I have a RQD and it also has that problem where it sporadically advances 1 space when I return the carriage. I thought it was just my machine until now. I'm glad you mentioned this problem.
This is my machine and I love it. Regarding the "invisible" magic margins: aren't the two sliders on the front paper holder designed to be placed where the margins are in order to give you a visual indication of that? That's how I use them....🤔
For me when it comes to typewriters my prefered machines are the Royal Quiet Deluxe, Smith Corona Clipper and the Remington Letter Writer, although I find the ribbon installation much easier with the quiet deluxe
I remember Ted Munk saying that he found the pre-1950 designs worked the best. My own 1947 QDL, made in Canada, works very well and is a charm. Have you tried an earlier model? I would suggest you do, just to compare. Daniel
I have a JC Penny's Penncrest Caravelle typewriter. A rebranded Smith Corona 5 series with a "leather" look typebar cover. It's in light blue with the dark blue leather finish. Smith Coronas have a specific type action unique to their machines. The Corona Touch. It's designed for the keystroke to follow the natural path of the curve of the fingers when it presses a key. That's why it's so comfortable writing with a Smith Corona.
Wow, a lot to digest here. Has anyone done a deeper dive review of the Royal QDL? I don’t think so. One of my first typewriters is my gold Royal QDL made in 1953. It has the “tombstone” keys, black with gold letters, and there’s a little gold metal “border” around each key. This machine has Royal’s elite “Canterbury” typeface, which I love; it’s just so handsome. I like the typing action on this Royal, and for a while considered making this my main, “go to” machine. Alas, it was not to be. I’m with you on the Magic Margins; no, they are not magic. They are an overly engineered solution to something that was really not a problem; setting margins on Smith-Corona portables is just so easy! (And yes, you can easily SEE where those margins are.) I think sometimes companies come up with a new feature and fall so in love with it, they lose touch with reality. Obviously (looking at their marketing), someone at the Royal typewriter company decided that Magic Margins was the greatest advancement in typewriters since the backspace key, only it’s not. I sometimes refer to my Magic Margins as a Royal Pain in the A**. (Also, the backspace key is temperamental; I’m told this is not an unusual problem for QDL’s.) Beyond that, I found your review thoughtful and fair. Style-wise, the QDL does have a certain ‘50s panache my Silent-Super lacks. It’s almost as if most of Royal’s budget went into style and appearance, whereas Smith-Corona decided to be more practical and put their money into design and function; a pragmatic, “sensible” approach to typewriter design. (Though I do wonder just how often owners would ever have need to remove their platens! Most owners probably blissfully used their original platen over the life of the machine, no? You, on the other hand, see this more from the perspective of a typewriter repair person, so your platen insights are certainly understandable!) Anyway thanks for another thought-provoking review.
Great presentation and thorough analysis here. I can understand how platen access and ribbon replacement can be a prime motivator for buying a 1950s typewriter, but the slop and margin sets would be the real deal breaker for me, personally. Universal ribbon spools should be what ultimately keeps people inspired to keep collecting these, I suppose, as well as their stately, but not overbearing look. I've heard some people like the soft-touch with these keys (but I can't be sure if it's the slop they like.) I will check out your videos on other machines from this period to see what you like and dislike about them. It's interesting you didn't mention the "knuckle" thing with the ribbon cover 🤔 Anyhoo, it's Saturday and the kids are getting pancakes!
