John E. Simmons.com » Typewriters

Manuals for download

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:20:03 +0000

Mat Resist was kind enough to scan and forward these manuals. They’re in .pdf format. Enjoy.

Remington Rand Touch Typing Method featuring an early 50s Quietriter

Smith Corona Super-Silent, Silent and Sterling (late 40s- early 50s)

Textbook on Typewriter Repair, featuring Underwood, Royal, Smith Premier #2, Smith Premier Visible #10-11, Royal, Remington #7, Remington Blind, Remington Visible #10-11, Oliver #3 and #5, L.C. Smith, Monarch Visible, Fox Blind, Fox Visible, and various type samples

Underwood Golden Touch Manual, featuring both desk and portable models (late 50s-early 60s)

Underwood Repair Manual (1920)

Underwood Standard (1930 – #3, 4 and 5)

Underwood Five Desktop – 9851582 (1966)

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:13:25 +0000

This machine began my typewriter collection – although I didn’t know it would become a collection at the time. I owned a Kaypro IV computer in the mid-80s that had the annoying habit of cold booting without warning every few minutes. Combine that with the finicky printers of the time, and it became obvious that typing simple bills and envelopes could best be done on a typewriter. I bought this one at a thrift store.

Serial number is 9851582 makes it a 1966 model. It has a 13″ carriage and elite type.

Underwood 5

Olympia Deluxe – S80852

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:11:29 +0000

Desktop Olympias were sold by the millions in the 50s and 60s. This one dates from 1963. I found it for sale at the Jacksonville Humane Society Thrift Store.

It’s a solid machine with that West German quality feel.

Remington Quietriter UQ4020497 (1960s)

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:05:52 +0000

This is the sad tale of an eBay purchase. I spotted this nice looking version of a “60s” Remington Quietriter. Since this machine is largely covered in plastic, before bidding, I emailed the seller and asked if he would be willing to pack the machine itself in bubble wrap inside the case, and then securely wrap the case before putting it in a box. He assured me he would.

I bid successfully.

When I picked up the box at the Post Office, it rattled. Not a good sign. When I got the package home, I was surprised to see that the case was simply inserted in a box with no packing at all. I opened the case, and the typewriter was loose inside, again with no packing. The plastic cover over the typebars was lying in dozens of small pieces inside the case.

Additionally, something happened to the mechanism that controls the carriage. It refused to catch when pushed to the right. It returned to the left.

This machine was made in England, and I don’t see a similar serial number on the Typewriter Database – UQ4020497.

Remington Quietriter – QR3272259 (1950s)

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:56:00 +0000

This is a Remington Quiet-Riter of 1950s styling. The serial number, QR3272259, is one digit longer than any other serial number I’ve found. I’ll have to do more research.

This paticular example has elite type and is a sand color with dark green keys. I have no idea of production figures, but I, personally, have not seen another one in this color. It appears to have been used very little. The only restoration required was washing with water containing a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid, and the application of a couple of drops of oil to the carriage. Even the ribbon is in good shape.

Smith Corona Skyriter – SC272402 (1949)

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:52:00 +0000

Smith Corona developed a really portable machine for use on trains named appropriately, The Zephyr. After the war, with the popularity of air travel, the small, lightweight typewriter was renamed The Skyriter.

It came with a metal cover so it was very convenient to carry.

This one was made in 1949 – about the time of this ad

Smith Corona Silent – 5S121700 (1949)

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:46:30 +0000

I found this Smith Corona Silent in a flea market outside Washington, North Carolina in 1989. I had just moved to the city to work at WITN-TV, and needed a typewriter to write home to friends. These were the final days before email.

If you look closely at the keys, you’ll see some unusual ones for a typewriter found in the U.S. It has everything needed to type in all the European Roman alphabet languages – Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and yes, even English.

Remington Rand Noiseless Model Seven (1948)

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:42:35 +0000

This post-war Remington is branded Remington Rand on the paper tray. As with all the post-wars, it’s a model 7. This one is serial number H152960, thus made in 1948, and has the black wrinkle finish and elite type.

Remington Noiseless – H101569 (1947)

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:36:57 +0000

This may be my favorite machine for practical typing use. It has the same styling as the pre-war models, but it has that extra manufacturing quality that many post-war items seem to have. I think manufacturers learned a lot making all of that war materiel. If only it came with that glossy black lacquer finish rather than the wrinkle paint.

This particular example was an eBay purchase – a whole dollar. The case had been lost somewhere in its life, so it was shipped to me in a cardboard box with a little bubble wrap. The right hand platen knob shaft was bent, but a little judicious use of pliers fixed that. It also lacked a spring that operates the space bar mechanism. A trip to the hardware store found a spring that I was able to adapt.

With the installation of a new ribbon, this machine works perfectly. As I said, it’s wrinkle paint finished and has pica type. Serial number H101569 makes it a 1947 model.

Underwood Noiseless 77 – 1608039 (post war)

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:28:45 +0000

This is the post-war version of the Noiseless made by Remington for Underwood. It’s the same as a Remington Model Seven.

This one is serial number 1608039, but serial numbers on these Underwoods are useless for dating.

Underwood Noiseless 77