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1959 Torpedo 18b Serial # 1088887 1959 Torpedo 18b typewriter, Serial # 1088887 James Gifford's 1959 Torpedo 18b typewriter. 2017-06-30 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of James Gifford: 1959 Torpedo 18b Serial # 1088887 I saw this gorgeous machine posted on the local Craigslist, which I never search, in an ad posted by a woman desperate to clear out space to move to Detroit. She sold me this Torpedo, a Royal Quiet De Luxe, and an Underwood Leader De Luxe for a whopping $80. I offered her $100. She insisted on honouring her price. She was just happy I wasn't a key chopper. So, I sped home with the three machines secure in my trunk. She had cared for all three, two of which had belonged to close family members, and one of which, the Royal, she has written all of her correspondence on for thirty years. Did I mention she was young and beautiful? Sadly, she was married (to that point, so am I). Anyway, I'll have some fun with the script typeface and sunning the machines on my back deck.

PS The machine came with the case (last photo), a branded cloth, and the instruction booklet (all below), dirty but intact.

1959 Torpedo 18b #1088887

Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Gifford (giffer)
Created: 06-30-2017 at 01:17PM
Last Edit: 06-30-2017 at 01:25PM

Description Hunter 15 Photos 2 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

I saw this gorgeous machine posted on the local Craigslist, which I never search, in an ad posted by a woman desperate to clear out space to move to Detroit. She sold me this Torpedo, a Royal Quiet De Luxe, and an Underwood Leader De Luxe for a whopping $80. I offered her $100. She insisted on honouring her price. She was just happy I wasn't a key chopper. So, I sped home with the three machines secure in my trunk. She had cared for all three, two of which had belonged to close family members, and one of which, the Royal, she has written all of her correspondence on for thirty years. Did I mention she was young and beautiful? Sadly, she was married (to that point, so am I). Anyway, I'll have some fun with the script typeface and sunning the machines on my back deck.

PS The machine came with the case (last photo), a branded cloth, and the instruction booklet (all below), dirty but intact.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:



hinged ribbon cover
hinged ribbon cover













Hunter: James Gifford (giffer)

James Gifford's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2325

I am a writer and book editor as well as a collector of typewriters. It started with an Hermes 3000 desktop, which I stupidly sold last year, but now another sits on my desk for typing envelopes with a beautiful sans serif typeface. I type every day on different machines in my collection, which stands at about 60 at the moment. Favourites include my two 3000s, a 1930s Smith-Corona Silent, the Olivetti Studio 44 (red case), and a crinkle, chrome-encircled Royal Quiet Deluxe. I have also been finding very inexpensive Royal 10s of late; I currently own three, two from the 1910s and the other a later model, and another (1931) I sold to a friend at cost for his son, who appreciates vintage things. I am always on the lookout for new and interesting machines and often trade or sell to try new models. Living and working in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.


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