Acquired 3 Hole Punch (Master Products Mfg. Co., Los Angeles, Calif.)
Black cast iron and metal
Swung through the thrift store today and found this fantastic beast. $3.82 was absolutely too little for such a lovely vintage piece. Not sure of the age, but definitely manufactured to last. Twenty minutes of cleaning and a light oiling and it’s almost as new as the day it came off the factory floor. Handles up to 20 sheets of paper and slices through them like butter. 

Master Products Mfg. Co. 3 hole punch on a library card catalogue next to a Royal KMG typewriter and two small plants

Close up of the black shine on the Master Products Mfg. Co. 3 hole punch

Oblique view of the right side of a black Master Products Mfg. Co. 3 hole punch whose handle arches up and out of the picture.

Acquired 1961 Royal FP standard typewriter with a special Clarion Gothic typeface (Royal McBee Corporation)
Serial number: FPS-16-7133632
Sandstone (yellow) panels on a gray frame with cream colored plastic keys and platen knobs
Clarion (Double) Gothic typeface in elite (12CPI), 6 lines/inch; US keyboard with 43 keys/86 characters
Manufactured in U.S.A.
Acquired in April 2025 from a bank in Idaho Falls. I spent way more on shipping than the pittance I spent on the machine itself. I had modest hopes that purchasing it as an ex-bank machine that it would have a non-standard typeface and my bet paid off. It was all bonus points that it came in the Sandstone colorway.

It doesn’t have a “1” key and the traditional use of the lower case “L” as a substitute fails. Here one has to use the uppercase “I” to make a 1 to match the rest of the numerals.

Hero shot of a yellow 1961 Royal FP typewriter sitting on a libarary card catalog

Close up of the type slugs of a 1961 Royal FP typewriter with Clarion Gothic typeface. The center of the san serif faced slugs reads "CG".

A library card catalog card with a san serif typesample of a 1961 Royal FP typewriter with a Clarion Gothic typeface.

Oblique view onto the right side of a yellow and gray bodied 1961 Royal FP typewriter on a wooden surface

View of a silver property tag found underneath the hood of a 1961 Royal FP typewriter indicating it's property of the Bank of Commerce in Idaho Falls.

The serial number of this typewriter is on the left side under the hood and next to the ribbon cup.

Oblique angle from the left side of a yellow 1961 Royal FP typewriter sitting on a library card catalog. The large silver carriage return arm juts out at the viewer.

Acquired Steel Desk Drawer Paper Organizer (Hunt Manufacturing Co. (Fresno, CA), Lit-Ning Products Division)
Six slots for organizing your typing papers and envelopes as well as space for your stapler, tape dispenser, and various other desk drawer implements.
In an effort to slowly improve my analog office proficiency and productivity, I have heeded Lenore Fenton’s advice to have all my supplies organized at my fingertips. Toward that end I’ve picked up this excellent paper organizer for the top desk drawer of my executive tanker desk. This mid-century marvel is perfect for storing a variety of paper types and envelopes to have them easily to hand.  (For ease of viewing and use, you’ll see photos of it sitting on my desktop right next to my typewriter.) 

In the 1943 film Basic Typing Methods, in the very opening seconds of the film, you’ll see the woman in the foreground pulling paper quickly from her desk drawer for typing. While it’s not immediately visible, she’s surely got a similar paper organizer in her drawer. (Pardon the heavily gendered references in the film.)

Oblique view of a Hunt Manufacturing paper organizer in 20 gauge steel next to a Gray Royal KMG typewriter. The drawer organizer has six angled slots for storing and organizing 8.5 x 11" pieces of paper. In the front of the organizer is a 4.5 x 11.5 inch section for various office and typing supplies. In this section we see a stapler and a rubber date stamp.

Analog office set up featuring a stick leg metal desk, a Royal KMG typewriter, a few card index filing cabinets, a typing copy stand, and a paper supply organizer.

Gold manufacturer's sticker for Hunt Manufacturing Co. of Fresno, California

Acquired at the local Acts Thrift shop for about $2.00, this was a no-brainer purchase.

Acquired 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five Standard Typewriter (Olivetti-Underwood)
Serial Number: 13-9707863
Distinctive elite typeface, 12 CPI, 6 lines/inch, standard, bichrome, segment shift, tabulator, American keyboard, 44 keys
Body: light gray in steel; Keys: dark gray with white letters in plastic
Manufactured in the U.S.A
Acquired used at a second hand store for the As-Seen-On-TV price of $19.99 and in stunning condition. It’ll need a clean, but this is in almost perfect cosmetic condition. It’s my first Underwood and technically also my first Olivetti as it was manufactured after the merger. The touch and speed are truly stunning and may be the best in my collection even before being cleaned, oiled, and adjusted.

