I brought my old typewriter to Rees and the whole experience was amazing. He really knows his stuff and took the time to explain what needed to be done. You can tell he cares about the craft and about keeping these machines alive. The whole place is full of typewriters and I can't wait to add a cursive one to my collection at some point. My Olivetti typewriter came back working beautifully, and the turnaround was quicker than I expected. Super friendly, trustworthy, and worth every penny! Highly recommend if you've got a typewriter that needs some love. read more

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Nightmarish experience with Mr. Schultz and Rees Electronics. I brought in my 1940's Smith Corona for a tune up and ribbon change. The case was flawless. When I came back to pick it up, I was shocked to see it lying on its side on the floor in front of his counter. When he gave it back onto me, there were several scratches on the case! This beautiful machine had somehow made it nearly 80 years without a scratch-- that is, until I had the misfortune of trusting Mr. Schultz with it. To make matters worse, he denied he had caused the scratches, even when I showed him photos that I had taken of the typewriter before I brought it in for servicing. He ultimately bought the type from me, but not before screaming vulgarities at me. What a surreal and hellish experience it was dealing with this guy. read more

This review is a couple of years late but thank you for fixing my Royal Quiet De Luxe! It's working great again. Kind and skilled service. Super friendly. They even showed me all the wonderful typewriters they had in the shop. Thanks again! read more

Rees Electronics/ Star Typewriters - Electronics Repair Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing work and great personality. My typewriter works, and quick turnaround. He is an expert on what he does. Great price as well

Repeat customer. This time I needed my Voss Typewriter to be serviced and cleaned. Mr. Shultz and the staff were extremely friendly and got my typewriter working like new again! read more

Rees Electronics/ Star Typewriters - Corona Sterling Typewriter - Electronics Repair Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a great experience at Rees. I wanted to surprise my wife with a vintage typewriter for her birthday and looked through many different websites. Rees had the cleanest website that was actually up to date. I was even shown some other models that were similar, just for comparison. Actually, the model I ended up buying was not the exact one that I originally wanted - it was better! Custom black paint on the body of the Olympia SM9 (instead of the default white) was definitely the deciding factor. It's been decades since I've used a typewriter and was happy for the walkthrough as well as allowing a recording I could refer to later. Got a case and a new ribbon too! No pressure to buy anything, which I always appreciate. Now my wife loves it and uses it often - and it works great! So smooth, and the keys don't stick. All the levers work smoothly and it's great knowing that excellent service is just a phone call away if we have any questions. read more

Rees Electronics/ Star Typewriters - Olympia SM9 with custom paint! - Electronics Repair Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Well what can I say that has not already been mentioned by previous reviews. This is a gem when it comes to vintage machines and quality service and attention to detail from the owner. You come here to look for the best equipment you can use to start a journey into writing whatever your heart desires. I truly recommend this location for service needs, well kept vintage machines, and a great conversation and teaching when you are there. read more

