1919 Corona Folding No. 3
Up for sale is a classic Corona Folding No. 3 which was manufactured in 1919. For being over a century old, this typewriter is in relatively good condition both cosmetically and mechanically. Everything works perfectly on this typewriter, right down to the bell. However, despite being fully functional, this is not a typewriter that you're going to want to use heavily. While this typewriter can still be used to write the occasional note here and there, this machine is not the best machine to type on, and the typeface on paper is not the most clear and even. The drawband has been replaced sometime not too far in the past, so this typewriter should have no problem typing for decades to come. The Corona 3 was one of the first original portable typewriters. It was designed to be extremely compact and light, yet still functional (and it was for its era). The Corona 3- coming out in 1912- was commonly used among war correspondents in the First World War. In order to be compact, this typewriter folds over itself to fit in the case. The keyboard is a "3-bank" meaning there are three rows of keys. The characters shown above the letter on each key can be utilized by holding the "FIG" (Figure) key down. If you have big hands, this is not a friendly typewriter to write with, but with patience and attention, it still can be used. This typewriter does not use universal ribbons. You will want to re-thread the ribbon on this typewriter. The owner's manual can be downloaded for free here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/Corona3.pdf
Cosmetically, this typewriter does show its age somewhat, but it is still in fairly good condition. The paint does not shine like new, but luckily there are no serious areas of missing paint or any other notable issues. A lot of the nickel-plated metal does have some patina and evidence of aging, however there is not any notable amount of rust or corrosion that impacts the ability of this machine to function perfectly as it does. The case has some wear, but is in fair shape overall and still does its job to keep the typewriter safe and portable. As far as the rubber on this machine, The platen still feeds paper well and does not have too much wear. The feet on this machine will have been replaced by the time this machine will ship to its buyer. Note that in the picture the front two feet are worn and the rear two are missing, so this will be completely resolved the right way at no extra cost to you.
As I've said before, I would not recommend this typewriter for heavy use whatsoever, however it is fully functional and it can still be used here and there. This typewriter makes for an amazing decoration and conversation piece that's still completely functional after 102 years.
If you're looking for a Corona 3 that shows its age a bit, then this is a great machine with some character.