By the light of the silvery moon….. only your mom would turn your video into a song a long. Great music in this one!!! Don’t worry- I’m not buying you a royal quiet deluxe for Christmas. 😇💕💕
Yeah, I remember your first Quiet Deluxe and the way you hated on that. I think your problem may just be with the portable nature of the typewriter. I grew up with a KMG Standard in our playroom. It taught me most of what I know about the mechanics of a typewriter. When I went looking for a manual typewriter to revive my touch-typing skills. I looked for a Royal. When I took typing in high school, my dad bought a brown Royal with light tan "tombstone" keys (maybe an FP?). Royal Standards are what I know. Manual typewriters are how I learned. I really prefer the glass-top keys that were on the KMG. I got a Model H from the mid-'30s that "almost works." It still needs a really deep cleaning before it can become useful. BUT it has those decimal tabs that I just find fascinating. So I bought a KMM (that looked like a KMG in the photo). It works well, but is missing the four screws to attach the cover and also the two screws to secure the top of the front plate, which means the release lever for the stencil selection doesn't have a pivot and I have to use it with the cover off so it actually kinda looks like a Model 10 when I'm using it. Also, the lettering on the keys are so dark, they're nearly illegible, but I am using this to touch type so that really doesn't matter to me. The Standards have a full cover so there's not that problem with "fit" that you've been having on your QDLs. Hey! $10 for a working machine is a great price! I don't even want one but I would have bought it. I was just given (free!) an Underwood 319 that I'm not finding anything about. I seems to be in excellent condition. This is my first portable. The bottom of the typewriter is the bottom of the case so the lid just hooks onto the back. It's very nice and quite easy. My dream is always that Royal Futura. I like the fact that the Royal H, KMM/KMG and Futura have ALL the same features except for the decimal tabs on the H, and the paper holder in the back and to push-button cover release on the Futura. Well, the Model H didn't have "Magic Margins," It has the pins in the back. I seem to be missing one. I have a couple of electric Smith Coronas that give me nothing but fits. The old one from my dad simply carriage-returns continually when I turn it on. The one my wife and I bought at a going-out-of-business sidewalk sale is a full-blown word processor but I don't have the manual (NA5HH). I recently figured out how to get it to just work like a typewriter, but it feels very much like typing by wire and it spell-checks me. Phooey! Now that I've recovered my touch-typing skills (it happened rather quickly on the KMM using a typing instruction manual from the same period), I'm finding I have little use for my typewriters. When I type on my Mac, I usually use just one hand while holding something else with my other hand.
I've never used one, which is a bit surprising at this point. However, I trust your assessment and don't really desire them. I do quite like the LOOK of these QDL's. I agree though, given the choice between a Smith-Corona 5 series or a QDL, it would be the SC every day of the week.
I bought my Quiet Deluxe at a yard sale and I LOVE it. Also, as a side note, I was born at Hartford Hospital, just a couple of miles from the old Royal typewriter factory. It looked like a castle!
I just bought a 1948 Royal QDL (Dreyfuss model) last week from a vintage store and it does have that issue with it advancing one space when returning the carriage most of the time. If I slam it hard enough when returning the carriage (which I shouldn't probably do to a 76 year old typewriter) it does stop right at where the left margin is. It also has this issue that when typing fast, the carriage does not advance quick enough when spacing between words which leaves a half-space gap between the first letter of a word and the rest of it. Had just sent that thing to get professionally cleaned and tuned up. Hopefully they will be able to straighten those issues. Quite rare to come across a really old typewriter where I live, let alone one that's made in the late 1940s. That's what made me buy my QDL and is the oldest one among my 3 typewriters, the other two being a 1965 Smith Corona Galaxie and a late 1970s Silver Reed. Edit: I was able to fix the left margin stop issue (carriage advancing one space) thanks to a video posted by Phoenix Typewriter. There is this screw on the left margin stop accessible from the back (covered with a metal plate) that you can adjust so that the carriage stops exactly where the left margin is set. This just needs to be turned slightly outwards.
Love your videos. It’s funny, we have almost opposite tastes when it comes to the “feel” of the keys. My first typewriter was a Royalite and it had a very loud clack, I didn’t love it. Then I purchased my Olympia SM5 and I absolutely love it. Fast forward a few years and now I discovered I love Royals after getting two standards, a KMM and KHM. I don’t have a SC yet so maybe I just don’t know what I am missing 😊
I've never had a QDL with tombstone shaped keys. But my two QDLs have the older, round keys with chrome trimmed rings. Both of my QDL typewriters are so easy to type on and I can really fly on them with no obstructions or hesitations. Maybe try an older QDL if you get a chance ❤
I recently came across your videos when I fell into a rabbit hole about typewriters. Love them, thanks! I am looking for a cool looking typewriter (doesn't have to be in working condition, just visually good condition) to use as a décor piece for my office, which one would you recommend for that? Also, do you have listing online for the ones you flip?
@@ashleybernardo8349 I list locally as I don’t typically ship. I actually have the bling typewriter up for sale right now and while it’s in working condition, it’s definitely more of a display piece lol Feel free to email me if you’re interested!