As William Forrester admonished Jamal to do on his Touch-Master Five, I’ll “Punch the keys, for God’s sake!

A 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter sits at an angle on an oak library card catalog.

View onto the keyboard of a 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter featuring dirty, dark gray plastic keys with white lettering. At the top is a long tab key flanked by "CL" and "SET" keys. There are shift lock keys on both sides along with a "BK S" key on the left top and a "M-R" key on the right.

A close up of the hood and carriage of a 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter. It has a massive chonky feel.

Angle on the left side of a 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter.

Angle from the right hand side of a 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter sitting on a library card catalog.

Close up of the typing point of a 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter spooled up with a black and red bichrome tatty ribbon. The basket is a bit on the dusty and dirty side.

View into the typebasket of a 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter from the rear. We also see the ribbon spools on either side.

Rear of a 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter with a sticker on the rear of the carriage with a "U" logo and the words: underwood touch-master 5 U.S.A

Type sample of a distinctive elite typeface on a 1966 Underwood Touch-Master Five standard typewriter typed on a yellow library card catalog index card.

Acquired 196X Remington Streamliner Portable Typewriter (Remington-Rand, Inc.)
Serial number: AX-168959
Pica typeface, 10 characters per inch, monochrome, carriage shift
Acquired 2024-09-04. In generally good shape.

The case is in exceptional shape given that these usually aren’t extant or have been shattered into pieces. There is one piece broken off, but it came with the machine and should be able to be fused back onto the case. Came without the hubs or covers. It’s slightly more mint green than the mint blue of the other Streamliner I’ve got which has a somewhat smaller serial number.

I’ve cleaned it up a tad this week to take to the type-in at Vroman’s Bookstore this weekend. It still needs a tweak to the line selector, but isn’t terrifically noticeable and I might be able to fix it before then.

A mint green 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter sitting at an angle on a library card catalog. View of a mint green 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter from the right hand side. One can appreciate the cream-colored chicklet-like keys on the keyboard. Oblique view of a 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter from the left hand side. A view of the basket, typebars, and slugs of a 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter with the hood removedl Gleaming typing point of  a 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter View of the rear of the carriage and into the type basket of a naked 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter.Close up view of the typebars in the basket of a 196X Remington Streamliner typewriterClose up of the typebasket of a 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter featuring the ribbon vibrator which is a bar coming from the left hand side. View from the rear down onto the right side of the carriage of a 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter Angle on the right platen knob of a 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter View of left rear corner of a 196X Remington Streamliner typewriter peering across the carriage and into the naked type basket

Acquired 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter ultraportable typewriter (Smith-Corona)
Serial Number: 3Y 2279770
Brown crinkle paint; white plastic keys; SCM Elite No. 66 typeface; US keyboard
Acquired for a song and a dance on 2025-04-14; Seems to be in relatively solid shape; nothing huge out of place; need a full COA, but seems fully restorable; the case is a bit dirty and has a light smell, but should be cleanable; came with the original manual and warranty card stub. The dried out 18 feet of black ribbon was replaced on 2025-04-30.

A brown crinkle painted 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter typewriter sitting at an angle on a wooden card catalog Close up angle on 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter typewriter with the front right corner facing us. Side view of a 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter typewriter. In the foreground we see a gleaming chromed return lever on the left. Angle onto the left rear corner of a 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter typewriter with a view into the typebasket An opened soft typewriter case with a manual for a 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter typewriter and the original warranty card sitting on them. View into the basket of a 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter typewriter from the back. We clearly see all the silver slugs featuring a standard elite typeface Angle on a brown leather soft case for a 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter typewriter. It's obviously dirty and grimy and sitting on a wooden table top. View down onto the right hand side of the carriage section of a 1960 Smith-Corona Skyriter typewriter. On the side of the chassis inside of it we see the serial number scratched into the frame. The left 1 5/8" diameter spool of a typewriter sitting next to a friction fit "C"-shaped clamp that is meant to hold the ribbon onto the spools hub. Side view of a 1 5/8 inch black metal typewriter spool. On the left side of the hub in the middle is a hinged curved piece of metal that when opened will allow one to lock the end of a 1/2 inch wide typewriter ribbon in

Acquired 1951 Remington Super-Riter Standard Typewriter by Remington Rand, Inc.
S/N: J2013204
Remington Pica 534, 10 pitch typeface; 6 lines/inch
Dirty as all get out, but seems to function nearly flawlessly. A full clean, oil, and adjust is mandatory as will be new ribbon, but in surprisingly solid condition for all the accumulated filth. Not all bad for a thrift purchase of $11.00.

