This blog is about the daily activities in a busy typewriter shop. I want to share with you the many interesting people who come in here, the beautiful machines I get and most of all the great typewriter stories that people share with me!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A Rare Art Deco Typestyle
Who would have guessed this ordinary machine had a special type.
Serial No. P2359 was the lowest I had seen
Abraham checks out his Splendid 33.
My second typecasting machine is a Olympia Splendid.
Your posts always inspire me as a typewriter enthusiast.
Do you think that skipping problems might be the most challenging of typewriter issues to solve? They seem to come from various sources, and can be elusive to spot.
I have several with this problem and I am hesitant to experiment on them myself.
You seem to be a magnet for people with historic typewriters in your area. This is not surprising, given your enthusiasm and expertise. Word tends to spread.
It is reassuring to know that there are still typewriter repair people like you out there!
Cameron- Thanks for your kind comments. Skipping problems can drive me nuts. Sometimes I can lose sleep over a really tough one. You have to use caution because many times you can make it worse. I think my shop is a huge typewriter magnet and every machine within 200 miles is pulled towards it. Actually, I think the Boston area just has a higher percentage of typewriters than other parts of the country.
That typeface is beautiful! How lucky for you to see it and use it for just a few minutes...The capital W is very special, indeed. What other typefaces have you seen out there that are rare finds?
Yep, that art deco Royal font is not present in the NOMDA list of Royal fonts available to customers at least in 1964. I own one Underwood that has a very unique typeface that I've never seen on a typewriter font list. It's always exciting to find a machine with a very unique typeface! (:
The Royal art deco typeface is just wonderful! And I if visited your shop, I would feel like a kid in a candy store. Once the closes behind me back, my first thought would "I want one of each"!
I bought a Royal Arrow online and it has this typeface! According to the serial number, it was made in 1941. Before now, I thought that all manual typewriters had Courier font because I don't remember EVER seeing one with anything different. Imagine my shock when I started typing.
It probably hasn't been used in a very long time because when I started typing on it, the carriage wouldn't advance at all. It's doing better now, but it sticks a little bit when you get to the middle of the page, so I probably need to take it to get cleaned - and I need a new ribbon.
Thanks for the info about this typeface. I loved my typewriter from the moment I opened the case, but this makes it even more special to me.
Thanks for the article about Art Deco (moderne) typeface. I'm looking for a typewriter with that typeface and would be interseted if you ever come across one to sell. Thanks.
That typeface is amazing! Who knows what lurks under the hoods of the many Royals that pop up on ebay?
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, what percentage of machines do you see that have something other than an average typeface?
Your posts always inspire me as a typewriter enthusiast.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that skipping problems might be the most challenging of typewriter issues to solve? They seem to come from various sources, and can be elusive to spot.
I have several with this problem and I am hesitant to experiment on them myself.
You seem to be a magnet for people with historic typewriters in your area. This is not surprising, given your enthusiasm and expertise. Word tends to spread.
It is reassuring to know that there are still typewriter repair people like you out there!
Dwayne F.- I would say less than 5% of all machines I see are a special typeface. It makes finding them all the more special.
ReplyDeleteCameron- Thanks for your kind comments. Skipping problems can drive me nuts. Sometimes I can lose sleep over a really tough one. You have to use caution because many times you can make it worse.
ReplyDeleteI think my shop is a huge typewriter magnet and every machine within 200 miles is pulled towards it. Actually, I think the Boston area just has a higher percentage of typewriters than other parts of the country.
What fun to discover that typeface and the early Royal portable. Another good typecast!
ReplyDeleteThat typeface is beautiful! How lucky for you to see it and use it for just a few minutes...The capital W is very special, indeed. What other typefaces have you seen out there that are rare finds?
ReplyDeleteYep, that art deco Royal font is not present in the NOMDA list of Royal fonts available to customers at least in 1964. I own one Underwood that has a very unique typeface that I've never seen on a typewriter font list. It's always exciting to find a machine with a very unique typeface! (:
ReplyDeleteVery nice typeface. Every time I visit your blog I long for the days I still lived in the Northeast. It'd be a blast to visit your shop.
ReplyDeleteThe Royal art deco typeface is just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteAnd I if visited your shop, I would feel like a kid in a candy store. Once the closes behind me back, my first thought would "I want one of each"!
Richard- Thanks. I thought you might like that art deco look.
ReplyDeleteJujyCakes- I do see some different kinds of Italic and boldface style types. But nothing as exciting as this one.
Ted- It's not easy to get info on old typestyles. Thanks for checking.
Bill M.- Thanks for you nice comments. If you ever come back to visit friends you'd better stop by.
Fernando- You wouldn't believe how many people do just that.
Ace!
ReplyDeleteHey Rob- Aces to you too! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI bought a Royal Arrow online and it has this typeface! According to the serial number, it was made in 1941. Before now, I thought that all manual typewriters had Courier font because I don't remember EVER seeing one with anything different. Imagine my shock when I started typing.
ReplyDeleteIt probably hasn't been used in a very long time because when I started typing on it, the carriage wouldn't advance at all. It's doing better now, but it sticks a little bit when you get to the middle of the page, so I probably need to take it to get cleaned - and I need a new ribbon.
Thanks for the info about this typeface. I loved my typewriter from the moment I opened the case, but this makes it even more special to me.
Thanks for the article about Art Deco (moderne) typeface. I'm looking for a typewriter with that typeface and would be interseted if you ever come across one to sell. Thanks.
ReplyDelete