TypewriterMinutes - Typewriter Review: 1958 Royal Quiet de Luxe

According to Kermit the Frog... “It’s not easy being green.” Apparently he never typed on this 1958 Royal Quiet de Luxe!

[@larryc4156]

I just bought a 58 aqua QDL . What’s helpful and well thought out video covering just about everything on this wonderful machine. Thank you!

[@demonprincess5634]

best review for the ROYAL QUIET DE LUXE i've seen and cute kid he did great job.

[@truhntrz3408]

Hello Sir thank you for the video! I am missing one tab as well. Where can I get one? Thank you again!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I recommend joining the antique typewriter collector group on Facebook. You can post there your request for a part, and if you’re lucky, a member there who reads the post may have a parts machine to rob from.

[@daveleitz9107]

Well this brings back memories. My parents owned a typewriter when I was a kid back in the 70s and 80s. I used it when school work required me to turn in typed pages. I think the last time I used it was around 1985. After all these years, I wasn't too sure what brand that typewriter was, but now I'm almost certain it was one of these Royal Quiet de Luxes. I can't say I was too fond of it back then. In High School I was able to take a semester of typing, and it was at that time I got to use IBM Selectrics. The Royal felt quite "sloppy" by comparison.

[@ArijanaLukic]

Cool Machine! I am trying to find one for myself so this is very helpful! Thanks! Great colour too!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Good luck with your hunt! Thanks for watching.

[@anthonyduarte6000]

I had the same skipping problem on my royal qdl from the 30s 40s and that same 50s model in your video, but i put oil on the escapement weel and it never skipps now on any of them

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Cleaning and very light lubrication can definitely help. Have fun with your machine!

[@craigblykins]

Thanks so much for sharing this post. I learned a lot about the various features of the typewriter that are not at all apparent to the uninitiated!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@JB-uv4hm]

All those cases attracted dirt and are nearly impossible to clean. I’m going to try and dye one. Feet on the bottom are to type in the case. By this gen, one step removed from the Heritage/Futura, these are pretty cheap typewriters. The end of the once mighty Royal co.

[@CoreyWilson]

I spent 14 hours last week working on, and cleaning a heavily abused QDL for a friend of mine only to find out the escapement and pinion were missing teeth... It belonged to her late father otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered. It was in TERRIBLE condition

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Sorry to hear that! Keep an eye out for a local cheap parts machine. Perhaps you can replace the broken parts some day.

[@juniorternama]

What the function MAR REL?

[@TypewriterMinutes]

That’s the margin release key. So if, for example, the right margin stop is set at 75, the typewriter shouldn’t let you type past that margin unless you hit the margin release key.

[@belle_bookworm2533]

The cases for the QDL have to be my least favorite

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Yes they don’t do justice for the nice machines inside.

[@Matsmorga]

You should buy the Brother Deluxe 220. Its very nice and has a sharp red colour. And its made out of metal too!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I will keep an eye out for one.

[@tpaynemm]

Hey neighbor! I'd drive to Wichita Falls any day for that typewriter :) Just getting into these, searching for an Olympia to replicate the one I wrote my college admissions applications on! Love learning the history and overview of these machines. Thanks for sharing!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Thank you for watching. Are you in the DFW area?

[@tpaynemm]

@@TypewriterMinutes Yep, I'm up in McKinney

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Talan FYI the fellows from Typewriter Ink. in Austin are putting together a type-in in Denton on Jan. 26. They have posted information about it on the Facebook Antique typewriter collector group.

[@tpaynemm]

@@TypewriterMinutes Wow fantastic. I grew up in Denton and my folks live there still. I'd love to go and will look up this FB group. It would be fun to meet you guys as I have kids about your kids age as well (who don't even know what a typewriter is yet!) Todd

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Talan it’s at the Denton South Public Library, 3228 Teasely Lane, from 11-2 on Jan 26. I plan to attend and hope to have one or more of my kids with me.

[@tommyo.3535]

I don't know how common this is, but my Olivetti Lettera 22 has a tiny hole in the paper holder (?) (ie. the thing controlled by the paper release lever; not sure of its official name), and I assume the purpose of this is to see the end of the page a line before reaching it. It's a simple and effective detail. And it's no mystery that after awhile it's pretty easy to predict the end of a page, anyway. But I guess a little overengineering never hurt anybody.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I will keep an eye out for that feature when I finally acquire a 22. It’s nice to know about extra features even if we don’t always use them. Thanks for watching.

