1927 Underwood Portable 4 Bank #4B 58459

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Fumitaka Hayashi (fhayashi)
Created: 07-08-2026 at 08:07PM
Last Edit: 07-08-2026 at 08:10PM

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Description:

An Underwood Portable 4-bank

In my attempt to collect various examples of Underwood Portables, I have acquired this Portable 4-bank. It is now the oldest Underwood Portable I own, and actually the oldest typewriter I own period.

The case and typewriter itself was in surprisingly good shape. There are some paint dings, and most significantly, the giant list of patent numbers on the back had been worn off somehow. I suspect a prior overzealous cleaning.

When I received it, the space bar was not advancing the carriage, and the keys were stuck as if the line-lock had been activated. Also, there was something wrong with the shift. After dismounting the typewriter from the case bottom, I discovered that the spool retention nut had fallen into the works, jamming the shift and messing with the margin/line-lock system. Removal of the nut simultaneously fixed the shift and supplied one of the two missing spool nuts.

It took some more disassembly and inspection to figure out the line-lock system, and discovered that it was just stuck in the locked position. A gentle nudge and some irrigation of the pivots with mineral spirits seems to have cleared it up.

It now types, and alignment is ok. However, the small paper rollers had developed flat spots. I've tried to smooth things out and made up for the lost diameter with some heat shrink, and now it sometimes feeds properly.

It's interesting to compare the mechanism used by Underwood for their portables. There are definitely some aspects to this mechanism that gets carried forward for the next ~30 years, only really changing significantly with the introduction of segment shift in the early 50's.

Another Goodwill acquisition. This was sent from Tacoma, Washington.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Marked PP. I am assuming this stands for Portable Pica. The later portables usually have either DP or UP codes.

Note one missing spool retention nut. The one that is on there was found inside the mechanism.

No left platen knob, spacing limited to single or double space.

Sadly, all the markings on the back have been rubbed off. Note the modern replacement screw in the middle.

The underside looks very much like the Underwood Portables that follow this model for the next ~25 years.

The serial number dates this to 1927

Neat hardware on the case, with engraved logo.

The case bottom. There's the hook on the back, indentations for the typewriter feet, and the screws that attach the typewriter to the case bottom.

Initially I thought this was a more modern sticker, as it looks like something people sell on Etsy. Further investigation showed the same sticker in many of the cases of these typewriters, so I guess it's original.

A close up of the case logo

Hunter: Fumitaka Hayashi (fhayashi)

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Trying very hard to be more judicious in my acquisitions...

I like interesting typefaces. I like tinkering with my acquisitions to make them work.