Without a doubt, this is the most unprofessional experience I have ever encountered with any business of any kind. I am flabbergasted by the positive reviews. It pains me to leave a negative comment for a niche business, but that being said, I cannot emphasize enough that this place should be avoided. In short: if you're looking for someone to botch a simple job, charge you $134.80 for the privilege, and then call you a "f*cking creep" when you have the audacity to question the workmanship, this is where you'd go. Alternatively, if you're looking for a friendly and great technician, just go see Ruben at US Office Machine Company and save yourself the trouble. If you want the details of my encounter with Rees Electronics, keep reading (it's lengthy). Or you can just look at the photos I've provided and decide for yourself. The story: I bought a typewriter in good working condition on eBay ($150) to give to my father as a Christmas gift. Before I gifted it, I wanted to have it spruced up by an expert so I brought it to Rees Electronics. In addition to whatever light maintenance the typewriter needed, there was a broken-off piece in the rear of the typewriter that occurred in transit to me. When I dropped the typewriter off with the store, I gave very specific instructions: replace ribbon, tune up as needed, if the crack is something you can repair, great, but if not, please leave it alone and I'll fiddle with it myself. I provided the broken pieces to the shop (how else could he do the repair?) and showed the man who took in my typewriter exactly where the pieces were when detailing my instructions (they were taped to the interior of the case). Now apparently, the broken pieces were never discovered by the technician/owner, but he decided to take a crack at it anyway. When whatever he was attempting failed, he covered it up with black gaffer tape. My heart sank when I saw the typewriter. How can I give this as a gift? Looking under the tape at home, I was appalled to discover that not only did he exacerbate the problem, but now the issue can't be resolved because the broken pieces no longer fit due to the excess of epoxy (or whatever he used) that's bubbling out onto the plastic. And to add insult to injury, he put his business sticker on the typewriter. Who puts their business sticker on someone else's typewriter? As if botching a simple job and then overcharging me for it weren't bad enough, I called the business the following day and *politely* asked for a refund (seriously, I started off the phone call very respectfully ... it definitely didn't end that way though). When I explained why I was requesting a refund (irreversible damage), the owner *immediately* became agitated and began yelling, "Are you accusing me of bad workmanship?!" He then began a tirade, yelling at me about his educational background and technical degrees and how it's impossible for him to do bad work. Still calm at this point, I replied, "Sir, I think your ego is getting in the way. I'm not attacking you, I would just like a refund, please." Funnily, he actually concurred about the ego part, but then continued the histrionics and ultimately refused the refund. His excuse for the work was that he never received the broken pieces. If he didn't have the parts, why did he attempt the repair? I then had to explain again that when dropping my typewriter off, I gave very clear instructions that included showing the store operator the broken pieces and where they were located. Obviously, there's more than one level of incompetence in this shop and the message didn't get through. The argument then escalated and we both began yelling and cursing at each other. He ended the phone call by calling me a "f*cking creep" (his exact words) and then hung up on me. This type of encounter has never happened to me before (hence the review) and has left me perplexed how this business is still operating and receiving glowing reviews. What I've stated above is 100% true, but if you're hesitant to take a stranger at his word over an established business, I would refer you again to the photos of his work and you can decide for yourself if this is someone you would trust with your typewriter. read more

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"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Stay with me Yelpers, that might make a modicum of sense in a bit, or not. Rewind 1969. Do the math Yelpers I could be your grandma, although I'd prefer to be your auntie. "I highly suggest you enroll in the typing class prior to graduation." "With all due respect, sir, I'm college bound not the secretarial pool at the local grain elevator." (A comment I repent for often in the wee hours when I can't sleep reviewing my, oh so many transgressions.) "Well, with the 'quality' of your handwriting, professors will most likely suggest you go home and never apply for secretarial work. Just take the class " "In all fairness, sir, I'm an art major. Why would I have to know how to type?" "Oh, I don't know, I'm just a high school counselor who can type a transcript of this conversation for your file..." "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." So I sat in the class, not allowed to look at the IBM keyboard, my fingers, only stare at the cardboard keyboard facsimile posted high above all the work stations. There was music to help us increase our speed. I typed that sentence that uses ALL 26 letters of the alphabet over and over and over again: "the quick brauw fox kumped over teh lazy god." To this day, grateful for my computer minus that horrid IBM return lever, I'm still a three finger, minus little finger plus thumb typist who can type 40+ words a minute, so there! I believe Hemingway only used the two-finger/hunt & peck method which might have had something to do with alcohol. Long story, my story short, here's my Radio Generation hubby's story. Rees Electronics & Office Products to the rescue. Minor repair quickly remedied; like next day. Fair price. Mini tutorial. Bought more compatible ribbon and correction tape for his Brother typewriter. Happy hubby typing "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." but most likely his memoir. Unusual for LA, parking is easy! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_quick_brown_fox_jumps_over_the_lazy_dog read more

This little shop is tucked away and easy to overlook if you aren't actively searching for it. Inside, it is very tiny and crowed with typewriters- but that is not to be confused with messy. Despite the (probably hundreds) of them, helmut knew his inventory and exactly where everything was. I felt very welcomed by Helmut. He is very knowledgeable across all brands of typewriters, and was very happy and patient to answer any questions I had. I ended up taking home a tan smith corona super silent. One thing worth noting- after some use, i noticed one sticky key and inspected my corona thoroughly and flipped it over to discover- a dusty typewriter. BUT that wasn't a problem at all for me. I've had typewriters before and experience cleaning them. If that's something you might not be able to do, I'd advise asking helmut about typewriter cleaning fees or thoroughly inspecting before buying. Over all, I am very pleased! The shop and it's owner has a lot of heart. I am ecstatic with my purchase and will definitely be returning soon! read more

Rees Electronics/ Star Typewriters - Electronics Repair Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I bought a wonderful vintage typewriter from the VERY knowledgeable and helpful, Mr. Helmut. Great experience, I will be back. Many thanks.

