Royal KMM | Chris Aldrich

Royal Standard Typewriter Collection

I’m slowly closing in on a completist collection of Royal standard typewriters.

Here’s most of my collection so far. Only a few major must haves left, but also still a few to finish refurbishing. Seven are fully refurbished, though two still need some small tweaks; all type but two need some reasonable work, and the rest need a full clean/oil/adjust.

A wire metal shelving unite on concrete in front of a grassy yard with some bushes and flowers in the background. On the 5 shelves are a collection of Royal Standard typewriters with three on each shelf except the top which only has two.

From bottom to top, left to right: 1935 H (with 5 key decimal tabulator), 1935 KH, 1936 KHM; 1945 KMM, 1946 KMM-18 (with a 10-key decimal tabulator), 1950 KMG-P; 1950 KMG-E, 1955 HHE, 1954 HHS (pica double gothic); 1957 FPP (cameo pink smooth), 1961 FPE (sandstone), 1959 FPP (sea blue smooth); 1960 FPE (light green smooth), 1961 FPS-18 (clarion double gothic, pearl light gray smooth).

Anyone with a nice Royal 10, please inquire within.

Two new additions to the Royal FP collection this year give me most of the major colors. Anyone want to join me for a type in?

A dining room table with two rows of Royal FP standard typewriters set up for use. In the background are two different bookcases and a library card catalog with a flower arrangement next to a black typewriter

Overhead view of five Royal FP standard typewriters in pink, yellow, green, blue, and a pearl-gray.

Acquired 1946 Royal KMM Standard Typewriter (Royal Typewriter Co. Inc.)

Serial Number: KMM18-3015689
Extra-wide 18 inch platen with support "wings" and a 10 key decimal tabulator
Royal Elite typeface at 12 CPI and 6 lines/inch vertical

I purchased this 1946 Royal KMM standard typewriter on October 4th via Goodwill for $22.00. It’s equipped with an extra-wide 18 inch platen and carriage with “support wings” and a 10 key decimal tabulator which means in its day it would have been used for some heavy-duty accounting.

The logos could be in better shape, but the rubber feet and overall condition are pretty exceptional. It’ll definitely need a good cleaning and some very minor adjustments. Tipping the scales at 47.8 pounds makes this the heaviest typewriter in the collection so far. $0.46 per pound isn’t a half bad deal for something in this condition.

Can’t wait to do some restoration work on my second Royal KMM.

Acquired 1945 Royal KMM Standard Typewriter (Royal Typewriter Co. Inc.)

S/N: KMM-3072465

I’d purchased this in 2024 as a late Christmas present for myself, but it took several weeks to be delivered due to our neighborhood being closed off by the National Guard for the Eaton Fire. It finally arrived on January 23 in true “barn” condition. The carriage took a hit and is off about 1/2″ and is going to take some careful forming to attempt to salvage it. Otherwise this will sadly be a parts machine. Beyond this issue it appears to be reasonably restorable.

Bookmarked Jamie Lee Curtis Confirms ‘Murder, She Wrote’ Reboot In Works: “Oh, It’s Happening” by Glenn Garne (Deadline)

Jamie Lee Curtis has officially confirmed she's on the case.

The real question that typewriter enthusiasts want to know is: will the Royal KMM typewriter be making an appearance too?!!!

Or will the new Jessica be using some sort of crappy computer laptop?

If she does use a typewriter, should it be a similar KMM or should she change it to something else, and if so, what?