Rooy ultraflat portable #27912 (1953) (my collection):
1930s Rooy standard B44 (seen online a while ago):
Rooy Intermédiaire 28 #301088 (1938) (my collection):
Remington Noiseless 8 #E36907 (1937) (my collection):
As seen on leboncoin.fr:
According to one French collector whom Marc consulted, this model is the SB (Semi-Bureau), made 1950-1954; the glossy version was probably produced toward the end of this period. Other collectors have called it the IN (Inter) model. But according to this brochure, it is the Standard Minor -- and I have seen a few examples with that name (under "Rooy") on their paper table. So for now, given this evidence, I'll call it the Standard Minor.
The typewriter has a very effective way of controlling and feeding the paper once you've typed on it:
Gotta love the curly numerals on the line spacing selector:
The ribbon covers rotate very smoothly out of the way. The pieces under the ribbon cover up nearly everything on both sides of the typebasket, creating a very enclosed appearance.
Separated at birth?
Marc is sending me a couple of plastic buttons to top my margin stops. But I couldn't wait to share this typewriter online.
Both of the Rooy designs just look so cool! I especially love that Ivory one. The later design looks kind of like a baby Voss. (Not because it's smaller, but because it's cuter)
ReplyDeleteStunning. So interesting how much of an antithesis the bulbous Rooy is to the flat Rooy.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I was about to mention that it reminds a bit of Voss.
All of those Rooys are great looking machines. The big bulbous one is the first one like that I've seen.
ReplyDeleteOoh those rooys! How are they to type on, Richard? The micro-Rooy is often derided as a mechanical marvel that's awful to use. What about the angular ivory mini-elephant and its air jordan pamplemousse sister?
ReplyDeleteThe très petite machine is loud and pretty unpleasant to use; that's a side effect of its tiny dimensions. But it is still cute and convenient, and I should note that it sold well in France.
DeleteThe intermédiaires are much more pleasant, solid, nice. Imagine an Olympia SM that's a bit heavier and maybe a little slower. I would enjoy typing several pages on my new machine -- if only it were QWERTY.
Air jordan pamplemousse -- that's a description I probably would not have come up with on my own.
It's nice to know that boxy Babar and the grey grapefruit are nice to write with. BTW: m j Rooy must stand for Michael Jordan Rooy. And psmplemousses are always on my mind. Which I think is the title of a Charles 'Azerty' Aznavour song.
DeleteAh ... MJ! Got it.
DeleteI eat a pink pamplemousse every day during the winter. Best thing about the season.
The color of this machine can vary a lot depending on the lighting -- from green to blue to gray.
wow those are impressive! I bet if you used it all the time you could get used to it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful machine.I think I just found something to go into my top-5 most wanted. That really calls out to me.
ReplyDeleteAlways happy to spread my obsessions!
DeleteThey're pretty common in France, you just have to figure out how to induce one to fly to Australia.
It's a beauty alright- and nobody's mentioned those awesome paper supports yet! :D
ReplyDeleteThe marginal extra coolness achieved with those ribbon covers is significant
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful typewriter and I love the design. Richard you did it to me again! Those ribbon covers look like wings when they are open. You have an excellent taste, enjoy.
ReplyDeleteYou made me realize that the typewriter looks like the bird on the video game Tiny Wings. I've added an image to the post!
DeleteWhere's the "like" button?
ReplyDeleteBut of course they're beautiful, they're French! Think of who gave the world Art Nouveau, Art Deco by 1925, Coco Chanel and some of the finest woman's fashions in the world, and French cooking!!
ReplyDeleteAlso what about the Citroen DL automobile, and the most beautiful and refined ocean liners ever - the Ile de France of 1927, the Liberte of 1950, and arguably the "crowning glory" of ocean liners - the Normandie of 1935. The french know how to do design, so of course they'd also build fine and stunning typewriters! I know I'm a bit prejudiced though.
French are definitely excitable people. The SB is one of my favourite shapes. You find them on leboncoin.fr often, and I should definitely get one soon.
ReplyDeleteIt has that carved from a solid block look to it. Any idea who designed it?
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how evolution of the design of different things goes in a similar way. Cars went through the same change from being a box on wheels to being an egg on wheels...
ReplyDeleteWhat a dramatic design; the pivoting ribbon colors are awesome!
ReplyDeleteAnd if did not know any better I would venture that the standard model is very like an Underwood. Am I the only tragic that has this impression?
ReplyDeleteYou are not! See my comments in the first paragraph of this blog post. ("Tragic"?)
DeleteI still think that their standard model owes a lot to the Underwood 5.
ReplyDelete