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Home » Montgomery Ward » Signature 511D » 1971 #F1482660
1971 Montgomery Ward Signature 511D Serial # F1482660 1971 Montgomery Ward Signature 511D typewriter, Serial # F1482660 James Grooms's 1971 Montgomery Ward Signature 511D typewriter. 2026-04-08 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of James Grooms: 1971 Montgomery Ward Signature 511D Serial # F1482660 The updated JP-3. For 1968, they rolled these out to match up with the styling of the next generation of electric machines. The mechanism is now in an aluminum housing, and despite this, it weighs in at a full 3 pounds heavier than its predecessor. I should have weighed it without the housing for a comparison to the previous models. I suspect the main frame is beefed up and is maybe the same as the electric model.

As before, these things are just marvels of typewriter engineering and build quality. Everything is dialed in and yet they have a touch problem that defies fast touch typing. On the low side, you jam bars. To get the return, you have to dial up the tension setting. This creates a heavy feel. I think the square key spacing adds to a learning curve.

This one will probably get my hot rod mod of moving the spring bar down.

This particular machine was dropped on it's head. There is some rash on the return lever, and the paper release lever was bent up. Some of the functions weren't working, so I was leery of this one. The functions were sorted out, and some forming fixed the lever issues.

1971 Montgomery Ward Signature 511D #F1482660

Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
Created: 04-08-2026 at 04:05AM
Last Edit: 04-08-2026 at 05:41AM

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Description:

The updated JP-3. For 1968, they rolled these out to match up with the styling of the next generation of electric machines. The mechanism is now in an aluminum housing, and despite this, it weighs in at a full 3 pounds heavier than its predecessor. I should have weighed it without the housing for a comparison to the previous models. I suspect the main frame is beefed up and is maybe the same as the electric model.

As before, these things are just marvels of typewriter engineering and build quality. Everything is dialed in and yet they have a touch problem that defies fast touch typing. On the low side, you jam bars. To get the return, you have to dial up the tension setting. This creates a heavy feel. I think the square key spacing adds to a learning curve.

This one will probably get my hot rod mod of moving the spring bar down.

This particular machine was dropped on it's head. There is some rash on the return lever, and the paper release lever was bent up. Some of the functions weren't working, so I was leery of this one. The functions were sorted out, and some forming fixed the lever issues.

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Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)

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Typewriters are the perfect blend of using one's technical skills, history and functional purpose. My goal is type tested machines. My interests are not isolated to any one area. For example, I am a big fan of Smith Corona electrics, mid century electrics and all things Royal.


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