1923 Underwood Standard Portable

Over 90 years ago, this typewriter came off the production line. The 1923 Underwood Standard Portable is remarkable example of high end engineering done at a small scale. It was designed by Lee S. Burridge but he never got to see it completed. Underwood bought the rights to the patent and produced the machine over four years after Burridge's death. Unlike most typewriters, it has only three rows (banks) of keys. It's beautiful in its compact simplicity.

[@douglasjackson9058]

Love these little machines,and always love the his story behind the machines. Thank you for taking the time to make such great videos.

[@austinsilver6187]

This particular machine did receive a relatively short production run, I believe not quite ten years in full. I did notice that on later models, such as the 1928 three bank, the right shift key makes an appearance. I personally exclusively use the right shift key. It’s just the odd way I learned to type. It is a very lovely machine, thank you for the informative video. It’s always nice when someone compiles the research so you don’t have to.

[@altongansky]

Hi Austin. Thanks for writing. Half the fun of collecting typewriters is learning about their history. It's one of the things that make them more that "just old machines." Every model of typewriter has a story to tell. Again, thanks for your comment.

[@ronymarshall7329]

Thanks for that. How do you change the ribbon????

[@altongansky]

Greets and thanks for writing. Sorry for the delay. Busy time of year for me. Here are two links to printed material that may help you. Since this documents were created in the early 1920s so there are are no drawings illustrating the process. However, the first link has a decent step-by-step description. The second link doesn't add much, but I thought you might find it interesting. I hope this helps. Again, sorry for the delay. Links = site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/Underwood3bankManual.pdf and archive.org/details/how-to-use-the-underwood-standard-portable-typewriter/page/8/mode/2up.

[@oliviasmith3503]

Great video! I just got the exact same typewriter as my first typewriter from a vintage store. This helps so much. How much does this typewriter worth? I was cleaning it today, and when I started typing only the top half of the type printed, do you know what could be the cause of this?

[@altongansky]

Hi Olivia. Thanks for writing and congrats on your first typewriter. I often get questions about typewriter problems, but seldom can I offer much help. Typers are complicated machines and impossible to diagnose from a distance. However, here are some possibilities. 1. The ribbon is not installed correctly. If the ribbon isn't fed through the guides and vibrator properly, problems will occur. 2) The vibrator (the metal device that lifts the ribbon in place) is not rising and falling properly. Try changing the ribbon setting to a different color (assuming you have a black and red ribbon) Remember, there are three settings: black, stencil (the vibrator doesn't move at all), and red. Try switching from black to red or red to black. 3) If the ribbon spools are turning as they should, the ribbon can be pulled too tight and keep the vibrator from working properly. 4) Something is keeping the carriage from rising and falling as it should. Those are a few possibilities. Good luck with your machine. All the best, Al.

[@oliviasmith3503]

@@altongansky Thanks! I think this is a problem with the carriage, because when I press the right side of it down it prints evenly again. The same thing for the figures, when I hold it up to the fullest extent it works properly. So all I have to do is figure out what moves it and identify the problem there. This has been SUCH a learning curve, 72 hours ago I didn't even know how a typewriter worked!

[@altongansky]

@@oliviasmith3503 That sounds like some good thinking. Let me know how it turns out. And, Wow, you picked an interesting typewriter to get started on. It's almost a hundred years old. Typewriters would change greatly over the decades that followed.

[@av8bvma513]

99 people out of 100 will whack that CR/LF lever as if they were trying to kill the Beast from the Black Lagoon with one punch! It is a 'Pinch' mechanism. The finger hooks the lever, and the thumb, the little thumb-rest just to the right. Squeeze, line feed, sweep right, carriage return.

[@altongansky]

av8bvma513 Good point. Thanks for sharing the info.

[@MThomasAnimations]

Hi there! I happen to be restoring one of these beautiful machines but I made a mistake when putting the carriage back on top and now the peddle on the rear is useless. Would you be able to remove the roll so I could see how everything goes back in place inside the carriage?

[@altongansky]

I'm afraid I won't be much help. I'm not a typewriter repairman (although I've done some repair on my machines. I'ver never taken the carriage off that machine. Sorry.

[@ryanharrisbrown]

Hey there-- First of all, great video! I'm in possession of one of these machines. two concerns regarding it. Firstly, it can't decide whether it wants to print in black or red, the slugs seem to be striking the ribbon right in the middle. Know any easy fixes for this? Also, the bell seems to be missing. Anywhere I can get a replacement? Best-- Ryan

[@altongansky]

Hey Ryan. Thanks for writing and thanks for the compliment. Of course, it's impossible for me to diagnose a problem with having the machine in front of me. I'm not a typewriter repairman so I might not be able to help even if I did have the machine on my desk. However, I've tinkered with plenty of machines. First the ribbon problem. There are a several possible reasons for this. The vibrator (the think that lifts the ribbon) is sliding up and down properly. That could be because of damage or grime. It could also be that the ribbon is not installed properly. The linkage that moves the vibrator might be bent. First thing I would do is check to be sure that the lever that lets you switch between black, stencil, and red is moving properly. Finding a bell can be tough. I usually go to Ebay and set up a search subscription for typewriter parts. Other than that, you may have to hunt donor machine. I suppose a machinist could make one if you have the dimensions. I hope this helps.

[@IkarusKommt]

"Let's make it portable by using a toy keyboard!" LMAO

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Excellent video, yet again. Where do you find the historical information for your machines?

[@altongansky]

Thanks. Okay, short question, long answer. I usually begin by doing an internet search for the particular machine. I avoid all the ebay, etsy, etc. ads because I'm looking for solid info and not to buy a machine (since I already have one). I usually end up at the sites of collectors who have done much of the research and blogged about it. I glean what I can from them and that usually leads to other sites, even Wikipedia. I also try to download a user's manual if I can find a free one online. The manufacturers usually include a little sales pitch for the machine and that sometimes has info. It will also show me the the terms they use for their specific machines. For example, the paper fingers on this portable Underwood are called clamps in the user manual. First time I had seen that. If there's a specific tie in to a designer or writer, I try to mention that and research that person. How much of that ends up in the video is usually a function of time. I tend to run long so I end up leaving stuff out. Does this help?

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Alton Gansky Yes thank you. Very helpful info!