1948 Royal Quiet Deluxe and Henry Dreyfuss

This 1948 Royal Quiet DeLuxe is sometimes referred to has a Dreyfuss machine. Henry Dreyfuss was one of the first "industrial designers," artist/engineers who specialized in improving the looks and workability of everyday products. He was asked to improve the Royal QDL portable and, after some intensive research, came up with this wonderful design. In this video, I talk about the typewriter and the man behind the design.

[@SusanMJB45]

I just bought a Dreyfuss two-tone 1948 Royal Quiet Deluxe on Etsy..... I am so excited. I have wanted one of these for years. I finally took the plunge.

[@corinneone]

Hi there-I was gifted one from my best friend!! But I need ribbon. I have a 1948 Royal Quite Deluxe . Where can I buy the correct ribbon for it?

[@SusanMJB45]

@@corinneone Hi !! I am so sorry, but I do not know. Mine came with a brand new ribbon and I have no idea where to buy an appropriate ribbon. If you find out, please post it here so I'll know also. Thanks !!!

[@someonespadre]

@@corinneone google: ribbons unlimited

[@messenger3478]

I'm gonna pick mine up the end of this week! I am sooo excited! I have named him "Alistaire."

[@mikequinlan9585]

I just got my first manual typewriter on Wednesday (6/19/24). In picked the Royal Quiet DeLuxe over the Smith Corona SS based on the feel of the keyboard. The one I have seems to be from the 1950’s. I’m so excited about it! Thank you this video it’s nice to learn more about the machine I’m using. 😊

[@altongansky]

Congrats on your typewriter, Mike. Those machines can be a dream to use. I hope it brings you much joy.

[@replicaRocca]

Great video! I hadn’t known that much about Henry Dreyfuss before now!

[@altongansky]

Thank you for the kind words and taking the time share them. He was an interesting guy.

[@someonespadre]

According to the Royal marketing department that’s the “automatic paper lock,” on the lower Arrow model it is a paper bail. It appears to be a paper bail which articulates forward and can go up. The paper bail only goes up. Recently acquired a 1952 QDL, like it. Amazing it still works so well after 70 years. It has the typical Royal crowding issue which can be adjusted out. It’s the hot rod of U.S. portable typewriters.

[@altongansky]

Thanks for writing and congrats on you'52 QDL. I agree with you. QDL's are the one of the hot rods of typewriters. Smooth working machines.

[@someonespadre]

@@altongansky I figured my crowding/skipping issue…typing too hard causes the escapement to release twice or fast causes crowding. Turn up the tension then type with a soft touch touch and it types beautifully and can go fast. Smith Corona is more forgiving but this Royal is less tiring to fill up a page.

[@altongansky]

@@someonespadre Great! I should have thought of that. Well done. Thanks for the update.

[@susanbordelon8343]

Thank you so much for this video. I enjoyed learning about Mr. Dreyfuss and his design. I have this typewriter and I'm trying to fix it up.

[@JerryDavis]

So THAT is how to set the right margin! Thank you! I was totally stumped.

[@stevehoffman9735]

That was wonderful, thank you.

[@WaldronPondOutdoors]

Great context and background on Henry Dreyfuss. Thanks!

[@altongansky]

Thank you for the kind comment.

[@johntapp7232]

I have a 1949 Royal Arrow portable my girlfriend and I bought at an antique shop. A little before we got it, we were looking at some of my girlfriend’s fathers papers he had back when he had a car dealership in Archer City, Texas. There was a receipt that listed a Royal Arrow and it’s serial number and how much it cost. I looked at the serial number on the receipt and the number on the typewriter. My jaw dropped to the floor! I showed it to my girlfriend, and she couldn’t believe it either. Both numbers were identical to one another! This was my girlfriend’s father’s typewriter he used in his car dealership in Archer City!! His name was Samuel, so I christened the typewriter “Daddy Sam,” and the moniker stuck.

[@altongansky]

Now that may be the coolest typewriter story I've ever heard. Thanks for sharing.

[@seizethekarp123]

Thank you so much for taking the time to show us this beautiful machine. I was lucky enough to get one of these today and it's so interesting to learn some insights on how it was made.

[@altongansky]

Macayla Leyden Thanks for the kind words.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I love the history in your reviews. I picked up a 1949 Royal QDL--same Dreyfuss design but all grey--a month or so ago. I look forward to finding a two-tone 48.

[@altongansky]

Thanks. The history is part of the fun.

[@NewPhilly2001]

Really miss Typewriter Tuesday. I hope you are wonderfully busy at something you love. Thanks!

[@altongansky]

Thanks Worth. I've just finished back to back to back editing projects (usually I'm the one being edited) so I hope to restart Typewriter Tuesday. I'm shooting for having another episode up next Tuesday. Hopefully.

[@chevydude658]

I just found you and you show is AWESOME! I love it.

[@altongansky]

ChevyDude65 Thanks!

[@erinn1234]

I just picked up one of these at a thrift store! This video was very helpful, thank you!

[@altongansky]

You're welcome. I"m glad the video was useful. Congrats on your purchase. Enjoy.

