1937 Macys (Barr) Portable 1 #37784

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 06-14-2026 at 07:14PM
Last Edit: 06-14-2026 at 07:42PM

Description Hunter 33 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

2026-JUN-14, Original Gallery Creation. With the addition of this gallery, there are now 30 galleries for variants of the Barr typewriter that I can find on TWDB. However, you wouldn't know it without a careful search, because they are spread across multiple Brand names, including Macys (Barr) (with Model category of Portable 1), Barr (with Model categories of Macy's Portable 1, Macy's Portable No 1, Special, Typewriter, and Universal), and Barr-Morse (with Model categories of Special and Universal).

This one is a Macy's Portable No. 1, made at Weedsport, NY, in the latter years of the Barr typewriter. I have placed it in the Macys (Barr) brand grouping, mainly because that currently contains by far the largest number of galleries for this variant. I won this machine at eBay auction on 5/24/2026. Up until the last few hours, I had hopes of getting it for less than $100, but then a second bidder showed up. My winning bid was $135.50, and shipping was $22.59 from the Browns Mills, NJ area.

This machine types in Pica, and after some cleaning today, the type action works well. Unfortunately, the ribbon advance mechanism is marginal, and I'll have to troubleshoot that. The ribbon vibrator also sticks in the "up" position when on the red ribbon selector in lower case (not in upper case), so yet another issue to track down. I have ordered a set of correct feet for it, so that it will fit in its case properly with the foot-retainers engaged. I will have more to say about this machine, and my early Barr #2444, in future postings and gallery updates.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Front at lower view angle.

Top-down view.

Keyboard.

Type basket and carriage.

Paper table with Macy's decal.

Type basket and carriage, with paper rests extended.

Front, with paper inserted.

Typing sample.

Ribbon selector.

Stencil and ribbon reverse levers.

Right forward quadrant view.

Right forward quadrant view #2.

Right forward quadrant, wider angle.

Right broadside view.

Right carriage-end closeup.

Rear view of full decal.

Serial number.

Close view of Weedsport decal (in poor condition).

Underside.

Bottom plate number - is this a second serial number?

Left rear detail.

Left forward quadrant view.

Left forward quadrant view #2.

Type slug close up. The foundry markings indicate pica typeface, which is what it is.

Case, top right forward quadrant view.

Case, front view.

Case latch.

Open case.

Case keys - came with two.

Barr Typewriter instruction guide, front page.

Instruction guide, flip side.

Exploded view diagram.

Exploded view diagram sheet, flip side.

Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)

Brian Decker's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2970

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.

In late 2024, I started up again, working on my machines and having some of them serviced professionally by New England Typewriter (NET) LLC (Merrimack, NH), until they closed their doors in December of 2025. Since mid-2025, I have been adding to my collection again, first with a Hermes 3000 purchase from NET, then with various auctions and purchases on eBay, when I find something that catches my eye.