So I'll admit, I didn't really know much about typewriters before coming here. I didn't even want to buy one. I needed to rent one just for an art project at a gallery. But the older gentleman inside eased me into different typewriters, understood my budget and my purpose, and sold me a typewriter not only under my budget but in EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION! I never thought I'd buy a typewriter in 2023. Looks like I'm coming back for my second and third soon! Thank you for helping me out! read more

Rees Electronics/ Star Typewriters - Typewriter - Electronics Repair Near Me - Los Angeles, California

If you are looking for a manual typewriter or need a repair, this is the place to go. Mr. Shulze is knowledgeable, skilled, patient, kind, and trustworthy. His store is like a typewriter museum, and he is full of interesting information. I had not imagined how much fun I would have looking for a manual typewriter for my granddaughter. There is a plethora of choices, Mr. Shulze gives good advice, and his prices are very reasonable. read more

Bought a typewriter and dropped off another. Couldn't be happier with my purchase or my service. Great guys, very colorful and fun.

You won't find more typewriters anywhere! The owner knows his stuff. I bought my seven-year-old grandson an electric typewriter and went ahead a got myself a manual typewriter also. Great merchandise and great help and knowledge! read more

Rees Electronics/ Star Typewriters - TYPING IS FUN!!! - Electronics Repair Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I recommend this place 100%. The service was great. This is a very small shop with a huge HEART!!!! The owner answers the phone, makes the appointment and greats you with a smile I took a very old typewriter with no case. He walked me through the process, told me how much it was going to be. Found me a case and left the typewriter like New!!! I am so happy I found him. read more

So, I went back a couple days after I purchased the Olympia SM3 and exchanged it for a 1967 HERMES 3000 with no trouble at all! The HERMES 3000 is more of a rarity item and costed about $100 more on their website but to my surprise, he did a free trade, regardless! I thought it would be a problem, making a mountain out of an ant hill, but Mr. Helmut Shulze was very patient and understanding. I told him I should have watched, CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER, before I made my purchase, because, after viewing the documentary, I became highly influenced to own the HERMES 3000. Of course, I had to wait an excruciating three days, having bought the Olympia on a Friday and they didnt open again till Monday. My mind was racing, "Would they even have the HERMES 3000?!" I tried not getting my hopes up but it was troubling.... I arrived on Monday, thirty minutes before they opened(of course I waited in the car), anxiously awaiting 10:30am to come, knowing a hungry, HERMES collector, was sure on his way! When 10:30am hit, I went on in, but Mr. Shulze had not arrived, but Steve, another worker there welcomed me in. I asked if I could wander around, looking through the hundreds of typewriter in and out of their carrying cases, and Steve said, "Of course! Mr. Shulze should be in soon." Mr. Shulze said I was the first ever to return an Olympia, to which he refers to as the Porche(or some other elegant car company) of type writers, that he would never forget me! I laughed, and told him that it felt too fancy for me, but really just wanted the Chevy instead. To my delight, he pulled out a couple of HERMES 3000, with two different font styles but ended up choosing this beauty here. The knob on the carriage had to be replaced but besides that, she purrs! And the keys are like butter, ever so softly cupping your fingers, and not as noisy as the OLYMPIA, being more boxy, less sleek, but more of a tougher look. It has such a great feel! I'll be back soon enough to buy myself a HERMES BABY/ROCKET for a more portable choice for on the go/travelling! Thanks REES ELECTRONICS, You filled my brain with the wonderful history of the typewriter and an awesome appreciation for this life changing invention. Talk to ya later, -Danny read more

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These guys are great!! They will even work on home office equip. They repaired my SnapScan in a few days. They also repair old typewriters or pretty much anything you can think of. The office is upstairs in an old building, and it's filled with amazing ok'd typewriters! Plus, they are sooo nice! Highly recommend!! read more

Excellent service and at a good price, considering they are one of the only remaining typewriter sales/services spots left in LA!

