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Home » Underwood » Leader » 1952 #H2303560
1952 Underwood Leader Serial # H2303560 1952 Underwood Leader typewriter, Serial # H2303560 Fumitaka Hayashi's 1952 Underwood Leader typewriter. 2026-05-05 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Fumitaka Hayashi: 1952 Underwood Leader Serial # H2303560 No. 12 in my collection is this Underwood Leader. It is very similar to my Underwood Universal built in 1946. Despite being built 6 years later, there seems to be absolutely no technological progress. Tabs remain missing, and this model seems to be a more budget version of the Underwood portables, as it lacks the two color ribbon functionality, has page guides rather than the roller bails, and does not seem to have any adjustments for the weight of the keys. Additionally, on this example, the adjustment of the right margin affects where the bell rings, but it does not stop the carriage which keeps going all the way to the end. I am unsure if this is operating as intended or if something is broken or out of adjustment.

When it arrived initially, the carriage strap had come loose. It took some fiddling but I was able to get it reattached with the spring in tension as it should. The small nut to attach the strap to the carriage was missing, but it turns out that M4 nuts fit, and I had many of those from my interests in Eurorack synthesizers...

Another acquisition from Goodwill online auction. This was shipped from Colorado.

1952 Underwood Leader #H2303560

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Fumitaka Hayashi (fhayashi)
Created: 05-05-2026 at 03:58PM
Last Edit: 05-05-2026 at 04:05PM


Description:

No. 12 in my collection is this Underwood Leader. It is very similar to my Underwood Universal built in 1946. Despite being built 6 years later, there seems to be absolutely no technological progress. Tabs remain missing, and this model seems to be a more budget version of the Underwood portables, as it lacks the two color ribbon functionality, has page guides rather than the roller bails, and does not seem to have any adjustments for the weight of the keys. Additionally, on this example, the adjustment of the right margin affects where the bell rings, but it does not stop the carriage which keeps going all the way to the end. I am unsure if this is operating as intended or if something is broken or out of adjustment.

When it arrived initially, the carriage strap had come loose. It took some fiddling but I was able to get it reattached with the spring in tension as it should. The small nut to attach the strap to the carriage was missing, but it turns out that M4 nuts fit, and I had many of those from my interests in Eurorack synthesizers...

Another acquisition from Goodwill online auction. This was shipped from Colorado.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:










Hunter: Fumitaka Hayashi (fhayashi)

Fumitaka Hayashi's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 277

Relatively new to collecting. Would like to document my collection.

Planning on sticking to full-sized American machines so I don't spend too much on fancy European portables.



RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Underwood Leader on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Underwood Serial Number page and the Underwood Leader By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.