So, no-one's got any experience with the Royal Standard Portable ("Model O") vs. the Royal 10?
So, no-one's got any experience with the Royal Standard Portable ("Model O") vs. the Royal 10?
...Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile? Isn't it a nobby one and just the proper style! I should like to have one just the same as that. Whereever I go they'd shout "hello, where did you get that hat?..."
"Not Yet Published" - My Writing and History Blog
Thanks to the member of another forum, I finally know what this is:
It's an Imperial Model 60. They started production at the end of the 1940s. Here's an ad for the Model 60 from 1949:
I've done a bit of "market research" and I've pretty much determined how much a postwar mechanical typewriter sells for. And I can see that the Imperial for $90 is a HUGE ripoff.
I'm gonna hold off buying that, and keep hunting for something more reasonable, better quality, and which looks more stylish. But which remains prewar. Because that's what I'm hunting for.
Does anyone know what the going price is for a prewar/golden era Royal typewriter is?
Sunday - Flea Market Peekings...
Nothing worth buying, I don't think...but at least I'm getting a good idea about the prices that people are asking...
Like I said, the local flea market breeds typewriters. There's always at least one for sale. I just gotta wait until the one I want shows up for a good price...
Last edited by Shangas; 06-30-2012 at 06:22 PM.
...Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile? Isn't it a nobby one and just the proper style! I should like to have one just the same as that. Whereever I go they'd shout "hello, where did you get that hat?..."
"Not Yet Published" - My Writing and History Blog
I've read a lot about Royal typewriters and they seem to be the best quality so far, but can anyone provide information on what quality I can expect from prewar models of these manufacturers?
I'm thinking of names like...
- Remington.
- Smith-Corona / L.C. Smith.
- Imperial.
- Oliver.
- Olivetti.
- Underwood.
I saw a nice Imperial Model 50 from the 1920s today in a shop. Not for sale, but it was identical to this:
Any comments?
Oh yeah...is there anything I can do to prolong the life of the platen and rollers? Is there any kind of product which I can say, rub onto the rubber parts of the machine to keep it supple? Similar to the stuff that people rub on leather to keep it soft?
Rubber-softening tricks I've read so far include...
- Spraying WD-40 onto it (WD-40 seems to be good for a lot of things!)
- Buying a product called "Rubber Rejuvinator" to soften the rubber.
- Silicone spray. This one seems to have the most credence.
- ?
Last edited by Shangas; 07-06-2012 at 05:58 AM.
...Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile? Isn't it a nobby one and just the proper style! I should like to have one just the same as that. Whereever I go they'd shout "hello, where did you get that hat?..."
"Not Yet Published" - My Writing and History Blog
More typewriters in the wild...
This beat up relic from around the 1920s/Depression-era 30s is a Remington 16. For $185 and in need of a fixer-upper...
I passed, but I took a photo.
I also came across this 1930s (40s?) Royal Model 10 (YAY!) at the flea-market. It was $150. Which might've been a reasonable amount of money, but for the fact that the platen has more cracks than a broken teapot:
I passed, again. But I'll keep hunting...
...Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile? Isn't it a nobby one and just the proper style! I should like to have one just the same as that. Whereever I go they'd shout "hello, where did you get that hat?..."
"Not Yet Published" - My Writing and History Blog
You should be able to get a prewar Royal for much much less than $150 without too much looking. Once word gets out locally that you're looking you might well be *given* one just for the trouble of carrying it away. Keep in mind there are far more typewriters out there these days than there are people looking to buy a typewriter, and even the most unrealistic flea-market price can likely be haggled down without too much effort.
Stay away from junkers -- look for a machine that shows signs of being well-cared-for. There's enough of them out there that you can afford to be picky.
As for other makes besides Royal, the only ones I've owned are Underwood (my portable) and L. C. Smith, a machine I used for many years until it got knocked off its stand and the shift lever snapped off. Some of the parts on the Smith were made from pot metal, and it can get brittle from age -- and once it snaps, it can be very difficult to fix. The action of the Smith was very nice -- that make used a very smooth ball-bearing mechanism, and you could type on it all day without your wrists getting tired.
As for renewing rubber parts, you can do that up to a point with chemicals and such, but it won't work if they're flattened on one side from sitting for years. The best thing you can do for the rubber on a typewriter once you've renewed it is to disengage all the pressure mechanisms when the machine isn't in use and *always* keep it covered when not in use. Sunlight is the number one enemy of rubber.
Last edited by LizzieMaine; 07-16-2012 at 05:22 AM.
The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. -- William Jennings Bryan
How is rubber affixed to the platen and rollers? And is it possible to replace the rubber yourself at home? I can't see it as being difficult to remove the rubber and put on fresh rubber...
...Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile? Isn't it a nobby one and just the proper style! I should like to have one just the same as that. Whereever I go they'd shout "hello, where did you get that hat?..."
"Not Yet Published" - My Writing and History Blog
The platen rubber is bonded to its metal shaft with some kind of cement -- it needs to be ground off, which is probably not a job to try at home. I've heard of people resurfacing old platens by finding a piece of straight radiator hose of the right dimensions at an auto-supply store and slipping it on over the old one.
The small rollers on a Royal are bonded to a metal core as well. The bail rollers just slip over the bail rod, so they're very easy to replace if you have new ones ready to go. The paper feed rollers fit into place once you've removed the platen.
The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. -- William Jennings Bryan
I'm holding out hope that I can find a prewar typewriter in running, ready-to-use condition, for not too much money. Most of the prewar ones I've seen so far, are pretty junky. I don't mind oiling and cleaning, dusting and polishing, etc. But if I have to worry about buying replacement parts (apart from ribbons)...then I ain't interested.
...Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile? Isn't it a nobby one and just the proper style! I should like to have one just the same as that. Whereever I go they'd shout "hello, where did you get that hat?..."
"Not Yet Published" - My Writing and History Blog
My Royal 10 cost me $20 at Goodwill. They're still out there.
The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. -- William Jennings Bryan
I've heard stories like that from lots of people. I hope to be so lucky. I'm going to go scavenger-hunting in Singapore and in London, to see what I can dig up. With luck, I'll find a nice Royal 10 or Underwood 5 or Remington 12 or something, that the owner is just desperate to get rid of...
...Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile? Isn't it a nobby one and just the proper style! I should like to have one just the same as that. Whereever I go they'd shout "hello, where did you get that hat?..."
"Not Yet Published" - My Writing and History Blog
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