Machine Details
Underwood
No 5
1928 (Hartford, Connecticut)
2408533-5
Available for Acquisition
Pica, 10cpi
Carriage
QWERTY
Standard
Manual Electric
15.4 × 12.2 × 9.9"
≈28 lbs.
No
Machine Description
One of my “boat anchor”-class typewriters, this Underwood No. 5 is the typewriter that defined what a typewriter looks like. Introduced in 1900 and built continuously for over three decades, it set the template that nearly every manufacturer followed. By 1930, Underwood had produced roughly five million of them. That number alone tells you how dominant this machine was in American offices.
Franz Xavier Wagner designed the No. 5 around a front-strike mechanism, meaning type bars hit the front of the platen and you could read your work as you typed it. That sounds obvious now, but it was a genuine departure from the blind-writing machines that came before. The design worked so well that Underwood barely changed it across 30 years of production.
This 1928 model sits near the end of that long run. The core machine is mature and well-sorted by this point, the manufacturing refined over nearly three decades. What you get is a heavy, solid office typewriter built to last through years of hard daily use. The black (japanned or baked enamel) finish and the nickel-plated fittings give it a look that holds up well (although this particular machine needs some polishing).
Practically speaking, the No. 5 is one of the easiest vintage typewriters to work on. Parts are available, documentation is plentiful, and most mechanics are straightforward. Ribbon spools are standard. Common issues on machines this age are dried-out platens, sluggish segment movement from old oil, and sticky keys from decades of grime. All of it is addressable with basic tools and patience.
If you want one machine that represents the foundation of 20th-century typewriter design, this is it.
Serial Number Location:
Under the carriage (slide it to the left), on the right top of the frame. Shown in the gallery with a red arrow indicating its location.
Features
- Tabulator
- Ribbon Selector Bichrome
- Variable Line Spacing
Condition Report
Glass tops are intact and solid. Overall, quite good. Right side shift key label is rotated within the key top.
Good condition, advances and reverses as expected. Hand crank also works.
Generally good considering the age. Some scratching, but reasonably bright & clear.
Rubber feet are starting to degrade. Adding soft furniture feet to keep it on display.
Seems complete, but some parts could use replacement.
Condition Notes
A fair amount of surface rust, but none that appears to impact operation.
Provenance
Primary L
Acquired c2010 from a Los Angeles garage sale. After years of sitting on a shelf as a decorative piece, I restored it to typing (current) condition sometime after 2020.
Type Specimen
