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1940 Royal Varsity Serial # D88-122947 1940 Royal Varsity typewriter, Serial # D88-122947 Fumitaka Hayashi's 1940 Royal Varsity typewriter. 2026-11-13 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Fumitaka Hayashi: 1940 Royal Varsity Serial # D88-122947 A Royal Varsity.

Looks like a QDL, but with less features. No bicolor, no tab, no touch control. However, this one has the '88' option, with 2 extra keys on the top row. Additionally, two of the keys are set as 'dead' keys, so they do not advance the carriage. Those 2 keys have accent, back accent, caret, and cedilla characters.

It's in excellent shape. The case however, is a sad case where the latch had to be damaged to open it. I suspect that this was locked in its case for a long time until someone decided to break it out. Interestingly, there is no hardware to keep the typewriter immobilized in the case, just some positioning blocks and some bumpers pressing down from the lid.

I find portables that are in good shape tend to be ones that spend a lot of time in their case - either they lose the key, or something goes wrong and they don't pay to get it fixed.

It does feel like a Royal when typing on it. Hard to say exactly what it is.


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Won on an online auction, and picked up in Mt. Kisco, NY.

1940 Royal Varsity #D88-122947

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Fumitaka Hayashi (fhayashi)
Created: 11-13-2026 at 04:02PM
Last Edit: 11-13-2026 at 04:02PM

Description Hunter 8 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

A Royal Varsity.

Looks like a QDL, but with less features. No bicolor, no tab, no touch control. However, this one has the '88' option, with 2 extra keys on the top row. Additionally, two of the keys are set as 'dead' keys, so they do not advance the carriage. Those 2 keys have accent, back accent, caret, and cedilla characters.

It's in excellent shape. The case however, is a sad case where the latch had to be damaged to open it. I suspect that this was locked in its case for a long time until someone decided to break it out. Interestingly, there is no hardware to keep the typewriter immobilized in the case, just some positioning blocks and some bumpers pressing down from the lid.

I find portables that are in good shape tend to be ones that spend a lot of time in their case - either they lose the key, or something goes wrong and they don't pay to get it fixed.

It does feel like a Royal when typing on it. Hard to say exactly what it is.


---
Won on an online auction, and picked up in Mt. Kisco, NY.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

It's some sort of Pica. Maybe International Pica, because this set has accents and stuff.
It's some sort of Pica. Maybe International Pica, because this set has accents and stuff.


It's not really bent - wide angle lens distorts the image.
It's not really bent - wide angle lens distorts the image.




The feet are in remarkably good shape.
The feet are in remarkably good shape.

No hardware holds the typewriter in. There's wooden spacers to position tthe typewriter, and the two bumpers on the lid to hold it down. The latch is sadly damaged.
No hardware holds the typewriter in. There's wooden spacers to position tthe typewriter, and the two bumpers on the lid to hold it down. The latch is sadly damaged.

Hunter: Fumitaka Hayashi (fhayashi)

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Status: Typewriter Hunter
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Trying very hard to be more judicious in my acquisitions...

I like interesting typefaces. I like tinkering with my acquisitions to make them work.


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Royal Varsity on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Royal Serial Number page and the Royal Varsity By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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