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Home » Underwood » Champion » 1946 #G1592578
1946 Underwood Champion Serial # G1592578 1946 Underwood Champion typewriter, Serial # G1592578 Javier Vazquez del Olmo's 1946 Underwood Champion typewriter. 2017-12-22 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Javier Vazquez del Olmo: 1946 Underwood Champion Serial # G1592578 Double points scored for this beauty!

First of all, Champions are nor very frequent around here so it´s great to find one in very good condition (ribbon included) at a really good price. The Champion can handle as much work as a larger typewriter, so this machine is very welcome.

Second, it has a Portuguese HCESAR keyboard. This is really interesting, because despite being neighbours, there are VERY FEW Portuguese typewriters in Spain. Apart from that, the HCESAR layout is mind boggling. Apparently it was imposed be Antonio de Oliveira Salazar when he was Minister of Health (I think), before he became the head of the Estado Novo. From then on, it was the only authorised layout and no other could be used. In theory this layout is faster for Portuguese, but in reality it´s a nightmare. It has absolutely nothing to do qith the more common QWERTY, QWERTZ or AZERTY layouts, and even in Portugal people were quite confused with it.

There´s something that puzzles me more than the keyboard: A weird plaque on the type basket with what looks like another s/n that doesn´t match with anything. What is it? (See photos)

Typeface sample coming soon. I simply forgot to take a photo of it!

--- UPDATE ---

Date changed. As Adam S and Mark Petersen point out, the true s/n is the one located on the basket, and the keytops don´t match with a 30´s model. That puts this typewriter in 1946.

1946 Underwood Champion #G1592578

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)
Created: 12-18-2017 at 08:05AM
Last Edit: 12-22-2017 at 09:12AM


Description:

Double points scored for this beauty!

First of all, Champions are nor very frequent around here so it´s great to find one in very good condition (ribbon included) at a really good price. The Champion can handle as much work as a larger typewriter, so this machine is very welcome.

Second, it has a Portuguese HCESAR keyboard. This is really interesting, because despite being neighbours, there are VERY FEW Portuguese typewriters in Spain. Apart from that, the HCESAR layout is mind boggling. Apparently it was imposed be Antonio de Oliveira Salazar when he was Minister of Health (I think), before he became the head of the Estado Novo. From then on, it was the only authorised layout and no other could be used. In theory this layout is faster for Portuguese, but in reality it´s a nightmare. It has absolutely nothing to do qith the more common QWERTY, QWERTZ or AZERTY layouts, and even in Portugal people were quite confused with it.

There´s something that puzzles me more than the keyboard: A weird plaque on the type basket with what looks like another s/n that doesn´t match with anything. What is it? (See photos)

Typeface sample coming soon. I simply forgot to take a photo of it!

--- UPDATE ---

Date changed. As Adam S and Mark Petersen point out, the true s/n is the one located on the basket, and the keytops don´t match with a 30´s model. That puts this typewriter in 1946.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:


That plaques is puzzling. Is it some kind of alternative serial number? The proper one is under the machine, stamped on the frame.
That plaques is puzzling. Is it some kind of alternative serial number? The proper one is under the machine, stamped on the frame.


HCESAR in all its glory!
HCESAR in all its glory!






The true serial number.
The true serial number.



Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)

Javier Vazquez del Olmo's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 6476

The first typewriter I saw was my grandpa´s Olivetti Linea 98 at the office. It was just a curio for me. Then I was given a Nakajima, which I didn´t use and my grandfather took it from me because it was easier to handle than the bulky Linea 98. Now I own that typewriter, and I started a little collection in Valladolid, Spain. The Nakajima, which is "my" typewriter only returned home in 2017, almost 20 years later, when he wanted a better typewriter.

A collection that started small grew into something bigger, a nuisace for my family and a great source of satisfaction for me.



RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Underwood Champion on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Underwood Serial Number page and the Underwood Champion By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.