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196x Underwood 21 Serial # 055471 196x Underwood 21 typewriter, Serial # 055471 Ted Snyder's 196x Underwood 21 typewriter. 2026-02-07 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Ted Snyder: 196x Underwood 21 Serial # 055471 Made in Italy, according to a label on the typewriter. The case, however, states that both case and machine were made in Barcelona, Spain.

Features:
Pica; a less common typeface which I cannot find the name for, typeslugs labeled as 2.

This came to me via shopgoodwill.

It seems to be in good shape. It has a sinewy feel when typing, felt most clearly when the tension is turned up to the highest setting. It takes some effort to type on, but the effort feels like it is paid off, not like some typewriters where you feel like you have to almost pound the keys to get it to work. It’s hard to describe this feeling beyond sinewy–sometimes I think that there are bones and joints inside, and each time I push down on a key, I am activating this morbid articulation.

The prior owner decided to scratch her name into the paint in three different locations, write her name in pencil on the back, and write her name inside the case.

Repairs / Replacements
It required repeated cleanings to get the typebars moving freely.

The tab mechanism isn’t fully functional. I suspect something is dirty or out of alignment behind the back panel, as I can see the mechanism working up until that point when I push the tab button. When reassembling it, one of the screws that holds the baseplate in place sheared off. Not much pressure was applied to it, so this seemed strange.

The ribbon spools that came with it were plastic, so I replaced them with metal spools.

After wiping down the body, I cleaned the paint with Zymol HD-Cleanse to remove oxidation, then waxed it with Zymol Creme. (I need to update the photos with ones which show it post wax.)

196x Underwood 21 #055471

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Ted Snyder (tricosene)
Created: 02-04-2026 at 03:36PM
Last Edit: 02-07-2026 at 12:51PM

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Description:

Made in Italy, according to a label on the typewriter. The case, however, states that both case and machine were made in Barcelona, Spain.

Features:
Pica; a less common typeface which I cannot find the name for, typeslugs labeled as 2.

This came to me via shopgoodwill.

It seems to be in good shape. It has a sinewy feel when typing, felt most clearly when the tension is turned up to the highest setting. It takes some effort to type on, but the effort feels like it is paid off, not like some typewriters where you feel like you have to almost pound the keys to get it to work. It’s hard to describe this feeling beyond sinewy–sometimes I think that there are bones and joints inside, and each time I push down on a key, I am activating this morbid articulation.

The prior owner decided to scratch her name into the paint in three different locations, write her name in pencil on the back, and write her name inside the case.

Repairs / Replacements
It required repeated cleanings to get the typebars moving freely.

The tab mechanism isn’t fully functional. I suspect something is dirty or out of alignment behind the back panel, as I can see the mechanism working up until that point when I push the tab button. When reassembling it, one of the screws that holds the baseplate in place sheared off. Not much pressure was applied to it, so this seemed strange.

The ribbon spools that came with it were plastic, so I replaced them with metal spools.

After wiping down the body, I cleaned the paint with Zymol HD-Cleanse to remove oxidation, then waxed it with Zymol Creme. (I need to update the photos with ones which show it post wax.)

Typeface Specimen:

Hunter: Ted Snyder (tricosene)

Ted Snyder's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 23

Back in high school, my dad would bring home one of the office typewriters, a Brother daisy wheel with a built-in word processor, for me to use. That might be my first typewriter. I don't know what happened to it. I bought a Cannon Starwriter afterwards to take to college. Fast forward to 2025, and I started wondering if there could be benefits of using a typewriter in my writing routines.

Little did I know that typewriters have the ability to reproduce. A Remington Quiet Riter led to a Royal KMG and Underwood De Luxe Leader pair, and the process continued. Now I have a dozen.


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