1961 Royal Royalite #RL-4811884
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Suzanne LaPierre (BookMouser)
Created: 10-27-2025 at 11:51AM
Last Edit: 10-27-2025 at 01:01PM
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Description:
I went to book club Friday night and a friend handed me this Royalite - without even asking me if I wanted it. Because of course I do. It was found by her neighbor in his mother's basement. The case is marked "Fran Harris" - always nice to know the original owner's name! The case and exterior are in very good condition, but there were a few problems under the hood. Some keys are wonky, although cleaning helped. The key rest will need to be re-glued. Most strange was the space bar- it had been pushed up so the rubber stoppers caught on the frame. It wouldn't work in this position but nudging it back to its proper position was all that was needed - now it works fine. The typewriter is functional now, but I will need to consult some other typer-enthusiasts for help with some of the wonky keys that don't seem to want to lay flat. I suspect it may have been dropped at some point, thus the spacebar being in such an odd position. However, there are no serious dents to suggest a hard fall. Even a small amount of love and cleaning and a juicy new ribbon were enough to bring it to the point of producing a good type sample. It came with original spools.
This machine is a fun addition to my collection because it joins my red Royal Parade and blue Royal-made Singer Scholastic- all Royals manufactured in Holland in the 60's. Unlike my 1965 Parade and Scholastic, this one does not support multi-color ribbons. I gave it a purple one.
Please note: The serial number was very hard to see. I rubbed some paint stick into it, but some of the numbers are still barely visible. I have done my best to decipher what I think the full serial number is, but feel free to look at the photo and judge for yourself. Let me know if you think I am off!
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Suzanne LaPierre (BookMouser)
Suzanne LaPierre's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 340
I am a librarian, artist, writer, and co-author of the book Desegregation in Northern Virginia Libraries (The History Press, 2023). If I'm working on a book or article for publication, I'm on a computer. However, I use my typewriters to create poems, type-doodles, art, and to write snail mail letters. I find the tactile nature of typing on a manual machine soothing and joyful. Each typewriter seems to have a soul and a story. Currently my collection is centered around midcentury models.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Royal Royalite on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Royal Serial Number page and the Royal Royalite By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
