1939 Royal Model U/Mercury
Up for sale is an uncommon Royal Model U (Mercury) which was manufactured in the midst of the great depression in 1939. This typewriter is yet another example of a "junior" style machine that was aimed at both children, and adults who could not afford a full-size and full-feature machine at the time. In order to accomplish that, this typewriter sacrificed a lot of features that other full machines had. To name a few, this typewriter does not have a ribbon color selector, a tab key, a bell, and only has one adjustable margin stop instead of a full bar and 2 adjustable stops. I would say that everything on this machine is fully functional down to the bell, however this typewriter never came with a bell.
This machine is in remarkable condition for its age, and is indeed fully functional and works great! The keytops were replaced from the original keytops, which were a plastic compound that was discolored, cloudy, and in many cases, chipped or broken. The keytops installed are still Royal keytops- they are just not original to this particular machine, and will not discolor, cloud up, or break like the originals did over time. The rear two rubber feet were also replaced, since the original ones were extremely degraded compared to the front two feet, since the rear two feet hold the vast majority of this machine's weight.
The only thing to complain about on this machine is the ding on the typebasket cover, and the fact that the case does not have a handle. Other than the ding on the typebasket cover, the paint is in impressive shape, and looks great. The carrying case handle could easily be crafted if the buyer wishes to do so.
Universal ribbons that are sold on this site do fit this machine fine, however keep in mind that the bottom half of the ribbon (red) can not be utilized since this machine does not have a ribbon color selector.
If you're in the market for a rather rare machine in amazing condition that can still be used somewhat frequently and heavily to your liking, then this machine is a great choice, and makes for a neat conversation piece.