This Royal was driven the 200 miles from Toledo to Cincinnati by the woman who owns it, so that I could service it at The Urban Legend Institute. I spent an hour brushing out eraser shavings and dust (which were much less plentiful than in your average old typewriter), lubricating the carriage rails, wiping the paint clean, polishing the chrome and paint, and putting in a fresh ribbon.
The owner says that her father used to spend time cleaning the machine with Q-tips, and it has been kept covered. The moral? Simple but consistent care and consideration will let a good typewriter carry on long after its constructors and its original owner have passed away.
Another moral: condition matters. Look for a typewriter that’s been treated well, and it will perform the way it was meant to perform. What a treat!
Magnificent! As you say, a little care here and there. Royal 10s deserve it. Even when neglected, their core seems to stay intact, just waiting for someone to put it back to work. This one looks truly mint, and the type feeling must be incredible. At the time of writing, just reviving an IBM Executive – much younger, but the same fascination.
So beautiful and well maintained; made me realize that my machines are due for some TLC.
Absolutely fantastic. Now I want one – in the same condition of course :)
Based on its condition, it looks like it's only four or five years old. Amazing.
Wonderful looking typewriter. It looks factory fresh!
Amazing condition. You could cook on it! :D
Marvelous. Even the feet on that look good. How did she preserve them? I need to haul out mine again.
11 out of 10!
Gosh, that looks incredible. What a machine!
Augh! I want one!
Oh, that is stunning! I saw an Underwood 5 last month at an antique mall that was in similar condition with its original crate. The action was so smooth :-)