Fabulous Vintage Circa 1920’s Royal Typewriter

Fabulous Vintage Circa 1920’s Royal Typewriter


The Royal typewriter company started life just over a century ago in 1904. The company was started by EB Hess, who had already made typewriters in various designs for his own use. Although the company was founded in 1904, it would be another two years before the very first Royal typewriter, aptly named the Royal 1, would be made available for the public to buy. The front of the typewriter below the keys bore the legend Royal Typewriter Company New York USA, with the number one depicted in each corner.

The idea behind the Royal 1 model was that it would be a reliable and sturdy machine that would last many years. The Royal 5 followed six years later and was notable for having a portable leather case included with it. It would be another fifteen years before the first true portable Royal would be created however, which would simply be called the Royal Portable. Apparently Bing Crosby was one of the most famous users of the Royal Portable back in the Twenties. This particular model was in production for some twenty years.

Before then one of the most notable of all the Royal typewriters was released – this was the Royal 10. This had a very different look to it than its predecessors, because it was an upright model. As such the keys were much lower than the bulk of the machine; the overall impression is one of a box shaped typewriter with the keys in a separate section attached to the front.