C. 1942 rare worked MILL prototype Royal Military Typewriter Sans-Serif font

29 June 2024 by admin


























This is an extremely rare, beautifully preserved worked military prototype Royal Aristocrat “B” c. 1942 Sans Serif single Gothic “MIL” or “MILL” Military Typewriter! This machine dates to first year of World War II, when the production of Royal Aristocrat “B” typewriters were cut drastically in March 1942 for civilian use as the war effort expanded, and all consumer typewriter production was halted in 1943. This was so the Royal “Arrow” MIL or Military “C” Typewriter (in sand color instead of textured black as shown here) could be produced for full war time service. During WWII, people donated their civilian typewriters to the war effort because typewriter companies couldn’t keep up with the war efforts’ demands! This is an earlier machine than the 1943 Royal “MIL”s. It is a well used prototype, a 1st year WWII prototypical Royal MIL typewriter with the exact same military typeface font as the later Royal “MILL” machines. The typeface show the same “PG” stamped on the typebars as the latter Royal MILs in a sand color (Royal used abbreviations instead of numbers for their typefaces; “PC” stands for PICA GOTHIC) and of course the type is in all Double Caps for faster easier typing and reading of radio messages/Signal Corp/and other telegraphic messaging for wartime communiques. The very rare “slashed zero” double caps key is emblematic of all wartime MIL typewriters: the zero is always slashed to differentiate it from a regular letter “O” in for wartime messaging. The number one key is also added to differentiate the number one from the small letter “L” or “l” on typewritten messages. The number four in the Royal font here is also large and excentuated for easier reading on the page. Of course, the all Double Caps is a way to type much quicker than normal for battlefield expediency! This typewriter has a standard Royal carrying case, in fair to good condition, as well! This machine is in very good condition, very well taken care of for its age. Its black pebbled finish is in great shape, chrome and nickel accents nice, platen and rubber feet in good condition with some wear to the feet. The machine was recently refurbished at a local typewriter repair shop. The MILL sans serif Single Gothic typebar key strikers all have been oiled and move wonderfully. This is an extremely rare black Royal MILL machine still tough enough to work for another 100 years! 1942 worked prototype Royal MILL Typewriter in black finish, an early wartime machine!

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