Typing With Mario

Underwood No. 5 (1924)

 This machine has a wonderful, feel to it and is very well built. The glass covered keys are easy to operate and fit your fingers well. 

Royal Quiet De Luxe "Arrow" (1948/49)

 I love the feel of this machine! The keys are just the right size and fit your fingers well. This machine is one of my most enjoyable to type on! It is built like a TANK! I prefer this design to the newer 50's redesign (below). 


Remington Rand "All New" 1949-1950 NEW

  I may have found my #1 favorite manual typewriter. Actually I think it may be a draw between this machine and my 1948/49 Royal Arrow. I purchased this machine on Marketplace for around $30. EXCELLENT, smooth typing feel, keys are as easy to use as any electric typewriter I've used. This machine is very smooth and extremely easy to use! Keys are also wide and chunky, and provide a nice feel. I originally purchased one of these typewriters at the beginning of 2022 for $15 from a bookstore. It was high up on a bookshelf. I aksed if it was for sale, next thing I knew, I was taking it home! Unfortunaley, once I got it home, I realized that the machine was not working properly. The carriage was sliding all over the place and was not maintaining proper tension. I soon discovered that one of the "star" shaped bearings that also contain a ball bearing inside, was missing. These bearings are essential to the carriages proper function. I ended up taking the machine to a local repair shop. Unfortuatley, even after following up after a few months, the repair shop never came through. 


Royal Quiet De Luxe(Early 50's)

 This machine has a nice feel overall, but the keys are not always consistent with print quality and feel. Magic Margin on this machine does not let me go all the way to the left with my margin, there is a slight space. I think the adjustable "tab" margins that my other machines have (Smith Coronas') are easier to use. 


Olympia Deluxe (1950's?) NEW

 I purchased this machine from an estate sale auction for about $14, I believe. I was initially disappointed when I purchased it, because it was completely seized up. I was worried it was a draw band issue. I started by oiling the machine. While doing this, I discovered a lever that locks the keys and carriage during transport. I'm not sure if it was pressing this button, if it wasn't already set, or if it was oiling the machine, but it works very well now. As for feel, the keys are oddly spaced. You have to pay extra attention to where your fingers are and it is easy to hit the wrong keys.  


Remington Monarch (1960's)

  I acquired this machine at Goodwill in February. I saw a small bag on the shelf and was curious what was in it. Sure enough, a typewriter! This Is my smallest manual machine.  

 What I love about this machine, is it's lightweight and highly portable design. I also love the design and aesthetic of the machine. What I dislike, is the level of force required to strike the keys (this is after proper cleaning and lubrication). I have yet to buy a new ribbon for this machine. 


Smith Corona Super Sterling (1960's)NEW

   I found this machine yesterday listed on Marketplace. Was not finding anything interesting,  until this machine popped up at the top of my feed. I quickly tested the machine before I put it in the trunk of the car, and was immediately surprised with how solid and crisp the keys felt. The key-sensitivity feature really makes a difference on this machine. The medium setting seems to be the sweet spot. Not too hard, not too soft. The keys are well weighted and have a nice chunky feel to them. They are also spaced out perfectly. This machine definitely makes typing enjoyable and it has a lively, sprightly feel. 


Olympia Deluxe (1970's) NEW  

   I found this machine at the thrift store a few days ago. I often hear good things about these machines, so I decided to put it in my shopping cart for $21. This machine has a light feel to the keys, especially the spacebar. I am not that impressed with the overall feel of the machine. To me, it feels cheap and plasticky. The keys, in my opinion, are placed too close together. I found myself unintentionally hitting extra keys while typing. While the typing feel was ok, I wouldn't say that there was anything special or particularly enjoyable about it. 


Sears/Brother Portable (1980's?) NEW

  This machine came from an estate sale, I think I paid around $14 for it. I liked the simplicity of this typewriter. It has a very crisp, light feel to the keys. Very machine for everyday use.


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