1935 Royal Model O
Up for sale is an absolutely breathtaking Royal Portable Model O which was manufactured in the first year of this model's production- 1935. This is also the first Model O that I have seen with an 88-character keyboard (hence the -88- in the serial number) and features the British pound, the Russian Ruble, and the US Dollar on the keyboard, as well as a few foreign keys which include the carrot and accent, which are on a "dead key," meaning the carriage does not advance when that key is pressed. I'm not sure which language or nationality this typewriter was manufactured for, but it makes this typewriter extremely unique and interesting.This typewriter in near mint shape, with a beautiful jet black glossy paint finish which still shines like it came out of the factory just yesterday. The paint and labels are both in excellent shape, although there are a few scratches and paint flaws, but still not nearly as many as you would normally expect for this old of a machine. You will find yourself dusting this typewriter often (tip: a microfiber cloth works best for this kind of paint) because fingerprints and the smallest amounts of dust stick out like a sore thumb on this machine because of how perfect the paint is. The metal on this typewriter is also very shiny, with rust nowhere to be found. This typewriter uses universal ribbons which are sold on this site, and a manual can be downloaded here: http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/RoyalOmanual1936.pdf.
This typewriter is also fully functional right down to the bell, and has an elite (slightly smaller than standard) typeface. I would not recommend using this machine extremely heavily (example: writing a novel), however it still types very nicely and can be used frequently. This typewriter also comes with its carrying case, which is a bit beat up (see pictures) but is still in decent condition and does its job as it's supposed to.
If you're looking for a stunning classic from the '30s in impressive condition both cosmetically and mechanically, then this is a stellar choice.