Australian Typewriters

Typewriters from Australia, continued.

This ROYAL 200 is quite analagous to one of the Imerials seen on the previous page; it's a Silver-Seiko product, fitted with a tall top cover that looks decidedly unlike that fitted to the vast majority of Silver-Seiko machines. Note the Litton emblem on the front, just as seen on the Imperial.

There are Imperial 200 and Royal 200 machines mechanically identical but with the short top cover, as an aside.

Here is another ROYAL 200, on the left; on the right is a ROYAL 203. The 200 was built for Litton by Silver-Seiko, while the 203 was built by Nakajima. Note features on the 200: Margin stop sets with curved up ends, key levers mounted on dowels which are set into a flat, stamped plate. On the 203, the margin stop sets have curved down, rounded tops and the dowel mounting plate is heavy, and obviously cast and not stamped. There are other differences as well, but that margin stop style difference is proving over the years to be 100% reliable... as is the style of dowel plate IF it can be seen (ie, if it isn't protected by a shield or slotted plate to prevent dust fouling.)

The Hon. Richard Amery, MP is also an experienced Australian collector. He, Robert Messenger and another friend have formed a loose association which appears to be the first concrete formation of an Australian collectors' society. Mr. Amery has sent us some fine pictures, and also included his own research notes with these. The results, along with some of my observations are below. Once again - these are fascinating since we can't get them here!

ALL This machine should look quite familiar if you're reading these pages on Australian portables straight through. It's practically a twin of the PINNOCK seen on an earlier page, but this one carries very simply the name "ALL" on its front and no model number. The reason becomes more clear for this when one realizes that the full name for the company we commonly refer to as "Nakajima" was "Nakajima All Corporation" and that ALL was a root, or original maker marking / brand for the machines. It should be noted though that the vast majority of Nakajima machines were made for other companies, so that it's hard today to find one carrying any Nakajima-owned marque.

At right, another ALL of a different style.

Richard reports that this machine internally is identical to those marketed by Olympia as the Carina - of course, made by Nakajima as well.

At left, another Lemair - which is really the old-style Brother machine in one of the slightly different intermediate bodies. The very first body for this style of machine had a very flat, low top cover; later machines had a taller rounded one. This style was introduced even after that - while the other two also remained in production. Eventually, a final top cover taller than the first, but shorter than the original rounded one appeared.

Here is a Lemair of a wholly different ilk. This machine carries the model number 2000S, which European enthusiasts might recognize since this is a Messa-built ABC 2000S relabeled for Lemair. Machines just like this were sold here in the US by Sears carrying the name Chevron or Capri; a similar all-plastic-bodied machine was made for Litton and sold as the Royal Safari or else as the Imperial Safari. Oh -- and, of course in places the machines WERE actually sold with the original ABC label as well, which Messa SARL bought along with the rights and tooling for the (original) ABC machines.

Note that you don't see a whole lot of European-made machines in Australia, and that this is one of them.

This machine is a PINNOCK 200, and it's a dead ringer for the later modification of the old Tippa -- segment-shifted and seen here most often as the Royal Sahara. The machine seen here is labeled as having been made in the People's Republic of China and probably dates to the 80's.

Richard also sends us the shot at right; it's an exceedingly attractive SEARS portable, with a very interesting treatment to the top portion style-wise that even includes rounded shaping over the ribbon spools. There's also a lip around the opening above the type basket. Clearly, someone who had a hand in the styling of this machine had some kind of historical perspective - or at least I'd like to think so. This great-looking modern machine was made by Nakajima, Japan.

At left, the NORWOOD. This all-metal-bodied late Silver-Seiko machine has black keytops and a fast-spacer bar. It also has a protective cover over the mounting plate for the key levers, which you would not see if this were a (later) Korean-made K-Mek and not a Silver-Seiko.

As this is written in September 2007, Robert Messenger, Richard Amery and I are having a series of discussions regarding the variety and source of brand names seen on these machines, and the nature of the import tariffs and limitations in Australia during the time these machines were made. It does seem that Australia's history vis a vis typewriters is very interesting, and is probably quite unique - that is, limited to Australia / New Zealand in terms of brands and styles. We have much more to review, research and present and you'll see all of that here as it is developed.

At right, a rather candid "in action" shot of Mr. Amery with his Olivetti Lettera 32 and what appears to be a good amount of work to be dealt with! Mr. Amery informs us that this photo was taken at his local Electorate Office.