And if their typewriters had names, they usually said more about their function rather than their form: Smith Corona Silent, Royal Quiet Deluxe, Remington Quiet-Riter.

Most other typewriter companies made sure you knew who made their typewriter.

Moreover, it’s in a unique type style that speaks to the brand rather than the company. While American portables were viewed as the less capable offspring of their office parent, it seems the German typewriter company Seidel & Naumann had focussed their efforts on perfecting the portable without an office standard looming over it.Īnd perhaps for this reason they named their typewriter Erika and made it the most visible label on the machine. Now known as Royal Consumer Information Products Inc., Royal’s product line has evolved to include cash registers, shredders, water coolers, postal scales & office necessities, Health & Sports items, and a wide range of original and compatible/remanufactured imaging supplies supporting today’s most popular printers, faxes, and copiers.By the 1930s, typewriters were firmly established in the workplace. In September 2004, Royal became a private American company again. For nearly two decades Royal was a part of the Olivetti family. In April 1986, Olivetti, the Italian typewriter/computer manufacturer, announced plans to purchase Triumph Adler and Royal from Volkswagen.

Sales continued to climb and by 1982 sales in North America of Royal and Triumph Adler totaled over $600 million. Litton would appeal and, in a rare reversal, the FTC issued a ruling in April 1975 stating that Litton could keep Triumph Adler. The FTC ruled in March 1973 that Litton had to divest itself of Triumph Adler. Almost immediately, the USA government filed an anti-trust suit against Litton accusing it of creating a monopoly. In January 1969, Litton Industries further cemented its hold on the typewriter market by purchasing the German typewriter manufacturer, Triumph Adler. October 1966 saw Litton announce plans to acquire the English typewriter producer, Imperial, through its Royal Typewriter division. Litton would change the name of Royal McBee back to Royal Typewriter and reorganize the company into five divisions: Royal Typewriter, Roytype Consumer Products, Roytype Supplies, McBee Systems, and RMB. In December 1964, Litton Industries’ stockholders approved the acquisition of Royal McBee.

Erika 5 typewriter