Gold Typewriters
A fun subcategory of typewriters are gold machines. Here you will find the most complete list of such opulent typers. I'm sure I'll have missed a couple examples and, without a doubt, previously unknown ones will have bubbled up.
ca.1895 - The earliest known example of a gold typewriter is this Blickensderfer No.5. It was produced by the Blickensderfer Typewriter Co. of Stamford, CT. Most of the unpainted metal was plated in gold. Currently, only one example is known.
ca.1900 - Blickensderfer No.7 model. The plating was very similarly executed throughout Three currently known examples.
ca.1926 - Royal 1st generation Model P. These were produced by the Royal Typewriter Company of Hartford, CT. The plating seems excessive with it being on every non-painted metal piece including all the internal gears, springs and levers. There are 3 known examples.
1940 - This Royal KMM was produced by the company in Hartford and then Cartier jewelers of NY was commissioned execute the inscriptions and gold plating. It was a massive hit! Most likely, this KMM inspired the rash of gold Royals produced over the next couple decades. More about this particular KMM here. This is a one off.
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1949 - After the incredible interest that the KMM above generated for Royal, the company leaned in and finally began selling gold typewriters in earnest starting with the "Dreyfuss" QDLs. The promotion ran in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the 1849 Gold Rush. More about these typewriters here.
This is the first iteration of the gold Dreyfuss QDL: all gold shell but nickeled key rings. Two such examples are known.
ca.1949 - The 2nd iteration if the gold Dreyfuss QDLs had an all gold shell and with gold key rings. One such example is known.
ca.1949 - The 3rd iteration if the gold Dreyfuss QDLs had a black and gold shell. Several dozen examples are known.
ca.1950 - Royal redesigned its popular portable line from boxy to curvy at the start of the new decade. Thought the curves were new, the top-of-the-line QDL models were available with the same black/gold pattern as the latter Dreyfuss. More about these here. Several dozen examples are known.
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