I love my Royal QDL, but it certainly has all the issues you’ve outlined in this video. I recently purchased a 1950’s Royal Companion, the Clipper of the 50’s Royal line, and it has similar problems with the slop in the keys, advancing one space too many if my typing technique isn’t perfect, and an inconsistent left-hand margin. That being said, I adore them both and am hoping to have the entire 50’s line of Royals and Smith-Coronas to complete my collections. Great vid, as always!
I love my quiet de luxe. The magic margins were a little annoying until I hit the paper guide, causing it to flip back, revealing the margins. I prefer the margins on my royal telstar better though.
Ah so that explains why my left margins occasionally don’t align. I’ve often needed to push the carriage after returning it just to double check that the printing point is at the true left margin 😅
Do you use a bath mat as your typing mat? Or do they just have the same construction? I just started collecting and have gotten a LOT of great information from your videos. Thank you!
I'm surprised a Royal HH fan doesn't love the QDL.. Not just comparing the aesthetic similarities (which could be easy to do) both FEEL quite similar to me, the touch control and MM work in a similar way and feel to have about the same tension left. I like it for the same reason I love the Studio 44, it's a desktop masquerading as a portable (And the Lettera 22 did this quite well as a SUPER PORTABLE, but that's another story)
I am a fan of Olympia sm 3 and 4, I like the style and typing feel. I also like the Smith Corona 4 series. The way they look and type, round keys are pretty cool. The Smith Corona keys seem to a little wider than other machines from the same time period and have a slight bevel to them. Rather than just having flat keys. The Remington model 5 I have feels like a serious work machine. All black save for a few stainless or chromed parts. I've actually used it on a couple of forms from work. Rather than simply filling in the forms by hand. Gotten a few comments from the HR department. They noticed lol.
I bought one just like this. How do I fix one key that does not hit the uppercase? It's the apostrophe key. All the other keys are fine. Also, it came with a broken right knob. More confirmation bias for your existing opinion of these.
I have a gray 1952 QDL with gray keys just like that. Going to gift it to my sister. It can fail to bank all the way on the left margin but a firm thwack fixes that. Nice to type on but prefer my Remington QR and Office-Riter the two which I’ve had the most success correcting issues on. The Remington case is far more annoying than the Royal case which I have no problem with. Try putting a Remington in the box, tight clearances and it is all hidden from view. Smith-Corona 5s are just so dependable but I’m not a fan of the feel of them, Remington feels the best in my opinion. Remington also has the fewest annoying forming adjustments, Royal the most. Bend this thing barely any at all.Easier to turn a screw one quarter turn.
If I had gotten a 1950-60 model Smith Corona it would be for travel purposes that would be portable and yet be small enough to use for travel otherwise it would be the from the 1900s to the 1940s era
I have a 1947 royal Quiet De Luxe and the 1946 smith corona sterling 4A floating shift which I like very well and I like the earlier models better from the 1900- 40s than the 50-80s model which is too modern for me
If someone doesn't buy it. I'm considering a Royal Companion from the early 1960s. It's very striking looking. It looks like the keys need a good clean but it appears to type. We'll see.
I have one of these. It's in decent condition and required only basic cleaning. But it's not nice to type on. Smooth and everything, but too much bunching of characters or surprise spacing. Something in the escapement which is beyond my ability level. Funny thing, the Royal Futura has the same problem, just to a lesser degree. The full size machines, like the Royal KMG are among my favorites. Thes mid-sized models just leave me cold.
From the sound of it, a lot of the things you don't like about the Royal Quiet Deluxe is that they're relatively hard to fix. When this typewriter was built, most things were built to last, and the cost of professional repair was low compared to the cost of replacing an item. I suspect that Royal never envisioned a day when their customers would be interested in fixing their own typewriters, and that places that fixed typewriters were well-versed in fixing Royal typewriters, so ease of repair for amateurs wasn't a consideration. Likes and dislikes about things like Magic Margins and how a typewriter feels under your hands are, of course, subjective, so I can't argue with those. I'm just playing devil's advocate here. I've never owned a Royal typewriter and don't remember ever using one, so I can't speak from experience. I grew up with a broken 1960s era student typewriter that Dad kept trying to fix, a new 1970s era student typewriter, a 1950s Smith Corona (Grandpa's), several mid 1970s Smith Corona electrics (also Grandpa's), an Adler electric from sometime in the 1970s (Dad's) and a Silver-Reed 8650 electric (my college typewriter). Of those, I'd have to say the Silver-Reed was my favorite, but only because I spent so much time using it and got used to it. Well, OK, I also really liked the look of that typewriter; there just weren't a lot of milk chocolate and cafe-au-lait colored typewriters around, even in the heyday of typewriters. Dad's Adler electric was my second favorite. But really, all except the student typewriters were pretty nice, each for its own reasons.
