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Home » Torpedo » 18b » 1963 #1272259
1963 Torpedo 18b Serial # 1272259 1963 Torpedo 18b typewriter, Serial # 1272259 Kevin Stallaert's 1963 Torpedo 18b typewriter. 2022-12-21 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Kevin Stallaert: 1963 Torpedo 18b Serial # 1272259 I came across this typewriter locally and posted a picture of it in the typewriter discord. The immediate reaction was "grab that". So I did. This is a Torpedo 18b with a 10CPI congress / senatorial typeface. This is a machine that has seen some heavy usage: there are scuffmarks everywhere, and even the plating of the return handle is damaged. It does type very nice and snappy though. One screw on the right side of the carriage is missing. I cleaned this machine and fixated the felt on the typebar rests. Very nice typer. A bit loud because of the hard platen.

1963 Torpedo 18b #1272259

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Kevin Stallaert (KStallaert)
Created: 10-09-2021 at 07:13AM
Last Edit: 12-21-2022 at 12:00PM

Description Hunter 15 Photos 1 Like  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

I came across this typewriter locally and posted a picture of it in the typewriter discord. The immediate reaction was "grab that". So I did. This is a Torpedo 18b with a 10CPI congress / senatorial typeface. This is a machine that has seen some heavy usage: there are scuffmarks everywhere, and even the plating of the return handle is damaged. It does type very nice and snappy though. One screw on the right side of the carriage is missing. I cleaned this machine and fixated the felt on the typebar rests. Very nice typer. A bit loud because of the hard platen.

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

Photos:

Front left side
Front left side

Left side. Note the missing plating on the return handle.
Left side. Note the missing plating on the return handle.

Back side
Back side

Right side. Note the missing screw on the carriage. The white on the ribbon cover isn't glare, the paint has been scuffed.
Right side. Note the missing screw on the carriage. The white on the ribbon cover isn't glare, the paint has been scuffed.

Front right side
Front right side

Bottom side
Bottom side

Under the ribbon cover
Under the ribbon cover

Close up of the slugs
Close up of the slugs

Serial number. It is located near the left ribbon spool.
Serial number. It is located near the left ribbon spool.

Bottom of the case. The rubber knobs are hard and brittle. the previous owner has put felt pads over them, and added two more in the middle.
Bottom of the case. The rubber knobs are hard and brittle. the previous owner has put felt pads over them, and added two more in the middle.

Bottom of the case
Bottom of the case

Typewriter in the case. There are two slots ion the back the metal pins slide in to. The front levers secure the machine in place.
Typewriter in the case. There are two slots ion the back the metal pins slide in to. The front levers secure the machine in place.

The top of the case connects with the bottom with two small insertable hinges.
The top of the case connects with the bottom with two small insertable hinges.

Case closed
Case closed

The case is made out of wood, as can be seen here where the paint has chipped off.
The case is made out of wood, as can be seen here where the paint has chipped off.

Hunter: Kevin Stallaert (KStallaert)

Kevin Stallaert's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1089

I fell into the typewriter rabbit hole due to nostalgia: I used to have a massive Olympia SG1 when I was a kid. It formed my typing habits, which is why I am called a "furious typer" by my coworkers. Came across the r/typewriters page on Reddit which rekindled my love for these wonderful machines. Lets just hope I don't start pushing screens off my desk when I reach the end of a line...

I also have a modest Youtube channel where I document the progress of my typewriter journey: https://www.youtube.com/@Slug_Life


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Torpedo 18b on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Torpedo Serial Number page and the Torpedo 18b By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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