[@WeileWorld]

I just bought a 1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe

[@altongansky]

Nice, Jacob. I do love a Dreyfuss RQD. Enjoy.

[@j.d.thompson3505]

I found an original 1954 Smith Corona owners manual at Abe Books. Good place.

[@ngounchantha792]

it looks new and beautiful. Does it still work?

[@altongansky]

Hi Nguon. Yes, it works. I have two of these typewriters and both are a pleasure to type on. Thanks for writing.

[@theterminaldave]

AHHHH you solved my squeaking issue!! thank you thank you!! I tried everything you did, and could not figure it out! And it was great to find out all of the rest of the history (and how to work the magic margin!) such a fun video, thanks for posting! Mine (all gray, almost green in color) has a long strip of chrome on the front face with the Royal badge in the center, I think this means it's a 49' correct?

[@altongansky]

Do you mean like this? If so, then yes, probably a '49. Early models had a thing strip of Chorome that wrapped around the sides and front of the machine.

[@theterminaldave]

@@altongansky Interesting yeah it's almost exactly like this except that it has a thin strip of chrome that runs just between the ribbon direction lever and the ribbon color lever, and nothing on the sides. I read on the Typewriter data base that Dreyfuss designed the one in your video in 48, and then the model was redesigned again in 49, I'm guessing somebody wanted to see a just a little more chrome on it. When you use it you can see your finger tips reflected (and enlarged) in the strip. Anyway, thanks again for the video and for the reply, have a great night! edit: ah i found it on the phoenix tw channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWXQdYWGe7V5bsU

[@godrilla5549]

How do you tell which year?

[@altongansky]

Face the typewriter and move the carriage to the right. You will see a slot in the metal casing. With a flashlight, look down that slot and you should see a number. Write that number down. Now go to the the Typewriter Database site (typewriterdatabase.com/royal.72.typewriter-serial-number-database). Scroll down until you get to the "Portable" section and fine the years 1948 or 1949 in one of the left-hand columns. Next to it you will see the starting serial number. You should be able to figure out if your typer is 1948 or 1949.

[@godrilla5549]

@@altongansky thank you

[@DavidGuilbaultSongs]

Hello. I really appreciate your videos. They are very helpful. I have a 1949 Royal Arrow with a small problem. The upper case letters strike lower than the lower case letters. I understand there are a couple of screws that will adjust those heights? If this is so, could you post a photo to show me where they are? I hope they are easily accessible, because I am a danger to myself and others whenever I have a tool in my hand. Thanks for your time and consideration. Kind regards. David.

[@altongansky]

Hi David. Thanks for writing. Theodore Munk wrote a blog post about this some time back. Take a look at and see if that helps. Here's the link: munk.org/typecast/2013/07/30/typewriter-repair-101-adjusting-vertical-typeface-alignment-segmentbasket-shift-typewriters/ I hope this helps.

[@DavidGuilbaultSongs]

Hi Alton. Thanks very much for your reply. And thank you so much for sharing your time and talent so generously. Kind regards. David.

[@IkarusKommt]

More luggable than portable though.

[@leasttrending]

I have a remington rand deluxe i need a D button can u help me

[@altongansky]

Greetings. Thanks for writing. Typewriters parts are sometimes difficult to find. Here are three options: 1) Search Ebay for "typewriter keys" or "Remington typewriter keys" (I'd set up an ongoing search so that Ebay can inform you when someone posts keys for sale); 2) do the same thing with Etsy.com; 3) find a donor machine (these can be difficult to find but occasionally you can find a machine from which to harvest parts). That's about all the help I can offer. Good luck.

[@leasttrending]

@@altongansky but i want u to find me one thats the point there ant none out there

[@doubledog5894]

Random question. What size is that rotating Lazy Susan display/podium - is that the 12”?

[@altongansky]

Thanks for writing. It's a 16" Lapworks that bought on Amazon several years ago. I've been happy with it. To avoid confusion, if you look it up on Amazon, it is listed as a 15 inch. But if you scroll down the page to the specs, it lists the diameter as 16 inch (I measured mine, just to be sure.)

[@doubledog5894]

Alton Gansky I’ve been looking at the ones on eBay but they are mostly smaller sizes: 8”, 10” & 12”. I’m not a big fan of Amazon but thanks for the reference. I’ll see if I can find it through another site. Thanks again!

[@dhirajshetty483]

I m so glad I found you , I plan to buy it this weekend, please could you show us how to type the number 1 ?

[@altongansky]

Many older typewriters did not come with a "1" key. The lower case "L" (l) was used. I hope this helps. Enjoy your typewriter. They're great machines.

[@damiengaleana3843]

Quick question how come it Doesn’t have a number one ?

[@altongansky]

Damien, most older portables and standards did not come a "1" key. The typist used a lowercase "L" to type a 1. Later a one key became a feature and the standard. A 1 key was also the ! Key. Without a 1 key, the typist would type an ' then backspace and type a . To get an !

[@damiengaleana3843]

Alton Gansky oh my that’s interesting! Thank you for taking your time outta the day and helping me out I appreciate it and love the video! I just recently got a quiet de luxe but it’s quite different from the one in your video but regardless I appreciate the content you make!