This machine lacks a back space and tabulator, both of which could be purchased with the machine and for which this machine contains slots for the insertion of the back space and tabulator keys.
Some other views of our classic Royal Standard "Flatbed" are below. Just a click a picture for a larger, hopefully clearer, image. Clicking with your center mouse wheel will open the picture in its own window.
Beautiful in her retro deep blue finish isn't she? Don't you wish you had one? Well, too bad, this one just ain't for sale! But you can come back and visit her, virtually, anytime!
The Conservatory owns two examples of the classic Royal Standard (i.e., "Flatbed") desk top type-writer. Pictured here is Royal Flatbed #20776, manufactured in 1909, five years before The Great War and during the third year of production for Royal type-writers. The brain child of one Edward B. Hess, a former silk salesman and mechanical tinkerer, the Royal Standard incorporated some revolutionary features, among which was its low profile or "flatbed" design. Other features included a "frictionless" ball bearing, single carriage rail, containing those ball bearings within star gears that give collectors such headaches when they foolishly attempt to remove the carriage. Then the ball bearings fall out and they are almost impossible to get back inside the star gears. The Royal also incorporated "accelerating" type bar action. The type bars actually accelerated towards the paper without extra finger effort as one pressed the keys, giving the Royal a very crisp, responsive action. The Conservatory's Flatbeds still retain this action and they are an absolute delight to type on.
One of the truly great aesthetic features of early type-writers is the detailed decaling, which often included a complete list of the patents applied for in the development of the machine. The list usually begins with the first patent applied for and continues to the most recent prior to production of the particular machine. It provides a way to check on the dating of the machine. The patent list of machine #20776 is shown here at the right. As you can see from the photograph, the patent applications began at least as early as 1901, five years before production of the machine.
The Conservatory undertook two pieces of restoration on this machine. The feed rollers were completely flattened, failing to grip paper, and so had to be removed. They were replaced with automobile vacuum tubing as one can see at the left. We then preformed a thorough cleaning on this machine with Cyclo Electric Motor Cleaner, followed by a generous lubrication with G-96 Gun Solvent. Both are also excellent type cleaners if you follow the application with scrubbing by an old tooth brush. In fact, many auto and gun products are ideal for working on type writers. All machines must be relubed after applications of Cyclo as this solvent thoroughly removes old grease and oil, and, fortunately, does not affect paint.
