1 - robmck
- Speed Champion
Offline - From: Seattle, WA
- Registered: 31-1-2022
- Posts: 347
40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
I've seen an equal amount of praise and affection for the early 40s QdLs as well as for the late-40s-50s vintages (Dreyfus and following). Obviously the body and key-caps are different, but beyond that, is there a significant difference in the writing experience of them?
I've really enjoyed my early 40s QdLs, but haven't been in the same room as a later model. Just wondering how the other side lives...
- overwood
- Speed Champion
Offline
- From: Midwest
- Registered: 10-11-2018
- Posts: 284
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
I have only owned 51 thru 54 and they are my favorite machine largely for one reason only: They just feel right. My fingers and them just get along.
- Pete E.
- Typewriter Talk Elite
Offline
- From: Idaho - USA
- Registered: 23-6-2020
- Posts: 2,187
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
I have a 1947 Royal QDL and a 1957 Royal QDL.
Between these two machines. I can type faster and at more to my natural speed on the 1957.
I, howeve,r enjoy the 1947 when wanting to type slowly and thoughtfully. But the 1947 is a "slower" machine that I can overrun if I do not hold myself back a bit.
I also jumped ahead to the 1960's Royal Futura 800 and liked them so much got a grey one and a cococa one. I was lucky to find 2 Futuras that were pampered and lightly used...as they are marvelous typing machines, IMHO.
If I needed to downsize my collection and thin out the Royals...the Futuras would stay put.
- Pete E.
- Typewriter Talk Elite
Offline
- From: Idaho - USA
- Registered: 23-6-2020
- Posts: 2,187
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
1947 and 1957 in my collection :
.
- Pete E.
- Typewriter Talk Elite
Offline
- From: Idaho - USA
- Registered: 23-6-2020
- Posts: 2,187
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
1959 and 1962 Royal Futura 800's in my collection. These would be my Royal keepers if I needed to thin-out the Hoard...
.
- robmck
- Speed Champion
Offline
- From: Seattle, WA
- Registered: 31-1-2022
- Posts: 347
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
Thank you Pete and overwood.
Pete, those are lovely machines! I like your approach of having different machines for different tasks - e.g. your thoughtful writing vs rapid writing. It fits nicely into how I choose between pen, typewriter, or computer, each of which induce a different thought process and relationship with the writing.
It sounds like these are well worth trying out. Looking through my tiny collection, I realize that nearly all my typewriters are 1947 and older, with the exception of a non-functioning Hermes 2000 (mentioned here: Typewriter Talk » Hermes 2000 service manual and stuck carriage (boardhost.com)), and a 5 series Smith-Corona Sterling. So, my experience is mostly on pre-war machines. Time to branch out.
- •
Thread Starter- robmck
- Speed Champion
Offline
- From: Seattle, WA
- Registered: 31-1-2022
- Posts: 347
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
Looking more closely at the pictures: Pete, did you re-stitch those cases, or are they simply that immaculate? If you re-stitched them, did you do that yourself, or is there someone who does that sort of thing? I've a couple cases that could use help and I've not yet learned to do this sort of thing. (Though I do like the excuse to learn, but if I did everything myself, I'd get nothing done...)
- •
Thread Starter- Pete E.
- Typewriter Talk Elite
Offline
- From: Idaho - USA
- Registered: 23-6-2020
- Posts: 2,187
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
Hi Robmck...
Those two (2) Futura cases are all original. One had its plastic handle broken in 2-3 pieces so I bought a nice leather one as a replacement.
I think some folks really cared for their machines and cases.
Here is another Royal case I picked up recently. Oddly...the machine was trashed but the case was a beauty. It had a bit of fabric open up on the left side, but some white-glue fixed that.
.
- robmck
- Speed Champion
Offline
- From: Seattle, WA
- Registered: 31-1-2022
- Posts: 347
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
That one's a very nice case, too!
- •
Thread Starter- Pete E.
- Typewriter Talk Elite
Offline
- From: Idaho - USA
- Registered: 23-6-2020
- Posts: 2,187
Re: 40s vs 50s Royal Quiet De Luxe
My only "dip" into the old typewriters has been my 1947 Royal QDL.
For some reason, they just do not catch my eye and passion. All others run from the early 1950's to the late 1970's.
I got the 1947 only after fixing an identical machine for my next door neighbor which had benn her fathers machine and I was intrigued with it to the point I bought mine.
It set me back $ 125 and it came with a mint-conditioned case as well.
I purposely use the 1947 for "fleshing out" ideas and story lines, etc...where I can sit for hours in front of it and maybe come away with only 1-2 pages of double-spaced notes to guide my future typing work.
I think slowly and this one makes me type that way, too.
