1929 Underwood 3 #209958
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Andrew Hearn (stickswriter)
Created: 03-01-2023 at 05:24PM
Last Edit: 03-01-2023 at 05:35PM
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Description:
1929 Underwood Model 5 Portable ‘Frank’ s/n: 209958
Dimensions:
Case 10&1/4” x 12&1/2 x 5” 9 lbs
Typewriter 10” x 12&1/4” x 4&7/8” 7&1/2 lbs
Features:
Pica Font; No Tabs; 9” carriage; 1 click per line; no 1/2 spacing; 2 ribbon settings; No Ribbon Cover; Carriage Shift; Right backspace; 2 line spacing settings; Goal post paper rest
Model History
Underwood introduced this model in 1919 to compete with the similarly small Corona Model 3 folding portable that had given the soon to be smith corona a massive boost in sales. With this machine, Underwood had one of the smallest mechanical typewriters ever made that still maintained most of the functions of larger machines. It was a fairly popular model that had a 10 year production run that end in 1929, the year that this machine made .
Typing Feel:
The key stroke is light for the first 1/5rd till it hits a soft wall. The soft wall lasts till the ribbon vibrator finishes rising. The remaining 1/4 of the key stroke is not as light as the middle but lighter than the first. Though this machine does not have the hardest platen in collection, it is still close to 100 year old end its age is apparent. To describe the feel, I would compare it to the Shock of hammering a nail into hard wood.
Where I Found it:
As I did more research into typewriters, i grew a desire to get a 3 bank typewriter, both for its historical value and typing experience. For a while, an antique store not far from where I lived had a Corona 3 Portable that they wanted $299 for. Besides lacking the money to comfortably purchase it, I researched the model and found that it forced too compromises compared to what I was familiar with on 4 bank machines. Looking for other 3 bank machines, I found this model and for a time thought of simply waiting for one to turn up at the antique shops that I like to visit. However, I quickly realized, from searches on Ebay and Etsy that machine like this was unlikely to show up at a location where I could see it in person before buying it. Additionally, a working example would cost more than a professionally restored Smith-Corona 3. After saving up enough money, I found one for sale on Etsy for around $450. With shipping and taxes it wound up costing just over $500. Obviously I did not this machine to do any serious amount of writing on it given its age. That said, it is in terms of square inches the smallest typewriter in collection and easily the lightest. It is in good appearance for its age and quite aesthetically pleasing to look ate might do some writing on it from time to time when I want a more interesting and unique experience. Other then that, do best to keep it in good shape so that when i finally decide to sell it, hopefully several decades from now, it will have retained or even increased in value.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Andrew Hearn (stickswriter)
Andrew Hearn's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 229
I'm a writer and collector of Typewriters who lives out in the sticks.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Underwood 3 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Underwood Serial Number page and the Underwood 3 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
