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1959 Royal Royalite Serial # RL-4037849 1959 Royal Royalite typewriter, Serial # RL-4037849 Brad Sarno's 1959 Royal Royalite typewriter. 2015-06-27 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Brad Sarno: 1959 Royal Royalite Serial # RL-4037849 I just got this Royalite yesterday. It was found in the basement soon after I got my Silver-Seiko-made Royal Mercury from the same couple. She told me that this Royalite was her husband's high-school typewriter and the Mercury was his college machine. This Royalite had no case and was very dirty. It didn't work, all typebars stuck, the carriage movement was rough and almost grinding. But for $5 it seemed like a fun project. To my surprise, this baby cleaned up amazingly well and is fully restored back to life. It's amazing what some good dusting, cleaning, and lubrication can do. The carriage track is like velvet, the typing action is like new, the quality of the print on paper is quite nice, the functionality is all there now. From what I had read, I was expecting to not like this machine, but it actually is a nice typer, a good feel, a reasonably precise machine. It's also pretty quiet even with its very hard platen. Two sheets of paper helps tame that just fine. Seeing that this is from the Dutch Royal McBee factory I understand why this machine reminds me so much of my Royal Diana that also came from there at the same time and even in the same two-tone grey finish. This has a pica typeface. No slouch at all, quite enjoyable.

1959 Royal Royalite #RL-4037849

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brad Sarno (bradsarno)
Created: 04-10-2014 at 07:21AM
Last Edit: 06-27-2015 at 09:38PM

Description Hunter 19 Photos 1 Like  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

I just got this Royalite yesterday. It was found in the basement soon after I got my Silver-Seiko-made Royal Mercury from the same couple. She told me that this Royalite was her husband's high-school typewriter and the Mercury was his college machine. This Royalite had no case and was very dirty. It didn't work, all typebars stuck, the carriage movement was rough and almost grinding. But for $5 it seemed like a fun project. To my surprise, this baby cleaned up amazingly well and is fully restored back to life. It's amazing what some good dusting, cleaning, and lubrication can do. The carriage track is like velvet, the typing action is like new, the quality of the print on paper is quite nice, the functionality is all there now. From what I had read, I was expecting to not like this machine, but it actually is a nice typer, a good feel, a reasonably precise machine. It's also pretty quiet even with its very hard platen. Two sheets of paper helps tame that just fine. Seeing that this is from the Dutch Royal McBee factory I understand why this machine reminds me so much of my Royal Diana that also came from there at the same time and even in the same two-tone grey finish. This has a pica typeface. No slouch at all, quite enjoyable.

Typeface Specimen:

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Hunter: Brad Sarno (bradsarno)

Brad Sarno's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2728

I've spent my life as a mechanical and electronics tinkerer, bikes, cars, lawnmowers, appliances, cameras, audio gear, guitars, amplifiers, and pedal steel guitars. I was trained as a typist for 2 years back in the late 70's on IBM Selectric II's. At home I recall my mother having an Olympia SM3. More recently we got our daughter a typewriter for Christmas, and that somehow sparked my own personal interest in these fine and interesting machines. Now it's a habit that just won't quit. Daily searches on Craigslist, frequent trips to antique stores & malls, garage sales, etc. It's a fun and healthy addiction.


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