The owner was very nice and fixed a chewed through cord on my air purifier for a very reasonable piece. His shop is filled with vintage typewriters which was pretty cool. If you want a typewriter, this is the place to go! read more

I actually found this guy pricey and his work underwhelming. He likes to talk about typewriters -- it's true. My machine came back cleaner and functioning better, but still has some issues which he just didn't address. He does the work he wants to do (such as an apparent distaste for dirty cases). And one more thing -- for him it's all about Olympias, Olympias... maybe an Olivetti thrown in for good measure... the European makes. However, you should know that most of the old Olympias he touts feature a carriage shift mechanism, which if you haven't experienced one, can be mighty annoying to use after about 10 minutes or so. Many machines -- yes, including American ones -- have basket or "floating shifts" which are much easier on your fingers. That's better advice than anything I heard him say. Unfortunately, as of 2017, you have very few options for professional typewriter repair around Los Angeles and each one of these men has their pluses and minuses. Gone are the days when a tech would work on fine-tuning alignment, straightening out slugs -- now it's all about replacing ribbons and a belt here and there -- oh yes, and always the "cleaning service". My advice to anyone is to get a machine that's already in prime condition, preferably that has already had work, and pay a bit more upfront. read more

In our corporate world, Rees Electronics is a rare blend of high craftsmanship and excellent personal service. Helmut, the owner spent over an hour with me pulling out different styles and brands of typewriters from the ceiling stacked shelves. The place is crammed full. He patiently explained the differences and nuances of each model and let me type on every one as long as I wanted. He patiently answered all of my questions until I settled on a wonderful typewriter in my price range. Then, two weeks later I was given two beat up and frozen typewriters each over 100 years old. Helmut clearly wrote out work orders and pricing which I agreed to. He got each fully working and spruced up in the time frame he had set. A note on Yelp reviews: be wary of a negative review that includes a positive note about a competitor. Regardless, These old machines require someone who knows what they are doing. In dealing with Mr. Schultz, I feel he is a skilled, honest and decent man with a wonderful store. read more

This is an amazing shop with an amazing technician. Helmut Schulze will save your day and then some. I had my rare Hermes Standard 8 typewriter serviced here and the work was done quickly, and for a fair price. He was extremely knowledgable about typewriters. I highly recommend coming to this lovely place to either purchase a typewriter or to service one. It is a gem in Los Angeles. read more

Rees Electronics/ Star Typewriters - Hermes Standard 8 Typewriter - Electronics Repair Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Yes. Mr Schulze helped me with an Olivetti I own and couldn't have been more helpful, patient and knowledgeable. And if you're looking for a typewriter, he has many to select from. read more

Yeah, skip eBay. This is the coolest store you will ever set foot in. Mr. Schulze knows EVERYTHING about typewriter history and mechanics. I showed up just before they closed (it's upstairs, down the hall, in a two story building with a sign you won't notice if you aren't looking for it) and he spent about an hour touring me around the place and showing me the typewriters he was restoring for re-sale in various states of disrepair. Mr. Schulze worked for Adler back in Germany before opening up Rees Electronics and clearly has dedicated his life to mastering the craft. He helped me settle on the Olivetti Lettera 22, which was nearly fully restored and at a very reasonable price ($189). After giving him the deposit, he had it ready for me with a brand new black and white ribbon and a case thrown in just a few days later! I'll definitely be back! read more

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I bought a used typewriter for my 9-year-old son. On budget, extremely informative, knows literally more about typewriters than you knew there was to know. The shop is a phenomena and worth a visit if you like vintage things. read more

Avoid at all costs. I had a terrible experience with this store. I brought my HP Printer there last year when I was experiencing a problem with the paper not feeding. Paid $95 to have it 'fixed' only to have the same problem start happening a few months later. I finally get around to bringing it back to see what went wrong and if its an easy fix. I explain that I don't want to put any more money into the printer. I'm told its been too long (sucky but understandable). I ask if he can check with the owner "Sholtz" to see if there's anything he can do since its suffering the same problem I brought it there for originally. They find my original ticket/reciept and see that it has the same problem as before. I explicitly state "I don't want to put any more money into it, I'd rather just buy a new one." The employee replied saying he would check with the owner and would let me know before they went ahead with any repairs. I never hear back, about a week later I call to find out what's the status and they said they had to fix it again and it will be $95 I go there and ask why they went ahead and did work on it when I clearly said I don't want to spend any more money on it. They do a song and dance about "the technician just does the work" and placed the blame on me for bringing it there in the first place with expectations of it being fixed "for free" I said I don't know your store policy and was told by the employee that they would check with the owner before doing anything...if you had called and informed me that its another $95 I would have said not to do it and came and picked it up. Long story short they made the mistake of doing repairs without my authorization and then when suggested I just leave the printer with them since it was broke in the first place. After much back and forth and annoyance I agreed to pay $50 for the repairs in cash..only to then test it out and see that while it prints 1 sided, it still did not print double sided. Unfortunately they already had my money and had no intentions of giving it back or doing any further repairs. Horrible business. Very unprofessional and I encourage everyone to avoid and if you do ever go there, pay with credit card so you can dispute the charge if their 'repairs' don't actually fix the problem. read more

