Royal Typewriter Company (Feb, 1929)
AS your fingers meet the responsive keys of the Royal Portable Typewriter your thoughts take life in neat, clear type. True ease of thought expression. . . real inspiration! Students quickly realize these advantages in their improved grades. For the whole family, too, a life-time of helpful service is built into this sturdy little writing machine. Price $60, complete.
Royal Typewriter Company, Inc., 316 Broadway, New York City
More than 1,500 Royal Portable Dealers in United States
This is almost exactly the same typewriter I learned to type on in Mr Greason’s class in the 10th grade. I wondered at the time why I was learning to type; I *knew* I’d never use it . . . and now I use it daily: THANX, Mr Greason!
My dad had a royal from his college days and I used it when I started college. Word processors were years into the future. Incidentally I agree that the most important computer class I took was a one semester touch typing course in high school. Being able to touch type makes operating a computer much more efficient.
The price of $60, of course, is equivalent to over $600 in today’s money. And today you can get a computer for that kind of money, although you would need a bit more for a laser printer as well. It is sobering to think of how far we’ve come.
Typewriters of this vintage were built to last a lifetime. If you find one today, it is probably still working and useable for it’s original purpose (though nobody uses them anymore). Compare this with computers. How many computers have you bought in the last 10 years?
John – print on paper? Not really. My son’s brought homework in on dvds and usb thumb drives.
Toronto… How is the dog supposed to eat a DVD?
jayessell, you don’t know my dog.
I got through college (1986-1992; yes, I was on the slacker plan) typing everything on a 1930s Royal not too different from this one. It’s a great typewriter, and I still have it. I particularly love how it smells of old-fashioned machine oil. In those days, I was a Luddite and I sneered at my classmate who spent over $5,000 for a Mac SE and a Laserprinter.