Hi everyone,

You've all been very helpful in the past, and I hope you don't mind if I ask for your assistance again.

I picked up an Underwood portable (4, I think?) at a little antique shop in my hometown. It looks like this:

(I should post a photo, but gave up my tumblr account. You can look at the machine here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bakv43mAUFf/?taken-by=robertlong4man)

Never mind the word "PIG" that's written over and over again. I just like typing that word. 

The typewriter is in great shape! It's got some scuff marks from where someone appears to have rubbed his/her hands on it, which I like. It ought to be cleaned, but it works perfectly, and while I thought I would immediately sell it I think I'll hang onto it instead, and use it for writing a while, before it moves on.

The problem I have at the moment is that it needs a new ribbon and I don't know how to access the ribbon spools. They've got those metal caps on them, and while I'm sure I'll feel foolish when I learn how to remove them, there is no way to take them off that's obvious to me. If anyone knows what to do in this situation, I would appreciate the inside dirt on that process.