Monday 11 November 2013

My most recent purchase.

My father has since i started collecting typewriters, also gotten a eye for typewriters which have good looks. Therefor, a week and a half ago, he told me that he had gotten into contact with a lady from a antique store in town that had a typewriter for sale. Of course i was interested immediately  not bother with the price but find out what kind of typewriter it is. He remembered what it looked like and when i went online and showed him several typewriters in that category, we found it.
A dual tone, beautiful cherry red Royal Portable from the late 20s in wonderful shape.
 A wonderful typewriter to use. When i bought it (for $140) it was pretty disgusting. There was moist eraser dust in it, sticking to every part of the machine. It was also filled with dust. It took a while to get off. Also the machine was smoked around for years. Nicotine yellowing and staining was all over this machine. I had to be really careful when it came to cleaning this machine, since i wanted to preserve the paint, but remove the stains. 

And...success. The yellowing is removed, mostly. (Not the parts that are impossible to reach but it is very little). And all the staining. I removed the entire body and cleaned and oiled the machine thoroughly. I then tended to the body parts. The dirt and staining was so old that if it would've been left on the machine a few more years, it would not be possible to remove. 

I used old rags, and for the metal, the soft side of a sponge. And that worked as well, surprisingly.

The mechanism itself was still in good working order when i inspected it on the counter in the store, but improved even more when i oiled it. 

I bought the machine on my work day. It was my lunch break and i could walk to the store in a jiffy. The only downside to that was that it was really bad outside. The storm was hitting the city and therefor it was very windy, and between the store where  i work and the store where the typewriter was is a really high bridge, and in weather it was that day...it isn't fun. So walking empty handed to the store was no problem, with a scarf, winter coat and hat...but with your hands full over a bridge with low banisters and me catching the wind at 6'5", the experience was something left to be desired if you can imagine what i mean. Every time i took a step, it was as if i was about to fly. But i made it back safely. So the journey to getting this was also a whole story.

The shift key had gotten some dirt underneath the glass, and i thought it was permanent, but i managed to get the cap off, and expose the print underneath the shift key glass. The dirt came right off. So the keyboard is in almost perfect condition, as you can see.

A true collectors gem, according to several typewriter collector's websites, and considering that i sold a ordinary Olympia SM3 for the same price two weeks back, that i got as a donation piece 2 years ago, i only paid the taxes on the Royal, really, which was just $14,59. And buying a typewriter like this for $14,95, is of course a wonderfull deal.

It is really nicely decoration and i LOVE THE COLOUR!!!
Dirty strikers, because i used it a lot.


A nicely preserved service label. It looks like it is almost as old as the typewriter, what do you think?


All the labels in lovely condition.


I love that they made the case and base in the same style the typewriter came out. Red, a style that was quite rare back in the 20s. I have only seen these in black, really. The case i mean.


A printed label, on the case. Looks AWESOME!!!

I use the typewriter frequently. It is a awesome typewriter, very well preserved for it's age and used and take care of very satisfactory.
Like i said, according...i think, Mytypewriter and websites like that, these coloured versions are really quite more rare then the ordinary black model P's.
A awesome find at a awesome price.


A type sample. I forgot to space on the fourth sentence.



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  6. Magnificent story! Purchasing this during a storm really makes this machine more appealing. There's an adventure attached to it now. Although red isn't my favorite color (understatement) I do like this duo-tone coloring.

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    1. Isn't it. It was quite scary. (It is a really thin and long bridge and high as well as the parkway runs underneath) and although I didn't like red as well either (understatement as well), this machine has changed my opinion. It is as if you can lick the cherry taste off the sides. :)

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