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1964 Royal Ensign Serial # EN 5746979 1964 Royal Ensign typewriter, Serial # EN 5746979 Russell Knight's 1964 Royal Ensign typewriter. 2026-04-26 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Russell Knight: 1964 Royal Ensign Serial # EN 5746979 Very dirty with the carriage return leaver spring missing/broken [edit: loosened, boy this is a rusty typewriter], as is the type guide spring. Several other things broken as well, some springs, right ribbon wheel ratchet, and the left ribbon guide fork [broke off during work]. Not dissimilar to other Royal ultraportables.

Serial number is EN 5746979 but the TWB says that Royal Ensigns started with EN 5981345. I brought this to the attention of Munk and he said "it’s not the first time that the Royal factory parts manuals were incorrect on model start serials, especially those models originating in non-US factories ... It’s an interesting question why the factory parts manuals would be wrong (especially using such exact serials, usually a sign of validity). It would be worth pulling the anomalies (machines like yours in the galleries – there are at least a couple, but I don’t recall which) and maybe checking when the ads for this model appear in newspapers. That might illuminate a date mismatch or something. However, I’ve always assumed that these serial cutoffs for models might indicate that the model went through some design change and that the note means something like 'serials after this for this model have *these* parts' as opposed to earlier parts lists."

Since the paint is such poor condition that any attempted rust removal would just make it look worse, anyone have any advice for stripping/repainting the frame?

1964 Royal Ensign #EN 5746979

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Russell Knight (Arcae)
Created: 01-14-2026 at 09:43AM
Last Edit: 04-26-2026 at 10:42AM

Description Hunter 13 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

Very dirty with the carriage return leaver spring missing/broken [edit: loosened, boy this is a rusty typewriter], as is the type guide spring. Several other things broken as well, some springs, right ribbon wheel ratchet, and the left ribbon guide fork [broke off during work]. Not dissimilar to other Royal ultraportables.

Serial number is EN 5746979 but the TWB says that Royal Ensigns started with EN 5981345. I brought this to the attention of Munk and he said "it’s not the first time that the Royal factory parts manuals were incorrect on model start serials, especially those models originating in non-US factories ... It’s an interesting question why the factory parts manuals would be wrong (especially using such exact serials, usually a sign of validity). It would be worth pulling the anomalies (machines like yours in the galleries – there are at least a couple, but I don’t recall which) and maybe checking when the ads for this model appear in newspapers. That might illuminate a date mismatch or something. However, I’ve always assumed that these serial cutoffs for models might indicate that the model went through some design change and that the note means something like 'serials after this for this model have *these* parts' as opposed to earlier parts lists."

Since the paint is such poor condition that any attempted rust removal would just make it look worse, anyone have any advice for stripping/repainting the frame?

Typeface Specimen:

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The floppy carriage return lever.
The floppy carriage return lever.



Dirt.
Dirt.

Oops, sorry lady who runs the antique shop.
Oops, sorry lady who runs the antique shop.




Somebody didn't read the manual.
Somebody didn't read the manual.

Certificate of guarantee along with some unidentifiable Royal related papers underneath.
Certificate of guarantee along with some unidentifiable Royal related papers underneath.

Hunter: Russell Knight (Arcae)

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