The shame ability these machines is that they look and are designed so well, but the way they are built is problematic. I once helped someone repair theirs and it was the most bothersome repair I have done
Many collectors love their QDLs! It's all about preference when it comes to typewriters. Just because it's not my cup of tea, doesn't mean you won't love yours!
All I can say is it’s a good thing you don’t collect pianos.
Where the hell would she put them all?
@@ColtonRMagby the piano shelf. duh
@@ImBoundChaos That won't last 5 MINUTES with a several hundred pound piano on it.
@@ColtonRMagby build a bigger shelf, problem solved
@@tyttuut And risk getting tetanus? Nope.
I have a RQD and it also has that problem where it sporadically advances 1 space when I return the carriage. I thought it was just my machine until now. I'm glad you mentioned this problem.
This is my machine and I love it. Regarding the "invisible" magic margins: aren't the two sliders on the front paper holder designed to be placed where the margins are in order to give you a visual indication of that? That's how I use them....🤔
That’s a great way to solve that problem!
For me when it comes to typewriters my prefered machines are the Royal Quiet Deluxe, Smith Corona Clipper and the Remington Letter Writer, although I find the ribbon installation much easier with the quiet deluxe
More qdls? You should really looks into earlier scm silent or clipper models. I am having a blast with my 1948 clipper!
I remember Ted Munk saying that he found the pre-1950 designs worked the best. My own 1947 QDL, made in Canada, works very well and is a charm. Have you tried an earlier model? I would suggest you do, just to compare.
Daniel
I have a JC Penny's Penncrest Caravelle typewriter. A rebranded Smith Corona 5 series with a "leather" look typebar cover. It's in light blue with the dark blue leather finish. Smith Coronas have a specific type action unique to their machines. The Corona Touch. It's designed for the keystroke to follow the natural path of the curve of the fingers when it presses a key. That's why it's so comfortable writing with a Smith Corona.
The typewriter animation was so cool. lol So simple but effective
Perfect video to watch just as I finished brewing my tea!
Wow, a lot to digest here. Has anyone done a deeper dive review of the Royal QDL? I don’t think so.
One of my first typewriters is my gold Royal QDL made in 1953. It has the “tombstone” keys, black with gold letters, and there’s a little gold metal “border” around each key. This machine has Royal’s elite “Canterbury” typeface, which I love; it’s just so handsome. I like the typing action on this Royal, and for a while considered making this my main, “go to” machine. Alas, it was not to be. I’m with you on the Magic Margins; no, they are not magic. They are an overly engineered solution to something that was really not a problem; setting margins on Smith-Corona portables is just so easy! (And yes, you can easily SEE where those margins are.) I think sometimes companies come up with a new feature and fall so in love with it, they lose touch with reality. Obviously (looking at their marketing), someone at the Royal typewriter company decided that Magic Margins was the greatest advancement in typewriters since the backspace key, only it’s not. I sometimes refer to my Magic Margins as a Royal Pain in the A**. (Also, the backspace key is temperamental; I’m told this is not an unusual problem for QDL’s.)
Beyond that, I found your review thoughtful and fair. Style-wise, the QDL does have a certain ‘50s panache my Silent-Super lacks. It’s almost as if most of Royal’s budget went into style and appearance, whereas Smith-Corona decided to be more practical and put their money into design and function; a pragmatic, “sensible” approach to typewriter design. (Though I do wonder just how often owners would ever have need to remove their platens! Most owners probably blissfully used their original platen over the life of the machine, no? You, on the other hand, see this more from the perspective of a typewriter repair person, so your platen insights are certainly understandable!)
Anyway thanks for another thought-provoking review.
