Typewriter Talk / Royal Diana - opinions please.

**Posted by beak** 26-2-2016 03:58:50

A Royal 'Diana' in very good condition has come up for sale locally at what seems to be a good price - has anyone got one of these or know of them? Any opinions?
Thanks.

**Posted by ztyper** 26-2-2016 18:18:41

The Diana is high up on the list of most wants for me. It's a German machine with Royal's Magic Margin, what's not to love?! Seems like a match made in heaven to me. Though I don't own one. Wish I did though...

**Posted by Pete E.** 12-2-2026 21:21:29

I am lucky to win this Royal Diana "Administrator" on Shop Goodwill this week.

It was made in Holland in the 1958 to 1960 time frame. It has the 12" wide carriage.

An Administrator has been on my Want-List for some time now.

Should have it home in a week or so.
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**Posted by Pete E.** 13-2-2026 10:47:21

The German-made machine evolved from the "Diana" to the "Royal Diana" (and "Royal Administrator") and eventually to the Royal "Century" which copied lots of body panel styling from the Royal Futura line.

Here is my Royal Century made in 1963.
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**Posted by Pete E.** 15-2-2026 11:15:33

Great article, below, with history of the Diana typewriter.

You can click on the "translate" feature and select German-to-English and let the page reload.

https://www.sommeregger.name/typewriters/collection/diana_typewriter.html

**Posted by Pete E.** 15-2-2026 11:26:22

And another article by OZTypewriter...
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https://oztypewriter.blogspot.com/2012/01/royal-diana-portable-typewriter.html

**Posted by Pete E.** 17-2-2026 17:21:45

Royal Diana Administrator arrived safely.

Needs a deep cleaning.

It's SN places it at a 1958 - 1959 production and it weighs in at 14.8 lbs.

I assume it only came with a factory dust cover. Anyone know for sure ?

Might be a few weeks for my garage/driveway warm up enough to work on machines. Will post more photos, then.
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Spay-day for the Royal Diana Administrator completed in the garage today.

Took lots of de-greasing and cleaning. Every thing that was not working now does. All it took was some denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner and my air compressor. One small spring for the ribbon selector mechanism was missing so it got a new spring from my horde. No other repairs or metal bending was required. Even the upper/lower case alignment was perfect and needed no adjustment.

It is drip-drying in the garage for a couple of days.

New ribbon and spools installed.

Off to the hardware store tomorrow to look for some new rubber for feet.

And I have a spare Facit TP2 black leatherette case that is a perfect fit for this Administrator with its longer carriage. Case just needs a cleaning and some minor repairs here and there.

Front of the ribbon cover had one 1/2" long gouge to metal. So am building up some layers of touch up paint and will then sand/polish it smooth.
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