1929 Corona 4 #D3P08521
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Chris Aldrich (chrisaldrich)
Created: 03-10-2025 at 12:19PM
Last Edit: 03-10-2025 at 11:34PM
Find on Ebay #AD
Find on Etsy #AD
Description:
2025-03-10: Received on Saturday 03-08, but didn't open it up until this morning. The case is fairly worn and has the fabric peeled off in several spots, but the leather handle is in tact and in reasonably good shape. The machine has seen better days certainly and need s thorough cleaning. The paint has some significant chipping in many of the common spots, including the ribbon covers, but I think it'll polish up nicely and the resultant used patina will add to the machine's charm. Some one has removed the ribbon vibrator, so that's going to need some serious attention and possibly some additional replacement parts. The carriage doesn't move smoothly and I suspect it's because the drawstring has been replaced at some point by some inadequate cotton string which is now caught on something under the carriage. The rubber feet are totally shot and have a few chips. It's definitely one of the rougher machines I've ever picked up, but I think it's imminently restorable.
While I wouldn't call these rare, I don't see them pop up very frequently, and even less frequently do I see them in the non-traditional black enamel. I'm definitely thrilled to have one with the DuPont DUCO light maroon with the contrasting panels in crackle finish rose gold. I'm hoping it'll be a stunning workable machine when I'm done with the cleaning and restoration work.
Some initial photos should be uploaded shortly, though the typeface sample is going to require repair work.
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
Photos:
Hunter: Chris Aldrich (chrisaldrich)
Chris Aldrich's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 887
Hello! I’m a Johns Hopkins trained biomedical and electrical engineer with a variety of interests in the entertainment industry, information theory, evolution, big history, genetics, signal processing, transgenetics, translational medicine, and theoretical mathematics. I’m a strong advocate of the IndieWeb movement.
I have a love for analog office equipment including library card catalogs and typewriters. As of March 2025, I've got a segment of 45 typewriters, mostly portable and manual models along with several Royal standards, a Remington Standard, and one SMC typebar electric. I have been learning how to completely overhaul all of the machines in my collection, all of which work well aside from one or two machines which need some parts. I have a burgeoning collection of typewriter tools for continually repairing, maintaining, and upgrading my machines.
2024 was broadly a year of collecting portables and 2025 seems to be shaping up to be the year of the standards. I'm slowly morphing my TWdB collection photos so that the "hero" photos of the machine facing to the right (with the left side of the typewriter facing front generally with the carriage return in the front) are those that have been generally cleaned /restored while those facing to the left (with the right side of the typewriter facing front with carriage return in the rear) are those that still need cleaning, oiling, adjustment or a major repair. Those facing forward generally need work as well. Certainly some don't fit this pattern, but I hope to fix them all shortly as I get the requisite photos.
I've got more than half a dozen card catalogs including a Gaylord Bros. and a Steelcase along with several Remington Rand and some Shaw-Walkers. I've lost count of my index card collection once I passed 10,000.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Corona 4 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Corona Serial Number page and the Corona 4 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