View of a 1951 Remington Super-Riter standard typewriter sitting on a wooden library card catalog. It's sitting at an angle so that the front right corner is facing us. It's obviously quite dirty

Type sample on a white index card from a 1951 Remington Super-Riter. It's got a clear pica Remington typeface. The machine obviously needs some adjustment and cleaning based on the appearance of the type.

Acquired 1977 Olympia SG3 Standard Typewriter by Olympia Werke AG, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Serial Number: 7-3855889
Elite, 12 pitch, 6 lines/inch
In generally solid shape out of the box. Some paint worn off body along the corners and a bit dusty with some white out to clean up. It’ll need some tweaks to the a few minor spots, but it should clean up to almost new pretty quickly.

The one glaring issue is a needed tweak to the spacebar to trip the escapement properly. The platen is pretty solid, needs new ribbon, screws on carriage tightened, a ring and cylinder adjustment, right carriage release is sticky, and tabs need some minor attention. Beyond this it is pure butter. What a lovely experience to type on. Who’d have thought such a thing possible in 1977?

Front view of a 1977 Olympia SG3 Typewriter

1977 Olympia SG3 Typewriter with the white hood removed so we can see the naked keyboard and type basket. Closer inspection reveals some dust bunnies inside.

View of most of the typeslugs on a 1977 Olympia SG3 Typewriter

Rear of a 1977 Olympia SG3 Typewriter with the carriage and hood removed. We see all the internals of the machine including the escapement as well as lots of dust around the carriage interfaces.

Rear end of a 1977 Olympia SG3 Typewriter with the carriage removed and sitting on a wooden table behind the typewriter itself.

Faint black ink on an index card as a type sample for a 1977 Olympia SG3 typewriter.

Acquired 1929 Corona 4 Portable Typewriter (L.C. Smith Bros. & Corona Typewriters, Inc.)
Serial number: D3P08521
Received on Saturday 03-08, but didn’t open it up until this morning. The case is fairly worn and has the fabric peeled off in several spots, but the leather handle is in tact and in reasonably good shape. The machine has seen better days certainly and needs a thorough cleaning. The paint has some significant chipping in many of the common spots, including the ribbon covers, but I think it’ll polish up nicely and the resultant used patina will add to the machine’s charm. Some one has removed the ribbon vibrator, so that’s going to need some serious attention and possibly some additional replacement parts. The carriage doesn’t move smoothly and I suspect it’s because the drawstring has been replaced at some point by some inadequate cotton string which is now caught on something under the carriage. The rubber feet are totally shot and have a few chips. It’s definitely one of the rougher machines I’ve ever picked up, but I think it’s imminently restorable.

While I wouldn’t call these rare, I don’t see them pop up very frequently, and even less frequently do I see them in the non-traditional black enamel. I’m definitely thrilled to have one with the DuPont DUCO light maroon with the contrasting panels in crackle finish rose gold. I’m hoping it’ll be a stunning workable machine when I’m done with the cleaning and restoration work.

Preparation of a typeface sample is going to require some repair work.

Close up of the slugs and basket of a 1929 Corona 4 typewriter. The top levels of yellowed legends can be seen on the glass keys.

Focus on the front and upper carriage portion of a 1929 Corona 4 typewriter which has two patches of crinkle painted rose gold on the front.

View of the right side of a maroon and gold 1929 Corona 4 typewriter.

Left side of a 1929 Corona 4 typewriter. There are a variety of paint chips missing from the edges of the front of the typewriter.

Acquired 1920 Corona 3 Ultra-portable Typewriter (Corona Typewriter Company)
Serial number: 335207
A 3 bank typewriter that folds in half for portability.
Received on Saturday 03-10 and unpacked this morning. This is now the oldest machine in my collection and the first true antique as it’s now 105 years old. The first thing I’m struck by is the tiny size and scant weight of the entire machine and the case. I’m curious to compare the weight to that of my Zephyr and Skyriter.

The case is in reasonably good shape considering its age, but some of the fabric is coming off and a previous owner has chosen to tape portions of it together. I’ll likely do some serious restoration work to the case at some point.

1920 Corona 3 folding typewriter in an old and worn wooden fabric-covered case. The typewriter is folded in half in the case and on the back side of the lid of the case we see the typewriter's manual.

Condition

The machine itself is in pretty solid shape considering the age. Someone kept the slugs clean. Things are a bit sluggish, so it’s going to need a solid cleaning which I’m hoping will bring most of the functionality back to snuff. The ribbon vibrator seems a tad slow, particularly for keys struck on the left side of the keyboard. The platen and carriage area are going to need a good scrub as there’s some dirt and grime stuck in it. I suspect that I won’t be using the manual’s suggestion of gasoline to clean things out however.

Accessories

The machine came with a cleaning brush and an original instruction manual, which is somewhat useful as some of the mechanisms aren’t as straightforward as on later models as well as things unique to this particular folding machine.

