Royal 10
History and Basic Info
The Royal 10 typewriter was manufactured by the Royal typewriter co from 1914 to about 1930. These Royals are very recognisable by the massive "Royal" logo on their paper table and glass sides. The glass sides may have one or two panels of glass. These glass panels can also be clear, or black depending upon when the machine is made or potentially even customer preference.
Antique rebuilds were done on these machines from time to time. These machines are not necessarily worth less than an all original machine.
Restoring and cleaning these machines yourself is relatively easy. There is a lot of documentation out there on them and they are a popular choice for collectors because they are a good looking standard from the period in which they were made and they make a statement when placed on display. They also tend to clean up very easily and nicely and are easy to adjust and work in because there is ample room to get to the various components inside the machine.
Common Issues
Because of the age of these machines, they will most likely need a new drawband and deep cleaning. The ribbon selector knob is frequently broken off the front of these machines. Also, the decals on these typewriters are notoriously fragile. Even touching them can cause their color to change from gold to silver. It’s important to avoid touching the decals at all. You’ll want to clean around them using cotton swabs and be careful to keep the decals dry during the cleaning process. This is not a machine where you will be able to just dunk the body panels in some simple green or a bath in order to clean them. They will require a little extra work.
The paint on the Royal 10 is also known to dissolve when swiped with alcohol. These machines were clear coated in shellac. Shellac dissolves in alcohol, so be careful not to use any alcohol based products when cleaning the paint on these typewriters.
