1918 Underwood 5 #1068817
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Justin De Mello (jademello)
Created: 12-17-2017 at 04:08PM
Last Edit: 04-12-2019 at 03:58PM
Description:
This machine has been cleaned and refurbished. It's working again and I was very surprised that I got it working since it was frozen with rust and filth. Missing space bar has been replaced with the proper spacebar. Platen knob on he right was missing and is now in place. It's looking and working well now. The only problem with this one now is that the "T" is missing from the striker hammer but otherwise all is well with it. This one was a piggy mess, shown in one of the gallery pics just as I bought it as part of 6 in a batch for $17 each. Couldn't pass it up. I spent a couple of months working on this one, cleaning it and getting it unfrozen.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Justin De Mello (jademello)
Justin De Mello's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 432
I fell in love with typewriters when I was 13. I'm retired now. My first was a Corona #3 which I got free from a neighbor. Decades pass, life happened, and I lost interest. Then a few years back as a retiree I renewed my interest which is a bit of a happy obsession now. However, it's not just typewriters that captivate me; I love all types of old office equipment, too. I have a Dalton adding machine (which I've restored), several different working antique check writers, a Dictaphone, antique steno machine, business card press, postage stamp scale. I have a well equipped antique office that is spilling into all parts of my home. Most items are from the Machine Age: 1880's into the 1930's. Still, typewriters are complex and amazing pieces of machinery that I'm always drawn to.
Oddly my background and profession was in the computer industry. I worked in the banking business for 30 years developing systems for ATM,s, phone banking, then PC home banking. I started out in banking sorting mail in a mailroom, moved on to a hardware operator: keypunch card machines, huge IBM printers, printout bursting machines, tape drive and cathode ray tubes. I guess we have come a long way but typewriters have taken me back.
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.