1950 Underwood Finger Flite Universal #K2062253
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Justin De Mello (jademello)
Created: 04-20-2019 at 10:11AM
Last Edit: 01-15-2020 at 10:15PM
Find on Ebay #AD
Find on Etsy #AD
Description:
This typewriter was inexpensive to begin with but was damaged when shipped to me. The end result was a full refund and my keeping the typewriter. I have not given up on it, however. It had a typewriter case that was pretty much shattered in shipment and that I trashed because it was unrepairable. The machine itself had 3 known flaws from the shipment damage One being that the front left side frame is slightly bent. It's not real noticeable, a slight buckle that does not appear to alter any of the machines functions and does not look askew. The second thing is that the carriage release lever on the right side is broken off. The left side is still there. Both releases work fine but the one on the right requires that one press the broken end of the lever to get it to release. No big issue on this. The third problem, and one which I have yet to determine why, is that the space bar does not work. Pressing it does not advance the carriage. Pressing any key, however, does advance the carriage. So function wise everything appears to work on this typewriter except the space bar. I have done nothing to this machine as of yet but the plan is to investigate the space bar failure issue by doing a thorough internal analysis at some point. I thought it was an attractive design and I do like the color combo on this one.
Update on the spacebar issue.... I took the casing off the machine and lo and behold the spacebar worked just fine. I thought it was and internal problem but it turns out the very slight bend in the front part of the casing which is not really visible other than a small kink in the left side metal there. I put the casing on again and the spacebar failed to space the carriage once again. I pretty much removed the kink with plyers but it still failed to work right. Next came the rubber mallet. It was time to make a wild adjustment. I thought I had nothing to loose at this point. I hit the front edges of the frame firmly but not too hard. It was enough . The machine works now, no problems.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Justin De Mello (jademello)
Justin De Mello's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 432
I fell in love with typewriters when I was 13. I'm retired now. My first was a Corona #3 which I got free from a neighbor. Decades pass, life happened, and I lost interest. Then a few years back as a retiree I renewed my interest which is a bit of a happy obsession now. However, it's not just typewriters that captivate me; I love all types of old office equipment, too. I have a Dalton adding machine (which I've restored), several different working antique check writers, a Dictaphone, antique steno machine, business card press, postage stamp scale. I have a well equipped antique office that is spilling into all parts of my home. Most items are from the Machine Age: 1880's into the 1930's. Still, typewriters are complex and amazing pieces of machinery that I'm always drawn to.
Oddly my background and profession was in the computer industry. I worked in the banking business for 30 years developing systems for ATM,s, phone banking, then PC home banking. I started out in banking sorting mail in a mailroom, moved on to a hardware operator: keypunch card machines, huge IBM printers, printout bursting machines, tape drive and cathode ray tubes. I guess we have come a long way but typewriters have taken me back.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Underwood Finger Flite Universal on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Underwood Serial Number page and the Underwood Finger Flite Universal By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
