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1965 Royal Caravan Serial # CR6035025 1965 Royal Caravan typewriter, Serial # CR6035025 Suzanne LaPierre's 1965 Royal Caravan typewriter. 2026-08-28 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Suzanne LaPierre: 1965 Royal Caravan Serial # CR6035025 Got a text from a friend: "Hi, we're cleaning out a deceased relative's house in NJ -Want this?" With a pic of a Royal case, unopened. I replied "sure!" without even checking to see which friend had sent the message (I hadn't saved the name in my contacts). Fortunately, he turned out to be a local friend, so no shipping was involved. A few weeks later, I picked up the case from him, complete with a rusty key hanging from a string. Got it home and opened it up to find this 1965 Royal Caravan, very dirty and dusty but functional. Keys not even sticking. I am still in the process of cleaning it. The original owner was named Erwin, so the typewriter will be named in his honor.

Fun fact: Bob Dylan had one of these, and it is on display at the Dylan Center in Tulsa, OK. According to the museum, he used his Caravan to type the lyrics for albums such as Highway 61 Revisited. Coincidentally, I had tickets to see Bob Dylan at the Outlaw Music Festival September 14, 2025- the day after I received this typewriter. He played Highway 61.

Update: The Caravan has been cleaned and the platen knobs replaced because one was badly cracked. The key was soaked in rust remover. The photos span the process.

1965 Royal Caravan #CR6035025

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Suzanne LaPierre (BookMouser)
Created: 09-17-2025 at 02:16PM
Last Edit: 08-28-2026 at 03:58PM

Description Hunter 10 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

Got a text from a friend: "Hi, we're cleaning out a deceased relative's house in NJ -Want this?" With a pic of a Royal case, unopened. I replied "sure!" without even checking to see which friend had sent the message (I hadn't saved the name in my contacts). Fortunately, he turned out to be a local friend, so no shipping was involved. A few weeks later, I picked up the case from him, complete with a rusty key hanging from a string. Got it home and opened it up to find this 1965 Royal Caravan, very dirty and dusty but functional. Keys not even sticking. I am still in the process of cleaning it. The original owner was named Erwin, so the typewriter will be named in his honor.

Fun fact: Bob Dylan had one of these, and it is on display at the Dylan Center in Tulsa, OK. According to the museum, he used his Caravan to type the lyrics for albums such as Highway 61 Revisited. Coincidentally, I had tickets to see Bob Dylan at the Outlaw Music Festival September 14, 2025- the day after I received this typewriter. He played Highway 61.

Update: The Caravan has been cleaned and the platen knobs replaced because one was badly cracked. The key was soaked in rust remover. The photos span the process.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Caravan with ribbon spools, ribbon cover removed.
Caravan with ribbon spools, ribbon cover removed.

Caravan with case.
Caravan with case.

The serial number can be found underneath the left side of the platen. (Before cleaning!)
The serial number can be found underneath the left side of the platen. (Before cleaning!)

Carvan case- detail of latch and key (as found).
Carvan case- detail of latch and key (as found).

Royal key after soaking in Rust remover.
Royal key after soaking in Rust remover.

Top view after cleaning and replacing cracked platen knob.
Top view after cleaning and replacing cracked platen knob.



Caravan with friends.
Caravan with friends.

Dylan's Caravan in the Bob Dylan Center museum in Tulsa, OK.
Dylan's Caravan in the Bob Dylan Center museum in Tulsa, OK.

Hunter: Suzanne LaPierre (BookMouser)

Suzanne LaPierre's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 652

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, and to write snail mail letters. The tactile nature of typing on a manual machine works some kind of detox magic in this digital age. Each vintage typewriter has a soul and a story. Currently my collection is centered around midcentury models.


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

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