Who are Mr. & Mrs. Vintage?
We are Walid and Joujou, a British-Lebanese couple with two beautiful kids and a full-time commitment to restoring and repairing vintage typewriters.
Self-taught in the unconventional art of rejuvenating typewriters, we restore them to their original charm, presence, and magic.
We proudly started from humble beginnings, cleaning and servicing our first typewriter on our kitchen countertop with a borrowed screwdriver.
Today, we are grateful to have our own workshop where we meticulously restore typewriters for delivery worldwide. We are also proud owners of one of the most unique and special typewriter collections in the world, comprising around 250 typewriters.
In 2018, we were invited as Typewriter Guest Experts on BBC’s prestigious and award-winning show “The Repair Shop,” where we filmed the restoration of a Pre-War Corona 3 Typewriter.
Now, we are the typewriter experts on “The Repair Shop” and have filmed two new episodes for upcoming seasons.
Exciting News! The Repair Shop episode 17, airing on October 23, 2024, will feature our latest repair for Series 13.
You can watch it on BBC One in the UK or on the BBC iPlayer.
From Series 4.
More Exciting News! If you are in the US, Canada, or several other countries, you can watch on The Repair Shop YouTube Channel (not available in the UK).
On the other hand, Netflix Productions asked us to restore three identical Glossy Imperial Good Companion Model 1 Typewriters for the movie “Mank,” an American biographical drama about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz. It was an honour to be trusted by this global production company to prepare these typewriters and restore a fourth from their inventory.
Additionally, we supplied a fifth typewriter to create the font for all the chyrons that run before the scenes in the movie.
Other Media Appearances:
1- In July 2018, we filmed part of an episode of BBC One’s “Money for Nothing” with master upholsterer and TV presenter Jay Blades, who collaborated with us on saving an Underwood 3 Bank Typewriter from being skipped. Episode 7 is available on iPlayer.
2- We were featured on a podcast on BBC World Service’s “Outlook” with Emily Webb, where we discussed how we started our typewriter restoration business and our passion for these magical machines.
Listen here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csyhhn (Minute 36 of the podcast).
3- In May 2018, we were featured in “The Simple Things” magazine, which highlighted our work and how these machines transformed our lives. View the full article here PDF Copy.
In the last six years, we have sold, repaired, and restored at least 4,000 typewriters for British and international editors, journalists, historians, musicians, scriptwriters, producers, scientists, typewriter collectors, and private individuals who wish to own a special typewriter.
Jerry Seinfeld used one of our typewriters for his last Movie, "Unfrosted" and signed for us a typewriter a thank you,
One of our Imperial Good Companion Typewriters was featured in the ABC Murders (Agatha Christie) by Mammoth productions on BBC one.
In 2018, we prepared a couple of typewriters for use in “The Crown” Season 3, which began airing in November 2019 on Netflix.
Our typewriters have travelled all around the world, reaching places like Alaska, Brunei, Western Australia, Hong Kong, the UAE, and throughout the UK—from the southern borders up to the Shetland Islands. They have also been shipped across Europe and to several American and Canadian states.
The most important part is that each typewriter is treated as a special project. We aim to ensure that it becomes a unique treasure in the hands of its new owner. So, do not settle for anything less than perfect.
With gratitude,
Walid & Joujou
Mr. & Mrs. Vintage