This is an Imperial "The Good Companion" Model 1 typewriter from 1934, quite an early example of a model that was produced between 1932-1957. It has a rare secretarial case with a hinged baseboard that, when lifted, reveals a special compartment for stationary or accessories. The unusual case makes this Good Companion a nice collector's item for Imperial fans and those who love the quirks of atypical portable cases. Carefully serviced and restored to its original glory, including the recovering of its platen and feed rollers, this Good Companion is a pleasure to view and a delight to use.
The typewriter is in remarkable cosmetic and mechanical condition for its 91 years! The original gloss paint shines beautifully, and the chrome-ringed keytops and return arm twinkle under lamplight. These elements of its design, the fine curves of its ribbon cover and segment, bring to any desk an air of Art Deco glamour and the era's refinement of design and technological progress.
Let's talk about the special secretarial CASE that comes with this typewriter: it has been carefully and thoroughly cleaned and is in very good condition, bar a few age-related marks on the interior. The leather handle is in good shape and has been reconditioned with beeswax. The latches and fittings have been polished with metal polish and shine nicely. The latches open and close nicely, and both can be locked with the case's original keys, which are also included in this sale. The case is broader and deeper than the default Good Companion Model 1 case and has a compartment beneath the typewriter's baseboard, where one can store stationary or accessories. The typewriter's baseboard has 2 half hinges on its left side that lock into their respective halves on the left side of the bottom half of the case. Once the halves of the hinges are aligned, two small rods are inserted to secure the hinges. With the hinges secured, the baseboard can be lifted to access the lower compartment.
The original black gloss paint has been carefully cleaned, polished and waxed with several layers of museum grade microcrystalline wax, giving it a deep shine. The paint on this Good Companion is in wonderful shape, and its mirror finish reflects light and surrounding objects beautifully. There are a few very minor and inconspicuous scratches to the black paint. The only noticeable flaws are some loss to the "G" in the "The Good Companion" decal on the front, and the missing "M" to the word "Manufactured" on the back. The other decals are in excellent condition and have retained their gold colouring and have also been carefully cleaned and preserved with a ph-neutral wax. (Being an early example, this Good Companion does not have a royal warrant on the front right corner of the ribbon cover.)
As mentioned, this Imperial Good Companion's platen has been professionally recovered with new rubber, and the print quality is very good. The feed rollers have also been recovered with new rubber and grip very nicely, allowing for easy feeding of new pieces of paper.
Each of the keytops' metal key rings has been individually polished, as have all other chrome parts. The key rings and other chrome parts are in excellent condition. The glass of the keytops has been cleaned and is in very good condition. The original key legends themselves are in very fine condition with slight tanning to some legends.
The internal mechanisms have been thoroughly cleaned with an appropriate solvent. To ensure proper operation, this Imperial underwent a major disassembly of its segment and typebars. Each typebar was removed, cleaned and replaced once the segment and other mechanisms were clean. Suitable lubrication has been applied where necessary, and all mechanisms are fully functional and include margins, margin release, backspace, shift-lock, line space selector, line space detente, paper support, and a clear and great-sounding bell.
Also included is the typewriter's original brush, which has a mix of soft and hard brass bristles (the brush has been cleaned, but it is more of a collector's item as it seems to be losing a few of its softer black bristles each time it is used), and an original bottle of Imperial Typewriter Oil (again, this is more of a collector's item, as modern fine machine oil is a better - and less smellier - choice).
This typewriter uses a carriage shift and types in pica at 10 cpi (characters per inch). It prints very nicely in either black or red and has a new high-quality, ribbon installed on its metal spools.
The typewriter will be carefully packaged in a well-sized cardboard box with signed-for delivery and insurance. Shipping to the US and other international destinations is also available.
