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1917 Underwood 5 Serial # 1035993 1917 Underwood 5 typewriter, Serial # 1035993 Wayne Bouchard's 1917 Underwood 5 typewriter. 2024-03-16 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Wayne Bouchard: 1917 Underwood 5 Serial # 1035993 An Underwood No. 5 standard typewriter with standard width carriage. In really good condition, considering it is now a centenarian!
Fully functional and a pleasure to type on. Nothing quite matches the sound of an Underwood.
Underwood Pica typeface. 10 pitch, 6 LPI.

An interesting facet of this machine is the discrepancy between the serial number and the patent decals on the back. The serial number is from 1917 and certain aspects of the body style confirm that, but the patent decal has 1926 dates on it. It also has the wrong detailing in the decals and so on for that era. This means it was a typewriter that was in use for about 10 years and then sold off and/or sent out for refurbishment, which would have included basically a complete rebuild and repainting. Based on the dates on the decal in back, I'm saying it was done the next year, 1928, the year the company completed the reorganization into "Underwood-Elliot-Fisher" or 1929. This isn't 100% certain, but it's a fair educated guess. So the dating of the rebuild is going to be mostly based on when the style of decals was in use during such activities. Certainly this was, at latest, the early 1930s.

1917 Underwood 5 #1035993

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Wayne Bouchard (azweb100)
Created: 03-15-2024 at 09:31PM
Last Edit: 03-16-2024 at 11:51AM

Description Hunter 16 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

An Underwood No. 5 standard typewriter with standard width carriage. In really good condition, considering it is now a centenarian!
Fully functional and a pleasure to type on. Nothing quite matches the sound of an Underwood.
Underwood Pica typeface. 10 pitch, 6 LPI.

An interesting facet of this machine is the discrepancy between the serial number and the patent decals on the back. The serial number is from 1917 and certain aspects of the body style confirm that, but the patent decal has 1926 dates on it. It also has the wrong detailing in the decals and so on for that era. This means it was a typewriter that was in use for about 10 years and then sold off and/or sent out for refurbishment, which would have included basically a complete rebuild and repainting. Based on the dates on the decal in back, I'm saying it was done the next year, 1928, the year the company completed the reorganization into "Underwood-Elliot-Fisher" or 1929. This isn't 100% certain, but it's a fair educated guess. So the dating of the rebuild is going to be mostly based on when the style of decals was in use during such activities. Certainly this was, at latest, the early 1930s.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:









All the patent dates are clearly visible. The latest date is March 2, 1926
All the patent dates are clearly visible. The latest date is March 2, 1926



The decals here are in fine shape. The platen is hard, but still types well with a backing sheet.
The decals here are in fine shape. The platen is hard, but still types well with a backing sheet.

The Logo decal is a little worse for wear, but you can still see what it once was.
The Logo decal is a little worse for wear, but you can still see what it once was.

Standard keyboard layout. Some labels are a little off horizontal but not to the point of annoyance. After all, some specimens have labels that are basically upside down!
Standard keyboard layout. Some labels are a little off horizontal but not to the point of annoyance. After all, some specimens have labels that are basically upside down!


Note the "UP" mark on the slugs, designating the basic Underwood Pica typeface.
Note the "UP" mark on the slugs, designating the basic Underwood Pica typeface.

Hunter: Wayne Bouchard (azweb100)

Wayne Bouchard's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 774

Collector of several things, including typewriters, slide rules, and mechanical calculators.
Started collecting typewriters in 2023 with a Royal HHE like the one I did my first book report on when I was in school and using my dad's old typewriter.


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.

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