Great presentation and thorough analysis here. I can understand how platen access and ribbon replacement can be a prime motivator for buying a 1950s typewriter, but the slop and margin sets would be the real deal breaker for me, personally. Universal ribbon spools should be what ultimately keeps people inspired to keep collecting these, I suppose, as well as their stately, but not overbearing look. I've heard some people like the soft-touch with these keys (but I can't be sure if it's the slop they like.) I will check out your videos on other machines from this period to see what you like and dislike about them. It's interesting you didn't mention the "knuckle" thing with the ribbon cover 🤔 Anyhoo, it's Saturday and the kids are getting pancakes!
By the light of the silvery moon….. only your mom would turn your video into a song a long. Great music in this one!!! Don’t worry- I’m not buying you a royal quiet deluxe for Christmas. 😇💕💕
Yeah, I remember your first Quiet Deluxe and the way you hated on that.
I think your problem may just be with the portable nature of the typewriter.
I grew up with a KMG Standard in our playroom. It taught me most of what I know about the mechanics of a typewriter.
When I went looking for a manual typewriter to revive my touch-typing skills. I looked for a Royal.
When I took typing in high school, my dad bought a brown Royal with light tan "tombstone" keys (maybe an FP?).
Royal Standards are what I know.
Manual typewriters are how I learned.
I really prefer the glass-top keys that were on the KMG.
I got a Model H from the mid-'30s that "almost works." It still needs a really deep cleaning before it can become useful. BUT it has those decimal tabs that I just find fascinating.
So I bought a KMM (that looked like a KMG in the photo). It works well, but is missing the four screws to attach the cover and also the two screws to secure the top of the front plate, which means the release lever for the stencil selection doesn't have a pivot and I have to use it with the cover off so it actually kinda looks like a Model 10 when I'm using it. Also, the lettering on the keys are so dark, they're nearly illegible, but I am using this to touch type so that really doesn't matter to me.
The Standards have a full cover so there's not that problem with "fit" that you've been having on your QDLs.
Hey! $10 for a working machine is a great price! I don't even want one but I would have bought it.
I was just given (free!) an Underwood 319 that I'm not finding anything about. I seems to be in excellent condition.
This is my first portable. The bottom of the typewriter is the bottom of the case so the lid just hooks onto the back. It's very nice and quite easy.
My dream is always that Royal Futura. I like the fact that the Royal H, KMM/KMG and Futura have ALL the same features except for the decimal tabs on the H, and the paper holder in the back and to push-button cover release on the Futura. Well, the Model H didn't have "Magic Margins," It has the pins in the back. I seem to be missing one.
I have a couple of electric Smith Coronas that give me nothing but fits. The old one from my dad simply carriage-returns continually when I turn it on. The one my wife and I bought at a going-out-of-business sidewalk sale is a full-blown word processor but I don't have the manual (NA5HH). I recently figured out how to get it to just work like a typewriter, but it feels very much like typing by wire and it spell-checks me. Phooey!
Now that I've recovered my touch-typing skills (it happened rather quickly on the KMM using a typing instruction manual from the same period), I'm finding I have little use for my typewriters.
When I type on my Mac, I usually use just one hand while holding something else with my other hand.
I've never used one, which is a bit surprising at this point. However, I trust your assessment and don't really desire them. I do quite like the LOOK of these QDL's. I agree though, given the choice between a Smith-Corona 5 series or a QDL, it would be the SC every day of the week.
I wonder have you experienced the typing feel of an olivetti lettera 32 or 22? They have my favorite feel . Very smooth and flowing
Thanks for all the detail!
I bought my Quiet Deluxe at a yard sale and I LOVE it. Also, as a side note, I was born at Hartford Hospital, just a couple of miles from the old Royal typewriter factory. It looked like a castle!
I just bought a 1948 Royal QDL (Dreyfuss model) last week from a vintage store and it does have that issue with it advancing one space when returning the carriage most of the time. If I slam it hard enough when returning the carriage (which I shouldn't probably do to a 76 year old typewriter) it does stop right at where the left margin is. It also has this issue that when typing fast, the carriage does not advance quick enough when spacing between words which leaves a half-space gap between the first letter of a word and the rest of it. Had just sent that thing to get professionally cleaned and tuned up. Hopefully they will be able to straighten those issues.
