phantomfixer Posted October 8, 2016 Share #1 Posted October 8, 2016 A lot on the internet about this being called a military typewriter...or at least military green...no US property tags that I can see...would the Army have issued typewriters...they issued stick pins... The color is right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12thengr Posted October 9, 2016 Share #2 Posted October 9, 2016 Nice O.D. green but I think the Army used whatever they could get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted October 9, 2016 Share #3 Posted October 9, 2016 Looks like it was made between 1925-36. '8' is the model and '10' is the length of the roller. http://www.antikeychop.com/lcsmithandbrosno8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted October 10, 2016 Dig it...thanks guys.......I would have thought with stick pins and pens having a part number, the common typewriter would have been an issue item... Read a book about a Marine Combat correspondent, carrying his personal typewriter around the islands in WWII...one of his stories he wrote about the field HQ getting blown up along with the very important HQ typewriter...seems they were able to find a replacement in a Japanese HQ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 10, 2016 Share #5 Posted October 10, 2016 This was made as part of their L.C. Smith Secretarial series: this color was called "Walnut Green." and was advertised to the general public and I don't think there's anything to link it to military issue other than the color being close to olive drab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share #6 Posted October 10, 2016 Yeah.. I am gonna pass on it and leave it in the store...we paid 15 bones for it...so it should move quick...I was thinking of putting on my field desk...when doing field displays Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted October 10, 2016 Share #7 Posted October 10, 2016 OD green was a fairly popular color for for office equipment, furniture, and accessories throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century. The only color that was more popular was black. You'll also see a lot of vintage filing cabinets that are OD green, that have nothing to do with the military. Basically, it was seen as a nice, professional color for an office environment. The Edison Dictaphone (a machine that made sound recordings onto cylinder records) is a great example of a non-military business appliance that is commonly seen in a color that we might consider "OD green". Really, any basic late 1930s portable typewriter would work great for a field desk display. There was even a program during WW2 for the public to donate their typewriters to the military. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Colt Posted October 10, 2016 Share #8 Posted October 10, 2016 I must say it is probably a civilian typewriter painted green. I would dig it if it was one of those US Army issue Coronas, the rarest of the rare! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted October 11, 2016 yeah factory green most likely civilian...would the Coronas you speak of have a US Property data plate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted October 25, 2016 Share #10 Posted October 25, 2016 Nothing military about it. Several already pointed out here why, but it's a standard civilian typewriter. I must say it is probably a civilian typewriter painted green. No, they made plenty of these in that color. It was a very popular color for civilian typewriters in the late 20s to early 30s.I've been offered countless numbers of these over the years by people thinking they can cash in with a correspondent collector for a 'military' typewriter, and most get ticked when I send them info showing it was a normal color... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortJohn Posted October 26, 2016 Share #11 Posted October 26, 2016 I looked at a grouping once years ago.The lady had her step fathers issue typewriter.It was a Smith Corona.It had a crinkle finish to it,I think green or grey.It didn't have a U.S. property tag on it.He was in the 29th.Division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted October 26, 2016 Share #12 Posted October 26, 2016 I looked at a grouping once years ago.The lady had her step fathers issue typewriter.It was a Smith Corona.It had a crinkle finish to it,I think green or grey.It didn't have a U.S. property tag on it.He was in the 29th.Division. Coronas had a medium to dark grey crinkle finish to them through the late 30s and early 40s before they stopped making them for the duration. Check out the one to the left in my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbranch Posted October 27, 2016 Share #13 Posted October 27, 2016 Typewriters used by military personnel in WW2 are typically not military property marked like the field gear, radio equipment, weapons, etc. that many collectors love to find so clearly labeled as being made for the armed forces. There are some types that are often marked, especially US Navy radio "mill" units. These have only capital letters and the number "0" has a slash through it (so it can't be confused with the letter "O"). These were used by radio personnel performing manual copying of morse-code messages. However, any typewriter that has clearly original US military markings is fairly rare. I have seen a few examples of Corona portables with military (Army and Navy) markings on the top of the ribbon spool cover. Really, any basic gray/black late 1930s to early 1940s portable typewriter would be a good representation of what was used in the field throughout WW2 by military personnel. That 1930s Hermes Baby Featherweight is a beautiful little machine. I wonder if it was a private purchase or one of the typewriters donated to the military when typewriters were found to be in short supply to the armed forces? Hermes is a well regarded typewriter manufacturer, likely thanks to the quality Swiss craftsmanship. I've always had my eyes open for a typewriter marked "US Army"/"US Navy" or to a WW2 unit or veteran. One day I'll find one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
med-dept Posted October 27, 2016 Share #14 Posted October 27, 2016 Here is my Medical Department-issued typewrite, produced by Royal. As you can see, the top is clearly marked with "U.S.A. M.D.": Thanks, Ben. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted October 28, 2016 Share #15 Posted October 28, 2016 Ben, nice Med Dept typewriter! Here are 3 more examples of military marked typewriters: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share #16 Posted October 28, 2016 Thanks for the updates!!! Robin...just what I was looking for...these must be rare birds...would be nice to find a matched set..1 RR typewriter, and 1 RR 191A1... Thanks for the pics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CombatEng44 Posted October 28, 2016 Share #17 Posted October 28, 2016 I have not looked at my typewriter in a few years but it is marked Army Air Forces...guess I need to get that out again. All I can remember is that I really had to look for the markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share #18 Posted October 28, 2016 Would like to the AAF markings/model numbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CombatEng44 Posted October 28, 2016 Share #19 Posted October 28, 2016 I'll try to remember to pull it out and see what it says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted October 28, 2016 Share #20 Posted October 28, 2016 Weren't the MC-88's postwar typewriters? That 1930s Hermes Baby Featherweight is a beautiful little machine. I wonder if it was a private purchase or one of the typewriters donated to the military when typewriters were found to be in short supply to the armed forces? Hermes is a well regarded typewriter manufacturer, likely thanks to the quality Swiss craftsmanship. I've always had my eyes open for a typewriter marked "US Army"/"US Navy" or to a WW2 unit or veteran. One day I'll find one! That Hermes is marked with the personal stamp of a Army Captain, on the body and the lid. Hermes machines were NOT cheap and very desirable due to how small and light they were. The USMC combat correspondents were issued Hermes 'Baby' model typewriters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted October 29, 2016 Share #21 Posted October 29, 2016 The MC-88 is listed in the 1943 SIG 3 supply catalog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0bbeL Posted October 31, 2016 Share #22 Posted October 31, 2016 My typewriter is marked US Army as well. Used by a 3rd ID Chaplain and was carried by him during the landings in Italy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
med-dept Posted October 31, 2016 Share #23 Posted October 31, 2016 Great looking typewriter for sure, Bob. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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