Antique Underwood 3 Typewriter with Spanish Keyboard. USA, 1920's

Classic Underwood 3 typewriter witha Spanish keyboard made in USA in the 1920s. This piece, a model that was once defined as the first truly modern typewriter, is in perfect working order and shows off a good condition. It boasts a solid and nice design with a strong industrial charm that turns it into a very decorative piece. It mounts black-enameled cast-iron body with side and read openings that make it lighter and let us see the complex inner mechanism. All the mobile component parts of this machine move fluidly as they have been propoerly greased and fully overhauled. The typewriter includes a Spanish keyboard composed of circular pieces with white background and black symbols. Each key preserves the nickel-plated ring that frames and reinforces it. Over the carriage we can see the Underwood brand name printed in big white lettering. To the left of the keyboard there is also a circular golden decal in perfect condition. At the back of the typewriter we can also see an inscription in golden lettering with the brand name and information about the manufacturer and the machine. This antique Underwood 5 typewriter has still a long life to run, perhaps as a decorative piece or maybe as a functional item.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.