Quite rare to come across a really old typewriter where I live, let alone one that's made in the late 1940s. That's what made me buy my QDL and is the oldest one among my 3 typewriters, the other two being a 1965 Smith Corona Galaxie and a late 1970s Silver Reed.
Edit: I was able to fix the left margin stop issue (carriage advancing one space) thanks to a video posted by Phoenix Typewriter. There is this screw on the left margin stop accessible from the back (covered with a metal plate) that you can adjust so that the carriage stops exactly where the left margin is set. This just needs to be turned slightly outwards.
Love your videos. It’s funny, we have almost opposite tastes when it comes to the “feel” of the keys. My first typewriter was a Royalite and it had a very loud clack, I didn’t love it. Then I purchased my Olympia SM5 and I absolutely love it. Fast forward a few years and now I discovered I love Royals after getting two standards, a KMM and KHM. I don’t have a SC yet so maybe I just don’t know what I am missing 😊
You can never have too many typewriters.
I've never had a QDL with tombstone shaped keys. But my two QDLs have the older, round keys with chrome trimmed rings. Both of my QDL typewriters are so easy to type on and I can really fly on them with no obstructions or hesitations. Maybe try an older QDL if you get a chance ❤
My favorite brand of manual typewriters is Olivetti. I have an Olivetti Linea 98 purchased brand-new back in the late 80’s.
I recently came across your videos when I fell into a rabbit hole about typewriters. Love them, thanks! I am looking for a cool looking typewriter (doesn't have to be in working condition, just visually good condition) to use as a décor piece for my office, which one would you recommend for that? Also, do you have listing online for the ones you flip?
@@ashleybernardo8349 I list locally as I don’t typically ship. I actually have the bling typewriter up for sale right now and while it’s in working condition, it’s definitely more of a display piece lol
Feel free to email me if you’re interested!
I love my Royal QDL, but it certainly has all the issues you’ve outlined in this video. I recently purchased a 1950’s Royal Companion, the Clipper of the 50’s Royal line, and it has similar problems with the slop in the keys, advancing one space too many if my typing technique isn’t perfect, and an inconsistent left-hand margin. That being said, I adore them both and am hoping to have the entire 50’s line of Royals and Smith-Coronas to complete my collections. Great vid, as always!
I love my quiet de luxe. The magic margins were a little annoying until I hit the paper guide, causing it to flip back, revealing the margins. I prefer the margins on my royal telstar better though.
Ah so that explains why my left margins occasionally don’t align. I’ve often needed to push the carriage after returning it just to double check that the printing point is at the true left margin 😅
Another great video! Thank you!😀
i bought this yesterday. literally. my first typewriter. and i love it.
Do you use a bath mat as your typing mat? Or do they just have the same construction? I just started collecting and have gotten a LOT of great information from your videos. Thank you!
I have a video on how I made mine! th-cam.com/video/t4OsYxpB6Y0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oqxc15wsl-eegxxE
I'm surprised a Royal HH fan doesn't love the QDL.. Not just comparing the aesthetic similarities (which could be easy to do) both FEEL quite similar to me, the touch control and MM work in a similar way and feel to have about the same tension left. I like it for the same reason I love the Studio 44, it's a desktop masquerading as a portable (And the Lettera 22 did this quite well as a SUPER PORTABLE, but that's another story)
I think the weight absolutely contributes to it for me! The desk standard feels much more solid in comparison
Have you ever had a standard typewriter or have you always gone for the portable machines?
I have several standard machines and have featured them in videos - check some of my repair series or my review of the Royal HH!
Duane on the TH-cam channel Phoenix Typewriter just did a video on how to fix the left side line jumping.
I am a fan of Olympia sm 3 and 4, I like the style and typing feel. I also like the Smith Corona 4 series. The way they look and type, round keys are pretty cool. The Smith Corona keys seem to a little wider than other machines from the same time period and have a slight bevel to them. Rather than just having flat keys. The Remington model 5 I have feels like a serious work machine. All black save for a few stainless or chromed parts. I've actually used it on a couple of forms from work. Rather than simply filling in the forms by hand. Gotten a few comments from the HR department. They noticed lol.
