1933 Royal Signet Senior #ES22524
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Aaron Friedrich Lotar Rolf Klamp (Technokid)
Created: 06-16-2023 at 03:03AM
Last Edit: 06-16-2023 at 03:38AM
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Description:
-An honest Typewriter, so friendly, simple and promissing.-
Royal used the Basis of the Model P to create a very simplified Version called the Royal Signet.
Made in the hardships of the Great Depression to compete in a diclining market, to offer a product that could still be affordable, at least for some.
Despite the most rudimentary configuration (The Signet Junior, different to the later Signet Senior, didn´t even had a shift-mechanism and could write capitals only), the quality of materials and workmanship didn´t suffer.
Royal also gave it a beautiful Turquoise crinkle paint, that I haven´t seen before or after on any of their Typewriters.
Together with the Design of the Signet it looks friendly, and I think should spread a little happiness and optimism in a demanding time.
All in all, Royal seemed to hit a spot, as the sales of the Signet were promissing.
Ironically this became a problem.
A lot of the Dealers in Royals distribution Network made a significant part of their profit, with the sales of old refurbished Typewriters, which they serviced in their own workshops.
An important business for them, because much people couldn´t afford new Typewriters and so took the cheaper alternative.
(Un)Fortunatly the Royal Signet became such a big success, that the servicing Sector feared the increasing competition and Dealers stopped to order the Royal Signet.
The problem of distribution soon lead to the stop of production and relative low numbers of production.
( Information partly derived from Alan Seavers Website: http://machinesoflovinggrace.com/royals.htm )
The shown specimen came to me in overall good shape considering its age.
Aerosols and dirt had darkened the textured structure of the crinkle paint, the two pressure rollers were hard and flattened. One clamp, intendet to prevent a ribbon spool from falling of, was missing.
The handle of the case and the two aluminium angles with rubber buffers, to hold the Typewriter in place, were broken.
So one after another I fixed the issues. Cleaned the paint with a toothbrush, found replacement ribbon spools, renewed the pressure rollers and lastly honed a new clamp ( as can be seen in the Gallery )
I tried to preserve the original handle of the case, by attaching new leather loops to it. But I´m not really happy with it, and will maybe replace it all in time.
The broken aluminium angles served me as messurements for the new ones. But as the original rubber buffers were long deterioated, and replacment is not likely to be found, I helped myself by glueing thick rubber washers onto them. It works as intendet.
Looking at the receipt that came with the Signet Senior, it was sold by Günther Schmidt KG/ Frankfurt am Main, on the 14.03.1962 for 85,00 DM, to a Mr. Römer in Wiesbaden.
But my favourite part of provenence is indicated by the little sticker above the keys...
„Oh mighty August Baggenstos, tell me were the „Sphinx“ is!“ :-D
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Aaron Friedrich Lotar Rolf Klamp (Technokid)
Aaron Friedrich Lotar Rolf Klamp's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2736
Student of fine Arts, born and raised in Germany. Since October 2017 addicted to Typewriters with the focus on post war portables made of metall (not plastic).
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Royal Signet Senior on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Royal Serial Number page and the Royal Signet Senior By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
