Pursuing Craig’s List here locally I came across a simple listing with a somewhat out of focus image. The listing said simply Royal Typewriter. Works. $10. The image was clear enough to see that that the typewriter in question was not a complete disaster so I called the number. I spoke with the owner who said he was going out of town for one day and would call me upon his return.
After two days I had not received a
call from the seller and I figured that he had sold the machine to someone
else. As it was still listed I again
called the owner. He said that he had
not gotten around to returning my call but had been contacted by another
individual who stated he would give $20 for the typewriter. He further said that individual was also waiting
on a return call. Being
only a few blocks away I asked if I could come over to see that machine, and if
it was in good shape I would be willing to pay the same $20.
Upon arrival at the sellers house I
was greeted by a man that appeared to be in his 80’s. He showed me the Royal Quiet Deluxe and I
gave him $20. He seemed very perplexed
that anyone would be interested in such old devices and was just glad to have
someone take it off his hands.
We got to talking and the seller had
purchased the typewriter new and used it until computers took over. He had been a reporter at our local newspaper,
the Kansas City Star. He said the
machine has served him well all those years until his retirement almost twenty-five
years ago.
The inside looked like he had just
closed it up on his last day and never opened it again until now. Inside the case, besides the dirty but well
taken care of machine, was several pieces of carbon paper (Some used and maybe one day I will try to see what was
copied using them.). Also inside the
case was a Royal brush and a well-used eraser with a brush attached on the other end. And a ribbon from Sears. He also still had the manual, what looks like
a Royal brochure, and booklet called “The Modern Secretary”.
The serial number revealed the Royal
had been manufactured in 1953. If the
owner bought it new that year it would have seen the inside of a newsroom
for over 35 years. A small piece of
history.
More to come...................
Definitions—
Kansas City Star: This newspaper has served the city since 1880. Founded by William Rockhill Nelson. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kansas_City_Star)