1978 Royal (Triumph-Adler) R 700 #30359467
Status: Sightings
Hunter: Zigmund Hostutler (Qwerpty)
Created: 04-19-2025 at 07:38AM
Last Edit: 04-19-2025 at 09:47AM
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Description:
Acquired in September 2021, the cover photo shows the condition I received it in. Pica.
-Backstory-
I had been looking for a rolling typewriter table for my desktop standard for a couple of months when a marketplace listing popped up nearby. The price was reasonable, and I arranged to meet the seller at her home in New York state. While there, we inevitably began discussing typewriters, and she asked, "Do you repair them?" I said that I did, to which she responded, "I've got something for you, wait here," and disappeared into a particularly dark and ominous garage.
You can probably imagine my surprise when she reappeared, lugging this distressed monstrosity. It belonged to her father, had been dropped at some point, and hadn't been used in a long time. It was a freebie, and I figured I could at least scavenge it for parts.
Once I got it home, I assessed the "damage" and quickly discovered this desktop had a removable carriage. I replaced it properly, cleaned up the tangle of ribbon, and wouldn't you know? The thing worked perfectly fine.
-General Info-
This is not Royal's own standard design. Notes in the Royal serial number list state that in 1975, manufacture of the Royal 470 in England ended. Thereafter, Litton outsourced production to Triumph-Adler. This R 700 is, in fact, an Adler Universal 200, and the date for this serial number is based on the Adler Universal records. Some online sources state these were built in West Germany, but this 1978 example was assembled in Hungary. The R 700 is one of, if not the last manual standard sold under the Royal nameplate.
As far as the typewriter itself goes, I recall it being a competent writer. The space bar was loud and clattery, the key action tepid, and the fit and finish middling. This typewriter left my collection in 2023.
Update: Type sample found! It is a glowing review of a different typewriter, not of itself.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Zigmund Hostutler (Qwerpty)
Zigmund Hostutler's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 281
"Typewriting is writing minus the drudgery." -1920s Underwood Advertising
Been enjoying the hobby since 2015; finally getting around to sharing my collection digitally. I only keep the typewriters I use and enjoy the most, so check out my sightings to see all the machines that came and went.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Royal (Triumph-Adler) R 700 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Royal (Triumph-Adler) Serial Number page and the Royal (Triumph-Adler) R 700 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