I honestly can't recommend Helmut Schulze and his store enough! His prices are fair and he was more than willing to take me through his amazing shop and try over 8 different versions of the Olympia SM9 I wanted. He's a typewriter genius and an even better man! I found myself hanging out in his shop for almost two hours learning the history of these awesome machines and talking about his roots in Germany as a mechanical engineer. Can't recommend this place enough and I will certainly be back! read more

This place is like magic. We came here to buy an average typewriter and we found a very expert and super passionate owner who has stories for each one of the beautiful typewriters he has in store. We left the place with a wonderful model from the 20s, super well maintained and repaired. If you are looking for a great typewriter then you have found your perfect place. read more

Go for the typewriters, stay for Helmut Schulze. A man who has devoted his life to typewriters, has enormous depth of knowledge and is a true craftsman. Plus, his inventory is amazing. Whether you're interested in an old Underwood or an Olivetti from the 60's or one of those Smith Corona electrics from the 80'd that take the cartridges--he has them all. Not as cheap as eBay but these are restored by someone who cares. read more

An amazing experience for anyone interested in vintage typewriters. The number and variety that Helmut has in the back area of the shop is incredible. Helmut is also so knowledgeable. Highly recommend a visit if you're in LA. Worth the trip. read more

The staff was really helpful! A very friendly and happy german shop owner will make your day!!! They have a great variety of products and I was really satisfied with the experience. read more

I dropped my typewriters off a week ago and haven't got them back yet, so this review is purely for the pleasure of finding this tiny little museum of old technology on Westwood Blvd. Helmut Schulze is great guy and was very eager to show me some of his lovely restored Olympia machines. I'd buy one, but I already have three typewriters that I use in rotation. Not sure I need a fourth. read more

This is a tiny specialty shop for vintage typewriters, not a general typewriter shop with a range of prices as I'd hoped, but once I stepped in the door, I was hooked. Most of the the typewriters cost over $200, but they are clean and in great condition and guaranteed for 90 days after purchase. The typewriters are beautiful but you have to peck type at them, due to the action of the keys; you can't speed type like on electric ones. Also, the shop gets crowded if there are two customers, so be prepared to wait around a bit if there are already people inside; these are not fast purchases, and you really need the owner's help to find what you are looking for- the machines are packed into the space, and not all are marked with prices. This is a fantastic outing for typewriter fanatics! read more

Mr. Schulze's enthusiasm for typewriters is infectious. I enjoyed browsing the shop, and he was more than generous with his time and my many questions. I walked away with an Adler J5, a machine that looks good, functions as expected, and I believe will last beyond my lifetime. I highly recommend Mr. Schulze to fellow typewriter aficionados! read more

Love this place, it is a small typewriter museum. Schulze is attentive and caring and will make your typewriter work again with all its vintage splendor. You can sell your old typewriter or fix yours OR buy an antique typewriter all for a fair price. They've got some real beauties in there. He is a typewriter artist pro, a real gem. He also comes down to the parking lot to help you carry your machine if you need him. read more

Mr. Schultz was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. We went in for a typewriter ribbon for my 70-something-year- old Smith-Corona, and he patiently and generously explained all the functions and inner workings. We walked out with the ribbon and a big smile on our faces. read more

Amazing and knowledgable service. I bought a typewriter at a great price, and I'll be coming back

I was referred here by an associate, for a digital transcription kit! Mr. Schultz was patient, kind, and his price was below what others had quoted me! Extremely happy with my purchase & the service I received! read more

As good as it gets. It's my absolute go-to address when it comes to typewriter related issues. Not only is Mr. Schultze extraordinarily knowledgeable but also a joy to talk to. read more