Superb Antique Underwood 5 Typewriter with Spanish Keyboard. USA, 1920'S

Imposing antique Spanish Underwood 5 typewriter, made in USA around 1920 and in great condition. This typewriter stands out for its impressive classic design, with sturdy lacquered cast-iron body and side and rear openings. It works perfectly, as it has been fully overhauled and greased in order to provide a good performance. This is a classic and iconic piece among the typewriters made in the first half of the 20th century, enhanced by its great condition and Spanish manufacture. It mounts Spanish keyboard with the Ñ letter. The black-lacquered finish that covers the iron body remains very well preserved. It looks shiny, even and with no traces of rust or wear. The same can be said about the golden decals printed in different parts of the typewriter: the Underwood brand name and colored logo located over the carriage, the brand printed over and under the keyboard and the English inscription with information about the patent that we can see at the back of the machine. The keyboard is also in very good condition: it is composed of white keys with black symbols, reinforced by nickel-plated rings and looking really fine. Decorative and functional, this wonderful antique Underwood 5 typewriter is a real jewel of early 20th-century mechanical engineering.Underwood Typewriters History The Underwood Typewriter Company was founded in 1895 by John T. Underwood. The family business made typewriter ribbon and carbon paper from 1874, but when some of their clients (such as famous Remington brand) started making their own supplies, they considered starting to manufacture typewriters. The first model produced was a design by Franz Xavier Wagner who showed it to J. T. Underwood: then, the Underwood No. 1 was born. The Underwood No. 5 launched in 1900 has been described as "the first truly modern typewriter". Two million had been sold by the early 1920s, and its sales were equal in quantity to all of the other firms in the typewriter industry combined. In 1959, Olivetti bought a controlling interest in Underwood and completed the merger in October 1963, becoming known in the US as Olivetti-Underwood with headquarters in New York City, and entering the electromechanical calculator business. The Underwood name last appeared on Olivetti portable typewriters produced in Spain in the 80s.