1931 Royal Model 10
Up for sale is a Royal Standard Model No. 10 which was made in America in 1931. This Model 10 is the last variant of this model, and features only a single glass panel on each side of the body and a basket/type-segment shift mechanism as opposed to the carriage-shifting mechanism which was a bit heavier.
This typewriter is fully functional, however it definitely shows its age. A lot of the nickel-plated parts have a lot of patina and pitting, and there are some small areas of light surface rust (as emphasized in some of the photos). The platen does also have a crack, however the platen and feed rollers still reliably feed paper as they should, so it's not in need of immediate attention. The paint does not shine quite like new, and unfortunately some of the labels seemed to have been either painted over or worn off, including the Royal label between the typebasket and the keyboard, as well as all the labels on the rear of the machine. The labels on the paper table remain and are in impressive shape. The glass panels are both still present, although the right-hand panel has a small chip in the top right corner as pictured.
Mechanically, this typewriter is fully functional and is actually a smooth and reliable machine to write on despite its age. It can definitely be used heavily and reliably. although I would keep an eye on the platen and have it re-covered if it starts to worsen. This has been factored into the price.
The owner's manual for the Royal 10 can be downloaded here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/Royal10.pdf
This typewriter does not use universal ribbons, however you can re-thread the original spools with ribbon from the universal spools sold on this site, or you can purchase ribbons elsewhere made for the Royal Desktops.
If you don't mind the cosmetic flaws (which is mostly just character for this machine!), then this is a great classic workhorse that can still be used reliably to this day and beyond.
Note: This typewriter, along with other desktops are expensive to ship because of their extremely heavy weight (close to 40-50 pounds in most cases) and the large boxes that they require. If you decide to purchase a desktop typewriter, you can be assured that the expensive shipping costs will ensure that your typewriter arrives safely and in one piece.
That being said, if you are local to Southeastern PA, you are welcome to pick this typewriter up and avoid the cost of shipping completely.