Interior of the top of a typewriter case which has hardware for holding a nylon bristled brush and a small manual

Functionality

This has an even smaller return/line advance mechanism than my Orga Privat 5 and is bordering on almost not existing. It’s just the tiniest little nub actuated with the forefinger and thumb to advance the line while pushing the carriage to the right. There really isn’t a carriage return lever to speak of, but the mechanism is quite clever.

This is my first machine with a “figure” key, which allows for the use of the third row of characters on the slugs. It’ll take some getting used to for using it, particularly as the keyboard seems shifted over with respect to the home row of keys which means that there isn’t a key for one’s pinky to rest on or use. As a result it’s going to be difficult doing traditional touch typing at speed.

Right side view of the 1920 Corona 3 typewriter.

The machine only came with a monochrome ribbon though it does have bichrome capability using a switch on the ribbon vibrator assembly which is found on the left side in an odd configuration.

I was able to eke out a typesample without too much trouble, but I’ll wait until the machine is cleaned up and back in proper order before attempting to use it for more than a minute or two. I suspect it’ll need some tensioning on the miniscule mainspring assembly.

Typed index card with stark black lettering from the pica typeface 1920 Corona 3 typewriter

Overall, it’s compact and clever in so many interesting ways.

1920 Corona 3 folding typewriter folded in half and sitting in it's wooden case

Acquired 1957 Royal FP Standard Typewriter (Royal-McBee Corporation)
Serial number: FPP-6164099
Standard platen, pica typeface, in Royaltone or Pearl Light Gray smooth
Received in generally workable shape, though without ribbon; definitely dirty; internal foam disintegrating; brights are going to need a load of polish; temporary photos to provide some idea of condition until I get the chance to clean it up.

My wide carriage 1958 FPE was so nice I thought I’d try out the larger face in a more traditional carriage.

Close up of the US style cream colored keys on a 1957 Royal FP standard typewriter

The hood and carriage of a 1957 Royal FP standard typewriter

Dirty typebasket and filthy slugs of a 1957 Royal FP standard typewriter.

Left ribbon cup and serial number of a 1957 Royal FP standard typewriter

Side view of a pearl gray 1957 Royal FP standard typewriter with a cream colored carriage knob.

The dirty undercarriage of a 1957 Royal FP standard typewriter

Acquired 1945 Remington 17 Standard Typewriter (Remington Rand, Inc.)
Serial Number: J732492 from October 1945
Pica typeface
When I was interested in getting my first standard typewriter last year, Ruben Flores immediately recommended I get a Remington 17. While I’ve picked up a handful of other standards in the meanwhile, I’ve kept my eyes peeled. I just couldn’t let this $21 beauty slip by. If my 1956 Remington Standard is any indication, this should be a fun machine to play with.

This got delivered on the 21st, but I hadn’t had a chance to take a look at it until today. It’s not in terrible cosmetic shape, but has definitely been collecting dust and cob webs for a few decades. It seems to be in reasonable mechanical shape. There is a sticky key or two that will need either some cleaning and/or forming. The carriage is going to need some serious cleaning and possible adjustment to slide cleanly. The mainspring probably needs some tightening, but I won’t be able to tell properly until the machine is cleaned up. Some of the internal felt portions will also need some re-gluing. Beyond this, this 80 year old typewriter should come roaring back to life sometime soon. (The recent Eaton Fire means it may take a bit longer to address the underlying issues as my tools and “shop” are quarantined / uninhabitable.)

I’ve uploaded a few “before” photos for general identification, but will update in the near future with some better ones post-cleaning and adjustment.

Angles view of the right side of a 1945 Remington 17 typewriter which has a kidney shaped hole in the hood

The dirty typebasket and slugs of a Remington 17 typewriter

View of the rear of a Remington 17 typewriter with the back panel opened up and hanging from two hinges at the bottom. We can see the dirty internals of the machine along with lots of dust and cobwebs.

View of the undercarriage of a Remington 17 typewriter covered in cobwebs and dirt.

The Serial number J732492 is stamped into grooved steel on the frame of a Remington 17 typewriter

Acquired 1958 Royal FP typewriter
Serial Number: FPE-16-66444461
16" platen, elite typeface, in Royaltone or Pearl Light Gray smooth
I’ve been wanting to score an FP for a long time. Well shipped and in generally functional shape. My first typewriter of 2025 and the first since the Eaton Fire. 

 

Acquired 1954 Smith-Corona Silent Typewriter by Smith Corona, Inc. (Goodwill)
Serial Number: 5A 458864
Pica No. 1 typeface; 6 lines/vertical inch
American No. 20A keyboard
Fifteen minutes of tinkering and this machine is imminently usable. It’ll take about a half day to clean up properly, but this is well on its way to its former glory. I should be able to turn this $25 find into a proper $350 work-a-day typewriter.