1945 Imperial Good Companion No. 1
Up for sale is a really uncommon Imperial Good Companion No. 1 which was manufactured in Leicester, England in 1945. This is the first typewriter that I have seen that has a cork platen and feed rollers, and it seems some amount of the Good Companion No. 1s were also equipped with these cork parts, while others had the typical rubber-covered platens and feed rollers. I am not sure what advantage this posed at the time, however the platen and feed rollers seemed to have lasted very well and do not have any flat spots. They feed paper perfectly well and perform without any complaints.
This typewriter is in remarkable condition cosmetically and mechanically with only few flaws. The labels are all clear, in-tact and only have very light wear. The crinkle paint finish is original and is in great shape, with little to no discoloration, scratches, or dings. The carrying case is in impressive condition, and the leather-covered handle is still completely in-tact and not heavily worn. The rubber feet on the base do unfortunately show their age, and have either fallen apart or are hardened. I would recommend using this machine with a typewriter writing pad or any surface that isn't too hard so the machine doesn't move around too much while writing. This typewriter does not use universal ribbons, but even if it did, I would recommend re-threading the original spools because you will likely not find them anywhere as they are pretty unique. The owner's manual can be found here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/ImperialGoodCompanion.pdf
While this typewriter is fully functional, I wouldn't recommend using this one to write anything significant such as a novel. The typing mechanism isn't too impressive and or extraordinarily smooth, especially compared to what other European typewriter companies had to offer at the time (in particular, the German companies). Either way, this typewriter can still be used every now and then, and does work well (See type sample in pictures). The font size is the standard pica at 10-pitch.
When this typewriter isn't being used, it makes for a stunning decoration and conversation piece, especially considering the Imperial is rather uncommon in the states, especially in this condition.