The Royal Futura, 1958-1962

In 1958, a new typewriter was designed by Laird Fortune Covey. Called the Futura, it was offered in several different levels--400, 600, and 800. The 400 was the cheapest, and lacked a tabulator, and had a 42-key keyboard. The 600 added a tabulator, but still had a 42-key keyboard. The 80 had a two-tone paint job, a tabulator, and a 44-key keyboard. The Futura, like most Royals is a very common typewriter. Mechanically, it is derived from the first Royal Portable of 1926. It differs by having segment shift, and, on some models, a key-set tabulator. The Futura also is larger than the first Royal portable--most of this additional size is through larger body panels.

The design of the Futura was modernized in 1962, and became another series of Royal typewriters, including the Royal 890 and 990, as well as the Royal Caravan, Royal Telstar (Late), Sears Cutlass, Royal Futura (no number), Royal Custom II, Royal Custom III, and the Royal Sabre, which was discontinued in 1980. (For more information on this series of typewriter, check out my post on the Royal 890: http://royaltypewriters.blogspot.com/#!/2012/10/royal-890-part-one.html)

Above is a Royal Futura 400. Notice that it is a single color, and lacks a tabulator

Above is a Royal Futura 600. Also a single color, but this model has a tabulator.

And a Royal Futura 800. Notice the presence of a "1" key, a tabulator, and a two-tone paint job. This was the top-of-the-line Royal from 1958 until 1962, when it was replaced by the Safari.