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1918 Royal 5 Serial # 389681 1918 Royal 5 typewriter, Serial # 389681 Wayne Bouchard's 1918 Royal 5 typewriter. 2025-07-18 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Wayne Bouchard: 1918 Royal 5 Serial # 389681 A Royal Standard No. 5 Typewriter.
Serial number 389681-5
Made in 1918, near the end of production for this model.

The design of this typewriter and its siblings, rather unique for its day, has been termed as the Royal "Flat Top" typewriters. The keyboard, due to the presence and shape of the cover plates beneath it, has been termed either a "stair step" or "waterfall" keyboard. All in all, this is a rather attractive unit, especially considering its competitors. May typewriters in service during the early period of Royal's production were still so-called "blind writers" in which you had to lift the platen to see what you were typing. "Visible" typewriters, as they were termed, were a veritable god-send for operators. While not the lightest typewriter, having a cast steel body, since this is a desktop unit, that goes in its favor as it makes it much less likely to "walk" across the desk as you type.

My particular unit had suffered some damage earlier in its life after having obviously been dropped. Thus, there were several things bent and out of shape, however it was still functional which made it a good candidate for repair work. This, though, was my first real extensive rebuild project and my first exposure to the Royal mechanics. Thus, it did suffer from some errors associated with learning and still bears some defects from that. Nonetheless, it works as well as can be expected and is still a fine typer. The decals are a bit worse for wear, but the finish, after having touched up lightly a few scars, looks fantastic and took a good shine. It's not exactly a "like new" antique, but remains an excellent sample of Royal's No. 5 typewriters and thus has a proud place in my collection!

1918 Royal 5 #389681

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Wayne Bouchard (azweb100)
Created: 07-18-2025 at 02:23AM
Last Edit: 07-18-2025 at 02:29AM

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Description:

A Royal Standard No. 5 Typewriter.
Serial number 389681-5
Made in 1918, near the end of production for this model.

The design of this typewriter and its siblings, rather unique for its day, has been termed as the Royal "Flat Top" typewriters. The keyboard, due to the presence and shape of the cover plates beneath it, has been termed either a "stair step" or "waterfall" keyboard. All in all, this is a rather attractive unit, especially considering its competitors. May typewriters in service during the early period of Royal's production were still so-called "blind writers" in which you had to lift the platen to see what you were typing. "Visible" typewriters, as they were termed, were a veritable god-send for operators. While not the lightest typewriter, having a cast steel body, since this is a desktop unit, that goes in its favor as it makes it much less likely to "walk" across the desk as you type.

My particular unit had suffered some damage earlier in its life after having obviously been dropped. Thus, there were several things bent and out of shape, however it was still functional which made it a good candidate for repair work. This, though, was my first real extensive rebuild project and my first exposure to the Royal mechanics. Thus, it did suffer from some errors associated with learning and still bears some defects from that. Nonetheless, it works as well as can be expected and is still a fine typer. The decals are a bit worse for wear, but the finish, after having touched up lightly a few scars, looks fantastic and took a good shine. It's not exactly a "like new" antique, but remains an excellent sample of Royal's No. 5 typewriters and thus has a proud place in my collection!

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:


The logo on the paper table is much the worse for wear, but its still a Royal.
The logo on the paper table is much the worse for wear, but its still a Royal.



Notice the very large tab bar and easily manipulable tabs.
Notice the very large tab bar and easily manipulable tabs.


The underside of any Royal typewriter is an absolute maze of linkages and springs and, due to the way things are constructed, makes fine tuning essential for good operation, but also a very tedious job. It also means that access for cleaning and service is challenging.
The underside of any Royal typewriter is an absolute maze of linkages and springs and, due to the way things are constructed, makes fine tuning essential for good operation, but also a very tedious job. It also means that access for cleaning and service is challenging.

The logo-bearing paper table flips all the way back to allow access to the margin stops and tab rack.
The logo-bearing paper table flips all the way back to allow access to the margin stops and tab rack.

Elite type face. I find it interesting that some of the "E"s are backwards.
Elite type face. I find it interesting that some of the "E"s are backwards.

Hunter: Wayne Bouchard (azweb100)

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

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1564

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.


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