Royal 79106B Classic Manual Typewriter (Blue)

I bought this typewriter for distraction-free writing. It's great just for that. You need to be careful with the ribbon area. I had to send back my first machine because the ribbon messed up. I switched it out, and it messed up again. The reversing mechanisms weren't working. Even when I was typing, it jumped ahead with the ribbon and then I'd have to open it back up to try to wind it back. But my second machine? Works beautifully. I've been writing one of my novels on it between rushing to work on my grad thesis. Don't let some bad reviews deter you from buying one—it is fantastic if you're a writer.

TL;DR: The product came in a state where it was literally falling apart. This was a gift, and it looked really bad.The good: nice clean retro look, very pretty machine.The meh: typing is okay, letters are not well aligned. Not a precision machine at all, but works. Not super intuitive to use either but I guess that comes with the retro design and the user manual decently explains everything.The bad and ugly: <crack knuckles> I suspect this machine was assembled by a gang of raccoons. It wasn’t even functioning and literally falling apart. Started typing and a couple metal balls and 4 screws fell on the desk (#1). And when I say typing, that’s an over statement: 3 keys where not functioning at all (#2) and no lowercase would print on the paper (#3)Problems:#1 It turns out some screws they used to attach the bottom plate are too short, and the thread was barely holding. Gonna have to replace them with the same screws, slightly longer from the local hardware store.#2 The parts holding the balls where put in place without being adjusted. Therefore leaving enough of a gap to let the balls fall off. These balls support the entire central section with the hammers, and this was the cause of the lower case keys not hitting (they ended up too far from the paper). Putting this back together was a pain, but I did it and typing lowercase letters now seems reliable.#3 The metal rods supposed to attach the non working keys to their hammers where respectively dangling, in the box, and missing. I could put back the 2 ones that I had and had to make one from a paperclip (since the support folks wouldn’t send the part) to replace the one missing.Finally customer support is utterly useless. They won’t even send the simplest spare part to fix the device. Their only answer is to send it back for a replacement… with the same shady assembly and another week later? No thank you, I’m not taking that chance, particularly considering that plenty of other reviewers had serious quality issues.If you’re very handy, you can fix all of this, and that makes a relatively decent typewriter for occasional fun use. Otherwise, stay clear from this device and company.Suggestion: sell it as a 3D puzzle, it’ll be more entertaining.

Amazing typewrite, gets the job done

I was so afraid to buy this because of the number of negative reviews, but I really really wanted it so I took a chance, figuring I could return it if I needed to.Well, I'm certainly not returning it! I absolutely LOVE it! It did need one modification, however. The space bar is set just a bit too low, which caused my thumb to hit the metal housing with each press. Very uncomfortable and would be painful if left unaddressed. But I simply stuck a strip of thick felt (quarter inch maybe) on the spacebar and that raised it up sufficiently to solve the problem. (See picture) Detracts from the asthetics a bit, perhaps, but that doesn't matter to me. Plus now the spacebar is soft. :)One other word of caution: upon unboxing, the manual instructs you to remove a number of plastic pieces that are inserted for shipping to keep things stable within the typewriter. I started pulling these out and accidentally removed (and broke) the little paper guide, as it is made of the same white plastic the removable pieces are so I assumed it wasn't part of the machine, which it was. Oops. Not a huge deal, as it still functions fine without it, but be careful to only remove the correct pieces.I can't comment on how this machine compares to old, antique typewriters, as it is my first one, but it types just fine (I changed the ink setting to 'heavy'; on 'light' the letters were quite faint. Not sure if maybe the ribbon is a bit dried out, but mine definitely wasn't completely dry and cracking like some other people experienced.Seems well built with a nice metal housing, and it sure is pretty (I got the purple one). It takes some muscle to type on this versus a computer keyboard, and it makes a wonderful racket, but that's all part of the fun!I'm loving it and just want to sit and type on it all day!

This is a great easy to use typewriter

It will make you yearn for your old Smith Corona typewriter (why did I get rid of it). The keyboard layout is from the 50's, if you use a computer you will hit the wrong key, LOL . Examples: ' is over the 8, ! is next to the right shift, + is over the 1, etc. Makes it a little awkward. The typewriter itself wasn't set up right and I had to tweak it (I repaired teletypes in the Army so I knew a little). I hate the cover over the ribbons, it's hard to get off, not a good design at all.The typing itself is good. I think my disappointment is really in comparing it to the smith corona I had in the 70's which was a real solid machine.

Very cheaply made. Ribbon doesn’t switch to black. Two keys were stuck the first time the were used. The return bar is soooooo cheaply made. So disappointed. It was a gift and it was expensive. Save your money. I wish I had.