Fully Restored Imperial Good Companion Model 1 Typewriter | 1930s British Heritage Classic (Serial BL 476)

📖 Product Overview: A Definitive British Literary Legend

Presenting a magnificent piece of British engineering and typographic history: the Imperial Good Companion Model 1 (Serial No. BL 476 from 1938). Named after the famous novel The Good Companions by J.B. Priestley, this iconic machine was proudly manufactured in Leicester, England, during the golden age of British manufacturing. It stands as one of the most sought-after and culturally significant portable typewriters ever built.

This specific unit has undergone a painstaking 9 to 12-hour mechanical overhaul at our specialized UK workshop. Combining its deep historical character with rock-solid, production-ready typing performance, this Imperial Good Companion is a favourite among authors, historians, and serious collectors. It is fully prepared for many more hours of daily creative writing.

📊 Technical Specifications & Restoration Data

• Brand & Model: Imperial "The Good Companion" Model 1.

• Serial Number: BL 476.

• Origin: Manufactured by the Imperial Typewriter Co. Ltd. in Leicester, England.

• Keyboard Layout: Standard QWERTY Layout.

• Mechanical Condition: 100% Fully Functional & Serviced. Mechanically excellent—the entire type basket, carriage rails, and escapement have been completely tuned, chemically flushed, and calibrated for perfect smoothness and fluid keystroke action.

• Print Performance: Delivers crisp, dark, and perfectly aligned text impressions across the entire page.

• Platen Roller Condition: Features its original platen roller, which remains in good, reliable, fully usable condition—feeding paper smoothly and gripping cleanly.

• Fresh Ink Ribbon Installed: Pre-installed with a brand-new 10-meter black and red ink ribbon, meticulously wound directly onto the typewriter's authentic, original Imperial spools.

✍️ Typeface & Font Details

• Typeface Style: Classic PICA Typeface—providing bold, crisp, and beautifully striking character definitions.

• Font Pitch: Fixed at 10 Characters Per Inch (10 CPI / Pica size), giving your letters, poetry, or novels a timeless clarity and unmistakable vintage publication aesthetic.

🎨 Cosmetic Condition & Historical Accessories

• Cosmetic Presentation: Excellent, highly preserved vintage condition overall. The body shows minor, authentic marks on the frame and key rings consistent with age and gentle historic use.

• Royal Decals: Features original gold factory decals with minor, honest vintage fading, including the prestigious King George Royal Coat of Arms emblem displayed on the paper table.

• Original Protective Case: Includes its authentic, original hardshell carrying case showing genuine, age-appropriate wear with light surface scratches that add undeniable vintage character and provenance. New handle will be fitted 

📋 Quick Specifications Overview

🛡️ Peace of Mind & Workshop Mechanical Guarantee

✅ 1-Year Mechanical Guarantee | ✅ 14-Day Returns | ✅ Lifetime Aftercare | ✅ Featured on BBC's The Repair Shop

Every typewriter leaving our workshop represents the highest standard of vintage mechanical conservation. To ensure complete confidence in your investment, your typewriter is backed by our Comprehensive 1-Year Mechanical Guarantee, covering all internal mechanisms, segment linkages, and moving parts. Each machine is logged in our digital workshop registry under its unique serial number (BL 476) for full traceability and long-term support. Please read our dedicated workshop guarantee page on our website for complete details and peace of mind.

🌍 Global Shipping, Timelines & Tariff Information

• 🇺🇸 United States & 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Shipping (100% Free & All-Inclusive): Standard local & international shipping to the US and UK is completely free and included in the listed price. Furthermore, all US import tariffs and customs duties are fully prepaid by our workshop. There are absolutely zero hidden checkout fees, surprise border holds, or cash-on-delivery demands at your door.

• 🌐 International Shipping (Europe, Australia, Canada & Rest of World): We dispatch all website orders in less than 24 hours via fully tracked premium air courier directly to your door in 3 to 7 working days (with prompt EU dispatch and express delivery options available at checkout).

• Proprietary Global Packaging Protocol: To guarantee your machine survives international air transit, we mechanically lock the carriage, wrap the frame in multi-layered shock-absorbing cushioning, and suspend the typewriter within a heavy-duty, double-walled outer shipping carton.

🤝 The "Ready-to-Write" Package & Lifetime Support

• Unbox & Start Writing: Your Imperial Good Companion arrives pre-installed with its fresh ink ribbon, original manuals, keyboard chart, and our primary step-by-step startup instructions. Simply unbox, release the carriage lock, and begin typing immediately.

• Video Learning Academy: Your package includes a direct link to our dedicated YouTube video tutorial, teaching you exactly how to type on, care for, adjust the margins, and change ink ribbons on your specific Imperial Model 1 typewriter.

• Lifetime Technical Partnership: Every typewriter we sell comes with lifetime technical support. You receive direct email and video-call troubleshooting access to Walid and Joujou, the celebrated restoration experts from BBC's The Repair Shop and major Netflix productions.

🎬 We prepared a video on how to use this Typewriter on YouTube.

📖 Have questions about vintage typewriters or machine maintenance? Read our master guide: Typewriter FAQ: The Ultimate 100 Questions Answered