the best option available. Glad I was able to get it fixed without buying a new one. read more

Gary's is an amazing shop ran by an amazing guy. He happened to have the typewriter I have been searching years for on hand, and in perfect working condition. I was greeted at the front door and after I told him what I was looking for he immediately presented it with a certain showmanship that made the red selectric I seem all the more amazing. We talked about it and it's history as an old machine and what writers used similar models, as well as showing me other unique machines. Will definitely get any repairs done here as well as buying any other parts of typewriters. read more

I drove 45 minutes from Seal Beach to Gary's....got lost and am recuperating from a concussion. It was all worth it! The shop is in a crummy area of North Long Beach. Gary's shop is a beacon for writers and typewriter lovers. Gary serviced my 40 yr old electric Smith Corona while we chatted about "Rawhide",Maverick" and my favorite "Have Gun Will Travel". We shared our terrifying mutual experiences seeing "Psycho" as youths. When I became dizzy from my concussion,Gary kindly encouraged me to sit for awhile and gave me his own bottle of water. Aside from being a highly intelligent guy and a typewriter savant he is a genuinely terrific human being. He's got my loyalty and business until eternity. Karen Sands read more

Gary was the sweetest guy! He fixed my typewriter quickly & didn't charge me any crazy fees. He's a joy to be around, & I highly recommend going to his little shop & supporting small businesses! read more

Gary is a nice guy but I had to make multiple trips and in the end my Olivetti wasn't fixed and I ended up using up time and money, essentially for nothing. Fortunately I found someone--Mitch at Abbotts--in San Diego who's a wizard with typewriters. I have to drive an hour and a half to get to him, but the drive was worth it. read more

When I bought a typewriter off of eBay, it seemed like a good deal. I picked it up in person and all the keys worked nicely. I felt that it was a pretty good deal for 70 bucks. Anyway, it needed a ribbon and a little TLC and Gary got my Remington in great shape for a fair price. He really cares about what he does, you can tell! He also did a rough appraisal of my machine and told me it could fetch $300+ on the open market. Good to know, even though I'm not selling! Like Susana said, call before stopping by, as he's not always there (but is never far). read more

I found Gary on Yelp, and I couldn't be more pleased. I had given my daughter a vintage typewriter for her birthday, but it needed service. It had no ribbon and was probably not used in decades. I called him and set up a time for me to come down. You definitely have to call him, he leaves his place of business from time to time. So give him a heads up. But the work and quality was excellent. Price was good too. Thanks Gary!!! read more

Great Yelp find! Definitely call before you head over! Dropped off my 1940s Royal...it wouldn't advance, the platen was split down the center, and it needed new tape (and a good cleaning). Just picked it up (2 weeks later) and I practically have a brand new machine! Gary is so knowledgable and willing to show you what all the bells and whistles are for. He is a true enthusiast and craftsman. All that, and he is still reasonably priced! read more

Gary is a great business owner. I called Gary because I needed service on my Lettera 22 typewriter. When I called Gary, he knew exactly what I needed. He was even in the area and stopped by to pick up the typewriter. People don't really go out of their way anymore these days, but Gary did. Not only did he go out of his way, but he serviced my typewriter and it works better than ever! From business owner to business owner, Thanks Gary read more

Affordable and super nice guy! He came highly recommended and He got my Carlton running smooth!

Friendly and he knows what he's doing! The shop is small and filled with projects he is working on but don't let the mess worry you.

Gary is a genius for all things regarding manual and electric typewriters. Glad to see he's still going strong. Just be sure to call him before stopping by his shop as he might be out picking up or delivering a typewriter. Parking's a little tight by his shop so you might have to park on a side street. He is just west of Orange Ave on South Street right hand (north) side of the street... read more

Very friendly and quick turnaround! If I need another typewriter serviced I'll be sure to come back to Gary's.

Brought in my 1930's Royal typewriter for a tune-up to Gary's shop, now it's humming like a brand new machine! Gary's a true typewriter master magician! read more

This is the third time in many years that Gary has fixed my old Correcting Selectric II typewriter. Wouldn't let anybody else touch it - - he's the best! Such reasonable prices too. If you're looking to get your old typewriter fixed he's the man to do it. read more

I called Gary after reading the 5 star reviews on Yelp. I am very happy with his service. I needed 4 typewriters serviced and or repaired. He came out to my location and made all of our machines good as new. He is friendly and his prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend his services and I will be calling him whenever we need our machines serviced. read more

Fantastic! Such a cool small shop. Gary has very fair pricing and cares a lot about his work.

DO NOT TAKE AN ANTIQUE TO THIS PLACE! I should have listened to my gut when I walked into that hole in the wall. Dark, cramped, dirty, piled high with parts and crap everywhere. I purchased a 1920's portable typewriter that needed minor tuning up. The glass keys were pristine and un-oxidized (not yellowed with age) when I gave Gary my classic typewriter for a tuneup. Gary even said he was impressed by the condition of the keys. I didn't notice until I got my typewriter back home and in good light that Gary had switched out half the keys and given me oxidized/yellow ones. I have pictures of the typewriter, pre-Gary, that show all of the keys were white and one color when I acquired the typewriter. It's obvious that he took parts that he wanted. Also, he didn't really clean my typewriter. I think all he did was spray WD40 into the typewriter because it smelled like WD40 and the stuff was all over the keys, a greasy mess. DON'T TRUST THIS GUY. read more