1904 Underwood 5 #59675-5
Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
Created: 09-16-2024 at 06:12AM
Last Edit: 10-02-2025 at 02:35PM
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Description:
It types, but the typebars need a lot of work as well some escapement adjustment. It had seen a lot of use. The feed rollers were good. The feet were No. 6 type. The legend is an update. The 5 key glass is broken. It appears that something fell on the machine, as the rings around the 5 are nicked. I replaced the platen and feet with parts from a 50s-era rebuild. There is no hyphen. That key legend - turned a bit - is a degree symbol in lowercase. The tab scale was the wrong type. The mainspring winder is locked up.
The lack of a ribbon selector is the obvious identifier of an early model; however, there is a host of things that were updated along the way.
As always, the newspaper ads are a look into a long-forgotten past. These from 1903-1906 show one dealer touting a thousand machines in use in his territory. And by 1906, the most typewriters sold in such a short time. The ad search returns from 1900 to 1910 will grow by 800%. While not scientific, clearly a reflection of the massive increase in dealers and their ad budgets.
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
Photos:
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
James Grooms's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 17323
Typewriters are the perfect blend of using one's technical skills, history and functional purpose. My goal is type tested machines. My interests are not isolated to anyone area. For example, I am a big fan of Smith Corona electrics, mid century electrics and all things Royal.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Underwood 5 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Underwood Serial Number page and the Underwood 5 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
