Wool felt is ideal and probably what the manufacturers used in the first place.  I would use UHU all-purpose glue to attach it.

Sorry, my picture was tiny.  This should help:



And yes, I already know, I can't spell worth a darn.

trampled wrote:

I'm interested in learning how to improve my technique

I recommend getting an old mid century typing textbook. Gregg Typing and 20th Century Typewriting are both good. I learned to type properly from doing the exercises in 20th Century Typewriting, and keep a copy on my desk. They can be found in used bookstores, eBay, and antique malls. In addition to technique and practice, they will teach all manner of things related to layouts and formatting as well.

Thanks for the book suggestions.  Sounds like just what I need.  I'll keep an eye out for them.

Yesterday's typing went much better.  No misses on the space bar.  Still having trouble getting the first letter of each line to line up, but I'm thinking this is also user error.  Also having trouble getting the letters to be the same darkness on the page.  Maybe this will improve with practice as my fingers get used to the motion.

I bought the felt yesterday and ordered the glue.  Since it's not an exceptionally special machine and I plan to use it often, I decided to customize it a bit and use coloured felt in the visible places (under the keys and spacebar).  While I wait for the glue, I think I'll make a dust cover.  I've an idea of what I want, but I've never seen anything like it online.  Is there a reason the dust covers are usually cloth?  Are there examples of hard shell dustcovers for a standard machine like this?

Unfortunately the ribbon on the Remington 10,12,16 - and of course your variant the 30 - is one of the most difficult for a novice to change.  The ribbon that you have seen on Etsy is intended for a much later model than yours (post-war).  Instead, buy any cheap ribbon locally or on e-bay etc.  It doesn't matter what the ribbon is supposed to fit, since you will be discarding the plastic spools anyway.  You will need to remove the right hand spool.  The left one is permanently screwed to the machine (I told you it would be awkward )  Make a little drawing or take some photos before you remove the old ribbon.  Wind all the fabric onto the right ribbon spool before you remove it by using the little cranking handle on the back right hand side of the machine. Detach the ribbon fabric from the left hand spool inside the machine.  It should be attached to the end of a short fabric strap that is in turn permanently attached to the spool.  Pull the RH spool and fabric out of the machine.  Before unwinding and getting rid of the old fabric, note which way the fabric is wound onto the spool.  It should be anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise in American)  Wind the new fabric onto the old spool.  If the ribbon that you bought had a stud, grommet or eyelet near the end, cut the ribbon short to remove it.  You may have a bit of trouble installing the new ribbon.  Refer back to your pictures or drawings to show you which way it goes.  A pair of tweezers might help with the threading.  Good luck !

P.S. I should have answered this before.  If you cannot get UHU glue, a spot of contact adhesive (Evo-Stick etc) would do the same job.