Royal 10
{{Short description|Desktop typewriter model}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox machine
| name = Royal 10
| image = File:Royal 10.jpg
| image_size =
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| caption = A Royal 10 typewriter
| classification = Typewriter
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| powered = Mechanical
| free_label = Manufacturer
| free_text = Royal Typewriter Company
| free_label1 = Height
| free_text1 = {{convert|10|in|cm}}
| free_label2 = Width
| free_text2 = {{convert|15|in|cm}}
| free_label3 = Depth
| free_text3 = {{convert|15|in|cm}}
}}
The Royal 10 was a typewriter made by the Royal Typewriter Company from 1914 until 1940.{{cite web |title=Royal 10 typewriter |url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co38133/royal-10-typewriter |website=Science Museum Group Collection |publisher=Science Museum Group |access-date=January 3, 2025 |language=en}}
The Royal 10 was known for its versatility and durability. A popular typewriter, it changed little over its history, with only cosmetic changes to its side panels. From 1915 to 1922 dual glass panes allowed operators to peer inside, while starting in 1923 a single glass pane was used. The Royal 10 sold for $100 {{USDCY|100|1915}} in 1915.{{cite news |title=Royal 10 advertisement |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/miles-city-star-royal-10-ad/162132463/ |access-date=January 3, 2025 |work=Miles City Star |date=May 30, 1915 |pages=2}} {{asof|2024}} the Royal 10 sold for between $100 and $500 on eBay, depending on the year and condition.
The Royal 10 is ten inches in height, and fifteen inches in width and length.{{cite web |title=Royal Standard Typewriter, Model No. 10, 1914 - The Henry Ford |url=https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/282677 |website=The Henry Ford Collections |publisher=The Henry Ford |access-date=June 17, 2025 |language=en}} The carriage, moved by ball bearings, did not need oil.{{cite book |last1=Nicholson |first1=R. T. |title=Mechanical Devices Of The Typewriter (book) |date=1920 |publisher=Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/MechanicalDevicesOfTheTypewriter |access-date=June 17, 2025}}{{rp|12}} Paper up to {{convert|11|inches|cm}} in width was supported.{{rp|31}} Dual-color ribbon also was supported, as well as stenciling.{{rp|46,60}} The most common typeface used was called "Pica".{{cite web |title=Tracking down a typewriter and finding fonts for the making of Misery |url=https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/blog/this-folio-life-tracking-down-a-typewriter-and-finding-fonts-for-the-making-of-misery |website=Folio Society |access-date=June 17, 2025}}
In media
Rosalind Russell used a Royal 10 in the 1940 film His Girl Friday.{{cite journal |last1=Cullather |first1=Nick |title=Review of The Chinese Typewriter: A History |journal=The American Historical Review |date=2019 |volume=124 |issue=3 |pages=1049–1050 |doi=10.1093/ahr/rhz418 |jstor=27126997 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27126997 |issn=0002-8762}}
Stephen King's novel Misery features a Royal 10 typewriter given from the character Annie to Paul. The typewriter, originally missing the letter "N" and later losing "T" and "E", and used by Paul to write the draft of his novel Misery's Return, has been called "the novel’s third main character".{{cite journal |last1=Gilmore |first1=Shawn |title=On the Page: Paul Sheldon's Typewriter in Misery (1987) |journal=The Vault of Culture |date=June 15, 2022 |url=https://www.vaultofculture.com/vault/onthepage/kingmisery |access-date=June 17, 2025}} A Royal 10 also appears in the 1990 film adaptation. For the recreation of the typewriter's font in the book, "Typeka" was chosen as a close match with a slightly used appearance.
A Royal 10 was featured in the music video for Taylor Swift's song "Fortnight", spurring an interest in typewriters among Swifties.{{cite news |last1=Bloch |first1=Emily |title=An Easter egg in Swift video, or is it the typewriter's design? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-an-easter-egg/162133761/ |access-date=January 2, 2025 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=April 23, 2024 |page=B6}}{{cite news |last1=Koebler |first1=Jason |title=Typewriter Community Braces for Influx of Taylor Swift Fans Inspired by Tortured Poets Department |url=https://www.404media.co/taylor-swift-typewriter-tortured-poets-department/ |access-date=June 17, 2025 |work=404 Media |date=April 22, 2024 |language=en}}
References
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External links
- [https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/Royal10.pdf Royal 10 manual]