1939 Underwood Universal Typewriter Tutorial

The 1939 Underwood Universal typewriter was manufactured in Hartford, Connecticut, at the company’s large factory complex, which was a major hub for American typewriter production in the twentieth century. With its black enamel finish, top-mounted ribbon spools, and rounded glass keys, the Universal’s design blended both form and function, making it a valued possession for students, budding writers, and traveling professionals. By the late 1930s, Underwood had produced over five million typewriters, cementing its reputation for creating machines known for durability, practicality, and smooth typing action. Throughout its era, the Universal competed with peers like the Royal Quiet De Luxe and Smith Corona Sterling, offering portability and reliability that became essential as writing on the go grew more common.

Many famous writers and public figures were loyal Underwood users; among them, legendary names such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Faulkner are known to have chosen Underwood portables for their daily work. An anecdote surrounds Faulkner—his Underwood Universal Portable remains a centerpiece in his office’s preserved workspace at Rowan Oak, a quiet testament to how this model facilitated literary creation. The cultural impact of Underwood even filtered into media; for example, Underwood typewriters appeared in popular series and movies, and have been the subject of family stories, with some referring to their loved ones as “the Underwood Typewriter girl”—a lasting source of pride and nostalgia. Today, collectors and writers prize the 1939 Universal not just for its mechanical excellence, but for the stories it carries, having helped immortalize poems, novels, and personal letters across decades.

These are either branded ‘Champion’ or ‘Universal’, which vary slightly in features… so slightly that notice that use the same manual!

Here is the manual, in case you wish to peruse in the meantime.

Take it slowly and gently at first, and try not to force anything. Everything was tested when I sent it out, so it should be working when it arrives. I pack as carefully as possible, based on years of experience.

If something is not working as specified, we can find a solution.

That being said, each machine has it's little quirks, and that is just part of writing on a functional antique. No two are exactly alike, and I say this after going through hundreds. Learning to dance with a particular machine is a process, and a worthy one!

And some people write about skipping letters or the carriage not advancing, etc. Sometimes that has to do with the. mechanism. Usually it has to do with technique. It takes some practice to type reliably and consistently on a typewriter. Some fingers are weaker than others at first, or they linger longer, causing skipping. Use a quick, firm keystroke.

Often there is no '1' key, use the lowercase L. And if there is no '!', use the ', and then back up and put a period under it. 

I sell ribbons here. It can take black or red and black.

Here is the handmade paper that your note came on and the envelope it came in. (In case you decide to enrich the world with your typewritten musings).

A typewriter pad can quiet this beauty some. This is the finest one in the world, in my humble opinion.

Please let me know if you have questions.

Enjoy the writing!

PS. I offer a trade-in policy, in case you ever want to upgrade or switch, you can trade your machine in for the value you paid toward anything else.