1963 Underwood Touchmaster Five #11 9210979
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Martin Kelly (martink)
Created: 02-09-2026 at 08:53AM
Last Edit: 02-09-2026 at 08:59AM
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Description:
I purchased this Underwood touch-master 5, January 30, 2026, through shoppinggoodwill.com from Dayton, OH. I was interested in this typewriter because it is a manual standard. As a typewriter, it is the last generation of Underwood typewriters derived from the Underwood 5. It shows the generational refinement of this model. I appreciated its industrial design, it has spring held access panels on all sides. Each panel gives access to different mechanical parts of the typewriter; this makes maintenance and repair easier. I also appreciated its aesthetic design. It shows the influence Olivetti had in the last standard manual type writer made by Underwood.
When I received this typewriter, I advanced the carriage space by space. It stopped, stuck in the middle. Keys were sticky. The tab movement was inconsistent. I opened the chassis to vacuum the interior and remove accumulated dust and lint. I used piston/valve oil to lubricate all joints. I cleaned the key guide with acetone to free the keys. I replaced the access panels and cleaned the painted surface to remove surface stains and grime. I tested the typing functions and found that the tab movement was better, but still inconsistent. I removed the body part that covered the tab pins. I lubricated and moved each pin up/down. I then used the tab set and clear keys to depress and release each tab pin to its working height. The tab functions correctly. I used a video produced by Duane Jensen to properly load the typewriter ribbon in the ribbon vibrator. After 62 years, all aspects of this manual typewriter work as intended. each character is correctly aligned horizontally and vertically. This is evidence of this typewriter's robust design and production.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Martin Kelly (martink)
Martin Kelly's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 0
I seek to be a minimalist typewriter owner. The first typewiter I purchased was the ultraportable Royal Mercury (Silver Seiko). The illusion that I would take my typewriter with me to write has been crushed. That typewriter has sat on a shelf in my office since its purchase. I realized that if I were ever going to type , it would be in my office at home. For that, I have purchased and Underwood Touchmaster five. For the option to type away from that spcae, I have purchased a Sears Citation 2 (SCM). In each case. I wanted a manual typewriter. I am tired of being tethered to chargers and outlets. I am also dis-satisfied with the ephemeral nature of modern communication by text and email. I want the option to write to my children and family in a tangible way. They have the option to keep or discard, but for that moment there is the physical connection between us through something that I wrote. A connection that can be held.
In addition, I appreciate owning typewriters as the designed machines that they are for writing. They are designed to be both aesthetic and utilitarian. Their design was perfected shortly before their replacement by electronic typewriters and personal computers. They have both historic and personal value. I regret that typewriters have been delegated to the ranks of outdated technology, seen as useless piles of metal and plastic to be trashed, recycled, or abandoned.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Underwood Touchmaster Five on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Underwood Serial Number page and the Underwood Touchmaster Five By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
