1947 Royal Quiet Deluxe (Twins)
The Royal Quiet Deluxe began production in 1938, it was the combination of the Quiet model, and the Deluxe model, which appeared the year before. Throughout the 30s and 40s, it bore a similar design to the prior models, including both a band (chrome or matte) and a touch control knob centered over the keyboard. The 1950s saw the introduction of the classic QDL design everyone is familiar with, in new colors such as Bubblegum Pink and Mint Green. The new nodel also abanoned the design elements left over from the O model in favor of a chunkier and rounder type body.
The machine here has all the features present on the later model QDLs, and this example in particular is now in mint condition. It belongs to a private collector, for whom I repaired it for.
The machine here has all the features present on the later model QDLs, and this example in particular is now in mint condition. It belongs to a private collector, for whom I repaired it for.
Tab system
SHINY
The model I was working on here is from 1947. It’s matte grey with a chrome band, and a single magic margin on the left hand side. The machine also has a two position bail and rectangular shift keys marked “shift freedom.” All it needed when I got my hands on it was a good cleaning and a new draw-band.
Before
After
The draw band was easy, I use the inner strings from paracord and tied a knot, noting that royal draw bands use a long loop. The string is folded to make the loop, and a simple knot is tied from both strands. Then the ends are heat sealed with a zippo.
The body panels were cleaned with a toothbrush and some soapy water, while metal polish and wax was used on most of the shiny bits. The carriage was taken apart and cleaned up as well. It works very well, though it’s not terribly fast. Despite this, it is very smooth and very quiet (compared to the model P next to it). The shift is also really really nice, with a light touch, and no wiggle room. Some of the older models like the Number 10 Standards had spring cushioned shift stops which would mess with the alignment slightly depending on how hard you pressed them.
Of course if you are disappointed this isn't your machine, I have an identical QDL from late 1946 that I'm selling, and I will update this post as it sells. This machine suffered a massive fall that dented the paper table, and broke the feed system, line spacer, and backspacer. It required a complete carriage dissembly and many hours of adjusting to get just right. Its a little stiff, but it works well and is ready to perform for many more years. It writes and feels just the same, but has some light rust pitting on the chrome band, and a scuff from where the dent occurred on the paper table.
Virtually Idenitcal, given it was made just a few months away from the first
The biggest issue this faced was the backspacer. There is a pawl that grips the star wheel and turns it backwards one index point, this pawl is spring loaded to grip the tooth, and for some reason in the fall, it was about a millimeter out of alignment. Now there are two prongs behind the pivot point that determine the maximum amount this part will travel. I had to remove that part, open the spring a little, and close up the spring side of the prong and spread open the opposite side.
The other main issue was the bent bar that indexes the line spacer pawl. It had gotten shoved down during the fall which caused the pawl to bind up on the platen ratchet. That was an easy fix, and the feed issue was caused by a deformed paper tray. The feed rollers were in mint condition, literally they were brand new. Of course I wasn't sure that was the issue, I tried adjusting about four or five things before reforming the paper table which of course affected the paper release. After getting it all worked out, I realized that I had spent multiple hours on the job.
This is an issue when I'm working for other people, repairing machines for $30 an hour. There are situations where it is near impossible to quote an accurate price because the issue you think is causing the problem could be far from it. You don't realize this until every other option has been exhausted. I ran into this issue with two corona fours. One i thought just needed feet and a drawband, only to find out the mainspring also needed to be replaced. Then I found out the carriage rack was stripped of its teeth in one section. I always try my absolute best to give an accurate quote, but sometimes there is a situation where there's no way of knowing exactly what's wrong until the work has begun and other solutions have been checked off the list. I alwyas remain in close contact with a client in case such an issue occurs.
Look at that rubber
the dent
dent fixed. Leather in the vise helps mitigate finish loss
Someday I'll send you my Quiet Deluxe for restoration - my father's "go to college" gift from his father in 1950, he gave it to me around 1970 when he bought an electric, it took me through high school/college/grad school all the way up until work required a word processor around the turn of the century. But eventually I had a son of my own, and so in 2019 the Quiet Deluxe has become his and will see him through high school, college....etc. I've always kept it cased when not in use, clean the typefaces with a little rubbing alcohol now and again, and wipe down any dirt. Great machine from an era when good stuff was not meant to fail.
ReplyDeletep.s. you like your F3 (I like mine as well, and it's what I travel with), but you need to try a plain prism F. No meter, but the ergonomics and shooting experience are sublime. They don't have the cache of the F2 and so they are still relatively cheap.