1936 Royal O #O-540256
Status: Sightings
Hunter: Jake Fischer (jfisch)
Created: 09-13-2014 at 07:03PM
Last Edit: 03-22-2015 at 07:16PM
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Description:
Although my amateur pictures do not do justice to the beauty, color, and shine of this machine, the Royal Portable Standard that proceeded the Quiet De Luxe is arguably the best looking typewriter ever. Lets face it, crinkle finish is simply boring; it is only glossy machines and glass keys that really attract me.
Sure, the mechanics are worn; sure the paint and nickel have blemishes; yes, it's carriage shifted and the shifting has slight issues, not to mention that the platen is rock-hard. I will have lots of issues when I am about 70 or 80 years old, too! With all of this in mind, the touch (and very-much functioning touch control) and appearance are simply stunning. In all honesty, I have been looking for a new portable to use instead of my grandfather's Lettera 22, because I cannot go faster then about -20 wpm (yes, that is a negative twenty) on those foul, squishy keys. All it needs is a tabulator and segment shift. The pica typeface isn't half bad either!
The story from the seller is that it was purchased with a flowery period-correct cover as a graduation present for his brother in the sixties. It most definitely has had an interesting life; it came with some typist textbooks from Pennsylvania and Browne's Business Schools in Jamaica.
Traded for 1947 Quiet De Luxe
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Jake Fischer (jfisch)
Jake Fischer's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 131
I am a typewriter collector and amateur repairman who became obsessed after typing at a young age on my grandfather's Olivetti Lettera 22, which he soon gave to me. Now I have had over ten typewriters in my collection, flipping the less valuable ones for a low price to fund my obsession.
At one point, I was weary of polish; now I see the wonderful shine that Meguiar's cleaning wax brings to a glossy paint. I still avoid polishing nickle or chrome, for I hear that patina is valuable on old metal. However, I refuse to use the devil's website, also known as Ebay. Just too many deaths by shipping...and unacceptably exuberant prices...
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Royal O on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Royal Serial Number page and the Royal O By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
