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1931 Merz Universal Serial # 50808 1931 Merz Universal typewriter, Serial # 50808 Nick Winter's 1931 Merz Universal typewriter. 2020-01-19 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Nick Winter: 1931 Merz Universal Serial # 50808 Something I always look out for when trawling eBay or the classifieds is a typewriter selling on the cheap because it's 'broken', alongside a disclaimer that the seller knows nothing about typewriters and isn't sure how to make it work. In my experience this tends to mean the typewriter is just carriage-locked!

I bought this Merz on that assumption and was well-rewarded for it. It came to me all the way from England, and when it arrived the case had collapsed on top which was nerve-wracking to see. Thankfully the machine itself was fine. It's a little rusted in some places but is restorable and I'm keen for the project. I love this strange little typewriter - the profile reminds me of a scaled-down Royal flatbed.

Does anybody know what the lever on the right that's the mirror image of the carriage return does? I haven't had the chance to have a close look yet but all it seems to do is move the paper rollers.

Sold May 2019.

1931 Merz Universal #50808

Status: Sightings
Hunter: Nick Winter (winter)
Created: 12-05-2015 at 12:47AM
Last Edit: 01-19-2020 at 03:44PM


Description:

Something I always look out for when trawling eBay or the classifieds is a typewriter selling on the cheap because it's 'broken', alongside a disclaimer that the seller knows nothing about typewriters and isn't sure how to make it work. In my experience this tends to mean the typewriter is just carriage-locked!

I bought this Merz on that assumption and was well-rewarded for it. It came to me all the way from England, and when it arrived the case had collapsed on top which was nerve-wracking to see. Thankfully the machine itself was fine. It's a little rusted in some places but is restorable and I'm keen for the project. I love this strange little typewriter - the profile reminds me of a scaled-down Royal flatbed.

Does anybody know what the lever on the right that's the mirror image of the carriage return does? I haven't had the chance to have a close look yet but all it seems to do is move the paper rollers.

Sold May 2019.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:


Does anyone know what this lever is designed to do?
Does anyone know what this lever is designed to do?



Hunter: Nick Winter (winter)

Nick Winter's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 817

Uni student located in Sydney, AUS. The amount of storage I have is a constant problem as I try to keep feeding my addiction...



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