Underwood No. 6 Wide-Carriage 14" Standard Typewriter, 1927

A wide-platen Underwood No. 6 standard typewriter from the Underwood Elliott Fisher Co. era — the rear maker's plate reading "Product of Underwood Elliott Fisher Co. / Protected by United States and Foreign Patents / Made in U.S.A." The "14" designation stamped on the paper guide and platen scale denotes the 14-inch wide carriage, a commercial configuration built for banks, government offices, and newspaper rooms where wide-format ledger work was the daily volume — less common than the standard-carriage desk model and a more sought-after survivor today. Cast iron frame, enameled steel body in matte black, nickel-plated hardware, and the original brass-rimmed glass key tops with black faces and green-accented function keys: Tab Stop Set, Tab Stop Clear, Margin Release, Back Spacer, and Shift Lock. A serial number stamped underneath dates manufacture to 1927 — the year the Underwood Typewriter Company merged with Elliott-Fisher and Sundstrand to form the corporate entity named on this machine's badge.

The original gold-leaf Underwood script on the paper table retains strong legibility despite expected flaking — a cosmetic detail collectors weigh heavily. The bichrome ribbon selector decal (red/gold/black tricolor) is still present at the front of the segment cover. The Underwood No. 5/No. 6 series defined the standard front-strike typewriter for the first half of the 20th century; the wide-carriage variants are the scarcer survivors among them, appealing equally to working typewriter collectors and the decorator market for film props and period office aesthetics.

Underwood's front-strike, visible-typing design — introduced in 1900 with the No. 5 — became the benchmark American office typewriter and held that position for decades. In 1927, Underwood Typewriter Company merged with Elliott-Fisher and Sundstrand to form Underwood Elliott Fisher Co., the corporate name carried on machine badges until 1938, when the firm reverted to Underwood. Wide-carriage 14-inch models like this one were specified for ledger work, government correspondence, and newspaper copy desks — the daily workhorses of commercial offices across the country, including the early statehood-era government and business offices of New Mexico.

CONDITION

Good with age-appropriate wear throughout. Finish shows scuffing and partial loss to the gold-leaf lettering on the paper guide; light surface oxidation to nickel components and the segment plate. A handful of keys stick on actuation; all other keys are functional. A new ribbon and a thorough deep cleaning are recommended before regular use.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Maker: Underwood Elliott Fisher Co., Made in U.S.A.
• Model: No. 6, wide-carriage, 14" platen
• Serial Number: 27 (stamped underside); manufacture date: 1927
• Overall: 9.5" H × 20" W × 13.5" D
• Weight: 28 lbs
• Construction: Cast iron frame, enameled steel body, nickel-plated hardware, brass-rimmed glass key tops