I agree with Joe Clanin and Daniel Jones. At a rough count my various Teletypes use a total of 15 ribbons - too many to keep replacing with real Teletype ribbons. I bought a rivet set very similar to the Harbor Freight one.

I use a conductor's type punch to make a hole about a foot from the end of the ribbon. I does not matter that it usually leaves a flap attached. I put a grommet through the hole, put a washer on the other side and set it with the grommet tool.  Sometimes I have to put the head of the tool in a small vice to get enough force too set the grommet.

I put the ribbon on a machine and print until it reaches the other end then repeat the process. I print my news stream for a friend who is a security guard. He reads it at his desk when he gets bored So the print used to run through the ribbon does not go to waste.

I have an ink bottle with a brush. I brush ink onto the take-up side of a light ribbon as I am printing.By the time the ribbon reverses, the ink has had time to soak through the ribbon pack. It takes some practice to add enough ink but not too much. It works well for me. And again my friend gets the news copy.

There is always some friend who will be thrilled to read news torn off the Teletype!

Tom  N3CRK