I bought one just like this. How do I fix one key that does not hit the uppercase? It's the apostrophe key. All the other keys are fine. Also, it came with a broken right knob. More confirmation bias for your existing opinion of these.
The apostrophe should be on the number row! You could try cleaning the path way on the basket for it
I have a gray 1952 QDL with gray keys just like that. Going to gift it to my sister. It can fail to bank all the way on the left margin but a firm thwack fixes that. Nice to type on but prefer my Remington QR and Office-Riter the two which I’ve had the most success correcting issues on. The Remington case is far more annoying than the Royal case which I have no problem with. Try putting a Remington in the box, tight clearances and it is all hidden from view. Smith-Corona 5s are just so dependable but I’m not a fan of the feel of them, Remington feels the best in my opinion. Remington also has the fewest annoying forming adjustments, Royal the most. Bend this thing barely any at all.Easier to turn a screw one quarter turn.
If I had gotten a 1950-60 model Smith Corona it would be for travel purposes that would be portable and yet be small enough to use for travel otherwise it would be the from the 1900s to the 1940s era
I have a 1947 royal Quiet De Luxe and the 1946 smith corona sterling 4A floating shift which I like very well and I like the earlier models better from the 1900- 40s than the 50-80s model which is too modern for me
If someone doesn't buy it. I'm considering a Royal Companion from the early 1960s. It's very striking looking. It looks like the keys need a good clean but it appears to type. We'll see.
I love the smith corona 5TE electrics. My goal is to find a pink one. When will we see Drama next? She is so adorable!❤
She's so camera shy!
Get a small notebook, maybe Field Notes. Start joting down details on where you get these, proce, etc.
I have one of these. It's in decent condition and required only basic cleaning. But it's not nice to type on. Smooth and everything, but too much bunching of characters or surprise spacing. Something in the escapement which is beyond my ability level. Funny thing, the Royal Futura has the same problem, just to a lesser degree.
The full size machines, like the Royal KMG are among my favorites. Thes mid-sized models just leave me cold.
From the sound of it, a lot of the things you don't like about the Royal Quiet Deluxe is that they're relatively hard to fix. When this typewriter was built, most things were built to last, and the cost of professional repair was low compared to the cost of replacing an item. I suspect that Royal never envisioned a day when their customers would be interested in fixing their own typewriters, and that places that fixed typewriters were well-versed in fixing Royal typewriters, so ease of repair for amateurs wasn't a consideration. Likes and dislikes about things like Magic Margins and how a typewriter feels under your hands are, of course, subjective, so I can't argue with those.
I'm just playing devil's advocate here. I've never owned a Royal typewriter and don't remember ever using one, so I can't speak from experience. I grew up with a broken 1960s era student typewriter that Dad kept trying to fix, a new 1970s era student typewriter, a 1950s Smith Corona (Grandpa's), several mid 1970s Smith Corona electrics (also Grandpa's), an Adler electric from sometime in the 1970s (Dad's) and a Silver-Reed 8650 electric (my college typewriter). Of those, I'd have to say the Silver-Reed was my favorite, but only because I spent so much time using it and got used to it. Well, OK, I also really liked the look of that typewriter; there just weren't a lot of milk chocolate and cafe-au-lait colored typewriters around, even in the heyday of typewriters. Dad's Adler electric was my second favorite. But really, all except the student typewriters were pretty nice, each for its own reasons.
I have a "Drefyus Model" RQD and hate it hah hah. It's far too stiff to be enjoyable to write on. To each their own!
The shame ability these machines is that they look and are designed so well, but the way they are built is problematic. I once helped someone repair theirs and it was the most bothersome repair I have done
“Tehe, oopsir daisy, you touched that one part too weirdly, try again and make sure not to hit the many other parts right next to it”
The potential to be great yet not
I enjoy your videos
Wow what a total kill joy! 😢 I just got one of these for my birthday, I wish I hadn’t seen this video.
Many collectors love their QDLs! It's all about preference when it comes to typewriters. Just because it's not my cup of tea, doesn't mean you won't love yours!
I'd love it as a present! I'll pass along my address. 😊
It’s been rehomed!
@@JustMyTypewriter Excellent!
Joplin fan? Swipesy Cakewalk, and The Cascades. Nice. Played by whom?
They’re part of the TH-cam catalog of music
But green is the best shape!