1934 Underwood Universal #F784956
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 12-14-2025 at 08:34PM
Last Edit: 12-14-2025 at 08:43PM
Description:
I believe I got this Underwood Universal portable at an antique mall in Hampton Falls, NH, on May 5, 2002, the same day I also acquired my Monarch 3, S/N 99868s (linked gallery). My credit card records suggest I paid $41.25 for this Underwood. It has a nice Pica typeface, and it came with a case (with broken hinges, unfortunately) and the key for the case. It also still has the cardboard tag indicating how to lock the carriage (why would someone leave that on???). I had the platen and feed rollers resurfaced by Ames Supply Co. in December of 2007, and I purchased a set of 3-D printed (TPV) feet for it earlier this year, in 2025. I did some basic cleaning, and it types pretty well. It could use a more professional and thorough deep cleaning.
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
Photos:
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Brian Decker's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 577
My interest in typewriters started in 1997, when I was in graduate school at the University of Georgia. I purchased and read Darryl Rehr's book, joined ETC, and started reaching out to known collectors. I had several email interchanges with Richard Polt dating from that period. I also bought some of my first machines from Bob Aubert, and visited him at his home twice. After marriage and relocation to New England, I continued visiting antique shops and eBay, until other priorities put my typewriter hobby on hiatus around 2008. I still have my collection of around 57 machines, and now I have a renewed interest in getting some of them in good working and cosmetic order.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Underwood Universal on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Underwood Serial Number page and the Underwood Universal By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.






























