New to me, that is.
Complete with carbon-paper stained user guide!
This 1963 Carl Sundberg-designed metal bodied Remington 11 semi-portable (despite what the instruction guide says) is in clean working order. Plenty of life left in the ribbon:
Which means I don’t yet have to go through the fiddly business of changing the ribbon. If the user guide is to be believed (which it probably isn’t) it’s a breeze …
According to my ruler, the typeface is Elite (Elite 504 according to NOMDA) but it’s one that had me thinking it was 11 characters per inch:
I’d describe the Remington 11 as an ugly-yet-beautiful typewriter. It’s like a glamorous model with bad teeth. In fact, those “teeth” aren’t bad to type on. This is a typewriter with a tight and reasonably snappy typing feel.
It’s one of those chameleon-like typewriters that change colour depending on the light …
When they did the paintwork on this machine back in ’63, they did a quality job. Which is not something you can say about earlier Quiet-Riters and Letter-Riters.
On this typewriter “Deluxe” goes without saying. Check out the case …
I was hoping I could use the case for another semi-portable in my collection, the Olivetti Studio 44:
But as you can see, the Studio 44 is longer …
The ’44 has a lower profile than the ’11, is about the same width, but is noticeably lighter (although the wooden case of the ’44 evens things out).
Yep, make no mistake about it, the Remington 11 “portable” is a heavyweight machine, as Nick T (Xoverit) pointed out when he compared it with his Remington Quiet-Riter 11.
A plastic-bodied close relation of the ’11, the Quiet-Riter 11 has a more elegant return lever, as can be seen in the following picture …
Another close relation (in fact the same typewriter underneath, as Nick T tells us, see link below) is the plastic-bodied Remington Fleetwing …
Clearly, typewriters of the Carl Sundberg-era shared a similar design aesthetic. A good example is the metal bodied Remington Travel-Riter Deluxe …
And the Remington International Model Series GJ standard typewriter…
Ah those goofy key-tops! They have been likened to coffee cups. However, they remind me more of the coffee pods you can buy for Nespresso machines.
George Clooney’s typewriter of choice? I like to think so.
Remington related links:
- Robert Messenger’s Neil Sedaka-Remington Inspired post of August 2014
- Nick T’s (Xoverit) Remington 11
- Nick T’s Remington Quiet-Riter Eleven.
- Uwe Wachtendorf’s Remington 11 on the TWDB
- “Cameron Living: In the Woods and typing back to nature”: Remington Quiet-Riter Eleven
For your delectation, the remaining pages of the instruction guide:
Tagged: Remington Rand
Ah, lovely post, thank you! I bet it’s a joy to write on. There is something really appealing about the squareish machines of this era. They are so no-nonsense, but then sometimes have quirky features (not bugs!) or colors that still say “fun”. Though that ribbon change does look a bit daunting. Love the case! Wow!
Never seen one in person, but I love the straight forward boxy design – not unlike my 1965 Imperial by Chrysler, designed by Elwood Engle of the Kennedy Lincoln era.
The colors are fun, too…. And as you said – well made! Possibly the last generation that were built to that level of quality!!
Thanks, and enjoy it!
I’ve got to say a very nice looking typewriter. Great post. If I ever get one and need a manual I know where I can find it on line.
Neat post. It looks like you didn’t post pages 8-9. If you do, I can make this into a PDF and add it to my online collection. Thanks!
That is typical of me! I’ve now inserted the missing scan. Thanks again 🙂
Thanks, Steve.
I really love the looks of this one – especially the key tops.