1073 Brands 3459 Models 25611 Galleries 16214 Typefaces 6273 Patents
Home » Bennett » 2 » 1912 #23781
1912 Bennett 2 Serial # 23781 1912 Bennett 2 typewriter, Serial # 23781 Brian Decker's 1912 Bennett 2 typewriter. 2026-08-30 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Brian Decker: 1912 Bennett 2 Serial # 23781 2026-AUG-30, Gallery Creation.

This typewriter is from the Mike Meakin collection. Mike was the owner of Abacus Office Machines in Spokane, WA, which he started in 1961. Mike retired in 1992, leaving the operation of the business to his children. In addition to running a successful office machine business, Mike was an avid typewriter and adding machine collector, whose collection grew to over 450 machines over time. Mike passed away in 2025, and his children are now gradually selling off his collection. His daughter, Trudy, has graciously allowed me to create TWDB galleries for Mike's machines, to add to our knowledge base.

This machine is still listed on eBay and available as of this writing, 8/30/2026. It was a bit hard to categorize it, due to the "Bennett" decal on the paper table, and the relatively high serial number, I did not want to put it under the brand "Junior". Under the brand "Bennett", I don't know what differentiates the "Bennett" model from the "Pocket Model". Model "2" seems to be a Bennett Junior, so I have placed it here for now.

1912 Bennett 2 #23781

Status: Sightings
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 08-30-2026 at 11:05AM
Last Edit: 08-30-2026 at 11:47AM


Description:

2026-AUG-30, Gallery Creation.

This typewriter is from the Mike Meakin collection. Mike was the owner of Abacus Office Machines in Spokane, WA, which he started in 1961. Mike retired in 1992, leaving the operation of the business to his children. In addition to running a successful office machine business, Mike was an avid typewriter and adding machine collector, whose collection grew to over 450 machines over time. Mike passed away in 2025, and his children are now gradually selling off his collection. His daughter, Trudy, has graciously allowed me to create TWDB galleries for Mike's machines, to add to our knowledge base.

This machine is still listed on eBay and available as of this writing, 8/30/2026. It was a bit hard to categorize it, due to the "Bennett" decal on the paper table, and the relatively high serial number, I did not want to put it under the brand "Junior". Under the brand "Bennett", I don't know what differentiates the "Bennett" model from the "Pocket Model". Model "2" seems to be a Bennett Junior, so I have placed it here for now.

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

Photos:

Front view with case, keyboard removed.
Front view with case, keyboard removed.

Platen and paper table, front.
Platen and paper table, front.

Platen and paper table, aft.
Platen and paper table, aft.

Detail showing cracked platen.
Detail showing cracked platen.

Top-down view, carriage removed.
Top-down view, carriage removed.

Base plate.
Base plate.

Front view with underside of keyboard.
Front view with underside of keyboard.

Keyboard detail.
Keyboard detail.

Junior decal.
Junior decal.

Keyboard closeup showing missing "S" key.
Keyboard closeup showing missing "S" key.

Missing "S" key in a plastic baggie.
Missing "S" key in a plastic baggie.

Underside of keyboard, in front of the body of the machine.
Underside of keyboard, in front of the body of the machine.

Isolated underside of keyboard.
Isolated underside of keyboard.

Top-down view of type wheel.
Top-down view of type wheel.

Serial number.
Serial number.

eBay main listing page.
eBay main listing page.

Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)

Brian Decker's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 4596

My interest in typewriters started in 1997, when I was in graduate school at the University of Georgia. I purchased and read Darryl Rehr's book, joined ETC, and started reaching out to known collectors. I had several email interchanges with Richard Polt dating from that period. I also bought some of my first machines from Bob Aubert, and visited him at his home twice. After marriage and relocation to New England, I continued visiting antique shops and eBay, until other priorities put my typewriter hobby on hiatus around 2008.

In late 2024, I started up again, working on my machines and having some of them serviced professionally by New England Typewriter (NET) LLC (Merrimack, NH), until they closed their doors in December of 2025. Since mid-2025, I have been adding to my collection again, first with a Hermes 3000 purchase from NET, then with various auctions and purchases on eBay, when I find something that catches my eye.



RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Bennett 2 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Bennett Serial Number page and the Bennett 2 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.