Tom,

Yes...it was a bit odd on Royal's part.  Their Royal FP standard even has a small colour-select dial on the right side of the machine (outside the ribbon cover and cowling).  And both machines came out about the same time-frame.

I use my red ribbon for word & phrase emphasis.  So it is more important for my need, presently.  

Probably not what folks did in the 1950-1960's.  

Even today on the few 1-colour machines I have in my home, I still fall back to using the "underline" key.
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