The Royal typewriter was invented by H.B. Hess who founded the Royal Typewriter Company in 1906.

Hess's interest in typewriters belong to that class of machine known as the 'visible' i.e. machines which imprint without covering or obscuring the letters from the operator. Hess's early technical achievment invloved the development of the accelerating toggle typbar rapidly increasing speed as it makes its excursion to the printing point.

Another important feature of the Royal development by Hess is the anti-friction (or near anti-friction) roller escapement which is the connecting link between the keyboard and the carriage. The combination of the accelerating typebar and anti-friction roller escapement yielded a clear, decisive and refined printing result which gave birth to the Royal advertising slogan 'Compare the Work'.
The design of the carrigae was an important element in the anti-friction technology. The mono-rail idea appealed as the solution i.e. a single track containing a pair of ball bearings surrounded by cylindrical pinions connecting with a stationary and moveable rack.

The paper feed, often a problem in technical design, was solved by an unusual combination of levers and location of the feed roll and were so designed by Hess with the pressure devices at and above the printing point. Any kind of card envelope or writing material, single or in usable quantaties can be successfully fed and printed upon any area therof by mechanisms which are inbuit in the Royal structure and therefore requiring no added attachments for the purpose.

One outstanding feature of the Royal which in the early development of the typewriter is unique, is the combination stop block for limiting thr right and left margins and also for tabular work and line locking all accomplished through a single swinging element. This also assisted in noise reduction.

Hess worked on the problem of feathering. As the typebar moves through the momentum period, its relation to the step by step movement of the carriage makes it impossible for this machine to skip or overprint, or to make double impressions.

Mr Austin was the director of Business Equipment Pty Ltd, sole agent for Royal Typewriters in Australia. The Typewriter was presented to him celebrating 'Admiration and Pride on his 50th Anniversary in the Typewriter Industry'.

Typewriter and case, portable, 'Royal', aluminum / gold plate / rubber / leather, Royal Typewriter Co, USA, 1965-1968

-1 Typewriter
-2 Guard
-3 Case

Designed: Hess, E.B.;

Made: Royal Typewriter Company; United States of America; 1965 - 1968


Owned: Austin, Jack; Australia

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