1950 Royal Quiet De Luxe #A-1964589

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Gavin Oherin (valiantchicken09)
Created: 08-18-2025 at 06:12PM
Last Edit: 08-18-2025 at 07:46PM

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Description:

This machine was my first Royal portable typewriter, and was gifted to me by my parents on Christmas of 2023. I was overjoyed to receive a perfectly working Dreyfus-styled machine without the notorious soft left margin, not to mention the skipping I had read of in the infancy of my hobby. It quickly became one of my favorite machines to use, and I still think Dreyfus machines are the best example of a QDL (Quiet De Luxe) one can find. I wouldn’t mind a glossy teal version from the mid ‘50s wandering into my collection eventually, though. ;) It matched my Royal KMG perfectly, but it was in storage when I received the QDL, so they have never had a photo shoot together.

My QDL has a regular Pica typeface, no extra endearment from that, but it types with a light touch and soft sound that truly makes it quiet, especially compared to other typewriters in my collection. It came to me in typeable, but disused shape, but I cleaned it up the best I could at the time, though it could go through my now more thorough treatment.

The case of this machine is in poor shape, with the bottom dented in, but it has protected the machine admirably, and remains usable, however, it means I do not take this machine to travel like I do with other typewriters. (The posts that lock onto the feet have shifted due to the dent, making it hard to use all of them.) The feet also need replacing, as they are worn almost to the chrome trim on the bottom (and are rock hard). I would have loved to have a tuxedo version of this machine, which came out only in ‘48, but this style is plentiful, and I am not disappointed. Mine is probably one of the last of those made with a black space bar, because in late 1950, they changed it to a grey the same as the body.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Frayed corners probably need patching, and the feet, which I am sure once were rubber, seem to be made of an alien material now.

Case latches.

The Decals on the back of this machine are in mostly good shape, but the gold has rubbed off in a few places. I think it is very tastefully styled.

Type slugs of this machine have been blued by the cobalt ribbon that I have used in this typewriter since I got it. Still needs a cleaning, but the blue looks better than caked-on-black any day.

I love a lower platen scale on any typewriter.

Hunter: Gavin Oherin (valiantchicken09)

Gavin Oherin's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 179

I am a typewriter user & collector in Western North Carolina. The typewriter bug bit me with an ancient Underwood Standard #4. Now, the collection just keeps growing. I never imagined having so many typewriters. It mostly consists of American brands, but I am always on the lookout for something better than your average Smith-Corona. (Not that there is anything wrong with them, of course.) I am also interested in quality stationery, trains, tractors, vinyl records, and pretty much anything else that operates mechanically. Happy Hunting!