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1941 Underwood S Serial # S4567750-14 1941 Underwood S typewriter, Serial # S4567750-14 Bob Good's 1941 Underwood S typewriter. 2022-08-09 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Bob Good: 1941 Underwood S Serial # S4567750-14 1941 Underwood Model S with variable character pitch and bulk ribbon spools.
Serial number: S 5467750-14

Provenance and story:
Found at the Kane County Flea Market in very dirty condition and negotiated a purchase for $40.
We were looking for a manual typewriter to use for adding vintage typeset sayings to greeting cards.
What drew us to this was the beefiness, and I must say I was fascinated by the large ribbon spools. (We had been looking for a Woodstock model typewriter because we are from Woodstock IL.)
I had no idea what the rotating shaft with six stops, and the hex knob numbered 1-6 (with 4 having braces around it) were. While checking the character pitch trying to confirm it was elite or pica, I came up with an odd number. My initial thought is how a top-of-the-line typewriter from a reputable manufacturer could be so far off. It took me several weeks to figure out what I had.

Variable character pitch between carriage positions 45 and 84:
The picture of the underside of the carriage (extended to the left of the machine) shows how it works. The carriage rack is round with equal round grooves (teeth) up to carriage position 45 (a little over half of what is visible). Then the shaft is machined differently on each of six sides, with each side having its own pitch (I’ve rotated the shaft to show the 9.25 cpi pitch at the bottom, above it is the 10.50 cpi pitch and the 10.25 pitch is in profile at the top.)
The typeface samples include lines for each setting where I typed consecutive digits beginning with 1 at position 45 and stopped at position 84. At setting 1 only 37 characters fit in this space, and at setting 6 there are 42 characters are typed. The carriage rack is supported in part by a torsion bar assembly not present on other machines.

Extra large ribbon spools:
In addition to the normal 2 inch ribbon spool holders, this typewriter has extra large ribbon spools. The extra large ribbon spools have a 3/4 inch hub and 3-1/8 inch outside capacity. I expect bulk ribbon is loaded directly onto these spools; but I’m not certain about that.
The ribbon advances normally if ribbon is on either the normal or extra large spools; but there is NOT an automatic reverse mechanism on this machine. There are also no card holders installed; presumably because of the extra ribbon paths that need to be accommodated.

Special characters:
Unusual characters are the degree symbol, delta symbol, and left and right square brackets.

Defects:
The carriage return arm is bent; but it still functions without binding.
Can you spot the 3 missing screws on the back side of the extra large ribbon support structure?
Rubber feet are in poor shape.
Rubber spacebar bumpers, one is missing.

Adjustments needed:
The baseline of shifted (uppercase) and un-shifted (lowercase) characters needs aligning.
The ribbon mechanism needs adjusting to properly print red vs. black characters. Black is OK. Red is pretty correct for shifted (uppercase) characters; but only a trace of red appears at the bottom of un-shifted (lowercase) characters.

1941 Underwood S #S4567750-14

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Bob Good (BobinWoodstock336)
Created: 08-07-2022 at 02:10PM
Last Edit: 08-09-2022 at 03:15PM

Description Hunter 10 Photos 2 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

1941 Underwood Model S with variable character pitch and bulk ribbon spools.
Serial number: S 5467750-14

Provenance and story:
Found at the Kane County Flea Market in very dirty condition and negotiated a purchase for $40.
We were looking for a manual typewriter to use for adding vintage typeset sayings to greeting cards.
What drew us to this was the beefiness, and I must say I was fascinated by the large ribbon spools. (We had been looking for a Woodstock model typewriter because we are from Woodstock IL.)
I had no idea what the rotating shaft with six stops, and the hex knob numbered 1-6 (with 4 having braces around it) were. While checking the character pitch trying to confirm it was elite or pica, I came up with an odd number. My initial thought is how a top-of-the-line typewriter from a reputable manufacturer could be so far off. It took me several weeks to figure out what I had.

Variable character pitch between carriage positions 45 and 84:
The picture of the underside of the carriage (extended to the left of the machine) shows how it works. The carriage rack is round with equal round grooves (teeth) up to carriage position 45 (a little over half of what is visible). Then the shaft is machined differently on each of six sides, with each side having its own pitch (I’ve rotated the shaft to show the 9.25 cpi pitch at the bottom, above it is the 10.50 cpi pitch and the 10.25 pitch is in profile at the top.)
The typeface samples include lines for each setting where I typed consecutive digits beginning with 1 at position 45 and stopped at position 84. At setting 1 only 37 characters fit in this space, and at setting 6 there are 42 characters are typed. The carriage rack is supported in part by a torsion bar assembly not present on other machines.

Extra large ribbon spools:
In addition to the normal 2 inch ribbon spool holders, this typewriter has extra large ribbon spools. The extra large ribbon spools have a 3/4 inch hub and 3-1/8 inch outside capacity. I expect bulk ribbon is loaded directly onto these spools; but I’m not certain about that.
The ribbon advances normally if ribbon is on either the normal or extra large spools; but there is NOT an automatic reverse mechanism on this machine. There are also no card holders installed; presumably because of the extra ribbon paths that need to be accommodated.

Special characters:
Unusual characters are the degree symbol, delta symbol, and left and right square brackets.

Defects:
The carriage return arm is bent; but it still functions without binding.
Can you spot the 3 missing screws on the back side of the extra large ribbon support structure?
Rubber feet are in poor shape.
Rubber spacebar bumpers, one is missing.

Adjustments needed:
The baseline of shifted (uppercase) and un-shifted (lowercase) characters needs aligning.
The ribbon mechanism needs adjusting to properly print red vs. black characters. Black is OK. Red is pretty correct for shifted (uppercase) characters; but only a trace of red appears at the bottom of un-shifted (lowercase) characters.

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

Photos:





Left side view. Note the character pitch adjustment (hex knob) set at 4 (which is 10.0 cpi)
Left side view. Note the character pitch adjustment (hex knob) set at 4 (which is 10.0 cpi)



Bottom view of carriage fully extended on the left. The carriage rack is round with equal round grooves (teeth) up to carriage position 45 (a little over half of what is visible). Then the shaft is machined differently on each of six sides, with each side having its own pitch.
Bottom view of carriage fully extended on the left. The carriage rack is round with equal round grooves (teeth) up to carriage position 45 (a little over half of what is visible). Then the shaft is machined differently on each of six sides, with each side having its own pitch.

Close-up of carriage rack where it transitions from 10.0 cpi on all settings to variable settings. Setting 1 (9.25 cpi) is below setting 6 (10.50 cpi) is above.
Close-up of carriage rack where it transitions from 10.0 cpi on all settings to variable settings. Setting 1 (9.25 cpi) is below setting 6 (10.50 cpi) is above.

Sample of consecutive digits beginning with 1 at position 45 and stopped at position 84. At setting 1 only 37 characters fit in this space, and at setting 6 there are 42 characters are typed.
Sample of consecutive digits beginning with 1 at position 45 and stopped at position 84. At setting 1 only 37 characters fit in this space, and at setting 6 there are 42 characters are typed.

Hunter: Bob Good (BobinWoodstock336)

Bob Good's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 30

I'm more of a collector of vintage camera equipment rather than typewriters;
but I have come accross what appears to be a very unique Underwood.
So I'll become a hunter it that is what it takes to share my find.
OK, maybe I'll look out for additional finds.


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

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