[@tommyo.3535]

TypewriterMinutes Thanks for your videos! I enjoy the charm of the extra features, too. But what's nice about a 22 is it seems to be the perfect minimal machine. Sometimes I wonder what difference there would be in using a Studio 44 considering it's a bigger, heavier version of the same machine (tangent: interestingly no additional keys, unlike the upgrade from a Hermes Rocket to a 3000), but I haven't lost any sleep over it yet. Anyway, it's a great machine and I look forward to any future review you may have on it!

[@MiloFelix15]

Hello! Thank you for your excellent video! I have the same typewriter (1958 Royal Quiet De Luxe) and it’s stopped dinging-do you have any advice about where to find the bell? Thanks!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Sorry for the delayed reply as I have been off KZbin for a while. You should be able to see it if you look underneath the machine. Sometimes it can be old sticky grease that keeps it from moving. Cleaning it out with lacquer thinner would help but you have to be careful not to get any on the body panels.Or it could be that the right margin indicator is not hitting the bell clapper. I would have to have a look at it first hand to help more than that.

[@janeratorX]

I have a little problem with mine. I have a 1956 model and whenever I put up the lever at the left, it's still in the "lock" state and it only allows me to type until the middle.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Sorry for the tardy reply. It is difficult to diagnose remotely. Any chance the “magic Margin” is set too far inward?

[@janeratorX]

@@TypewriterMinutes Thanks for your response. I've tried what you have explained on the video, but it still does not work the way it should. Btw, I saw a button on the lower right of the machine and whenever I press it allows me to type until the end, but I have to do it manually.

[@lonestarphil]

TM, I am loving these videos you do. I can watch them all day. I am commenting on this older video because I have a mid '50's QDL. I love the machine, but it has never typed quite right and I haven't found anybody to repair it locally. I am in Haslet and wondering if you do work on other's typewriters? If so, I'd love for you to give mine the TM ROYAL treatment. Thanks.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Thank you! Because of time constraints I haven’t branched out to working on other people’s machines, but I have a local friend who does paid cleaning and repairs. Shoot me an email and I’ll send you his contact info. I’m at [e-mail]

[@Saboda53]

Nice, thorough review, but why the little girl?? Don’t get me wrong, she’s a nice kid, but why is her voice in this review? Conceptually, when I hear a kid’s voice, it means something, i.e. this is “the kid’s point of view,” or “here’s a tidbit meant for the kids watching this,” etc. But here, the kid just randomly appears for no reason. It’s just odd, and somewhat distracting. I keep thinking “there’s that kid again,” but WHY?? Very strange.

[@DansTravels5823]

Cool video. I have an older de Luxe. It's drab grey and I'm considering painting it so it a little more eye catching.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Some folks are opposed to repaints but I have no problem if somebody jazzes up a machine.

[@belle_bookworm2533]

I must have a thing for these models because I have 10 but I agree that they aren't always reliable typers

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I think I prefer Smith Corona typing action-rarely any skipping.

[@belle_bookworm2533]

I bought a green QDL last week and I'm still waiting for it to get here. Mine has the rectangular ROYAL logo that does nothing.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Hope it makes it safely to you!

[@belle_bookworm2533]

TypewriterMinutes I hope it does too! I have one that arrived with a broken right knob.

[@wckoek]

Most of the ones I saw aren't in such a good shape, how do you guys restore it to look so clean?

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I got lucky with this one. The paint was in time-capsule condition when I found it. Usually I have to work harder than that. :)

[@johntapp1411]

I had the turquoise version with boldface print!! Sold it thirty-seven years ago. Why did I do that?!!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Time to go find another one. :)

[@johntapp1411]

TypewriterMinutes I’ve been looking. The ‘58 models seem to be scarce as hens’ teeth.

[@coleguisto6916]

Love your channel!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Thanks, and thanks for watching!

[@kennygk79]

"Murphy's law says . . .," especially on camera. ☺

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Yes I know Murphy well!

[@carissagalgano3484]

What would be an appropriate price for a typewriter like this?

[@TypewriterMinutes]

That’s a tough question to answer. Condition is everything in geography makes a big difference also. If this machine were to go for sale on eBay I would expect $150-$300, so it is a wide range. That said, you can find them cheaper if you are patient

[@TypewriterJustice]

oh dear lol