Typewriters (1912-1938)

Hammond Multiplex

The Hammond Multiplex, introduced in 1913, was a revolutionary departure from the "typebar" mechanism of standard Remington or Underwood typewriters, utilizing a unique interchangeable shuttle system instead. Rather than individual keys striking a ribbon, the Multiplex featured a curved vulcanite shuttle that rotated into position before a small hammer struck the paper from behind, pressing it against the ribbon and the character. This design allowed the "Multiplex" its namesake feature: the ability to carry two different fonts on the machine simultaneously—such as Italic and Roman, or English and Greek—which could be swapped in seconds by simply rotating the shuttle turret. This made it the preferred instrument of linguists, scientists, and authors like G.K. Chesterton and Woodrow Wilson, who required specialized symbols or multiple languages in a single manuscript. Although the Hammond company was eventually reorganized as Varityper in the late 1920s to focus on "cold type" desktop publishing, the Multiplex remains a mechanical marvel of the pre-war era, celebrated for its "ideal" curved keyboard and its sophisticated, albeit noisy, percussive typing action.

Source: Elephant's Trunk Flea Market

Corona Model 3 Portable Typewriter

The Corona Model 3, introduced in 1912 by the Standard Typewriter Company (later Smith-Corona), is perhaps the most famous "folding" typewriter in history and a masterpiece of portable engineering. Designed to meet the needs of traveling journalists and military officers, the Model 3 featured a unique collapsible carriage that allowed the top half of the machine to fold forward over the keyboard, reducing its vertical profile by half so it could fit into a compact, leather-bound carrying case. Despite its diminutive size and weight of only about six pounds, it was a fully functional "front-stroke" machine with three banks of keys and a double-shift mechanism that provided a full range of 84 characters. The Model 3 gained legendary status during World War I, where its rugged aluminum frame and portability made it the standard field typewriter for the Allied forces, and it later became the preferred writing tool of Ernest Hemingway. Production of this iconic "black-crinkle" finished machine continued until 1941, by which time over 600,000 units had been manufactured, cementing its legacy as the ancestor of the modern laptop computer.

Donation: Alan & Jeanie Sacks

Royal Varsity 

The Royal Varsity, introduced in 1935 during the height of the Great Depression, was a stripped-down, budget-friendly version of Royal's "Model P" portable typewriter, specifically marketed to students and cost-conscious households for approximately $37.50. To achieve this lower price point, Royal removed several "luxury" features found on their flagship models, most notably the backspace key, the margin release, and the color ribbon selector, meaning the Varsity could only type in a single color (usually black). Despite these omissions, the machine retained the high-quality "Touch Control" and the rugged, all-metal construction that defined Royal’s reputation for durability, often finished in a distinctive black "crinkle" or "wrinkle" enamel that resisted fingerprints and scratches. Its simplified, four-bank QWERTY keyboard and lack of complex mechanical linkages made it incredibly reliable and easy to maintain, a factor that helped it become a staple in dorm rooms across America. While the "Varsity" name was eventually phased out in 1939 as Royal transitioned to the more advanced "Companion" and "Arrow" lines, the original black-crinkle Varsity remains a favorite for collectors due to its "Spartan" aesthetic and its status as the quintessential "student" machine of the pre-war era.

Source: Estate Sale, Westport CT