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Good Companionan introduction

Imperial Typewriter Co. Ltd.

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Why the Model 5?Imperial’s Good Companion Model 5, along with the Model 4, was introduced in 1957 and continued to be manufactured until 1961, when the Model 6 superseded both.

The 5 features a lightweight and durable cast aluminium body. All controls are in easy reach: the only times you need lift the bonnet is to change ribbon or clean the typeheads. The basket shift has a finger-freindly

featherlight touch and the 5’s streamlining is not only stylish but protects as well.

Other winning features are quick-set + and – tabulator function, total platen control for precision paper register, a two-colour/stencil selector and automatic ribbon reverse.

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The Good Companion was developed between Leicester’s Imperial

Typewriter Co. Ltd, and German manufacturer Torpedo. Originally the Regent, it was renamed ‘The Good Companion’ with the permission of JB Priestley who was author of the best-selling 1929 novel of the same name.

Buy a Good Companion and you too can write novels like Priestley

Add to this a royal appointment to His Majesty King George V and the Good Companion was set to be a best-seller itself.

Production continued through seven model variants until 1963, by which time all Imperial portables were manufactured in Hull. Imperial continued as a typewriter brand until the 1970s.

TOP: Imperial Typerwriter Company HQ, London

Street, Leicester, UK, 2010. kiranparmar

MIddLe: British Prime Minister Harold Wilson (L)

shares a manly moment with fellow Yorkshireman,

author and playwright JB Priestley on a visit to

the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.

university of bradford archive

BOTTOM: lover all things Imperial, HRH King

George V in his Sunday best. royal collection

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Left margin button

Paper guide

Carriage release

Carriage return lever

Platen (roller)

Platen release button

Line space de-clutch

Carriage lock (for transport)

Line space control (1, 1.5, 2)

Type guide

Type bars

Back spacer

Colour/stencil selector

Character keys

Shift key & shift lock

Margin release

Principal controls #1

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Margin index (0-90)

Paper support (hidden)

Tab clear

Pinch roller release

Carriage release

Right margin button

Paper table

Paper guide

Hinged bonnet*

Type basket

Go to tab

Keystroke pressure adjust

delete a tab

Add a tab

r/h Shift key

Word space bar

* To avoid damaging the cover, never open unless the carriage is well to the left.

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Bell-ringer

eject lever

Zone of literary destiny

Left ribbon bobbin

Type bars

Juice bars

Password: ******

Reverse gear

Theme select

e-mail key

Shouty key

Coffee filter

Margin freedom

Finger comfort rest

Word separation control

Principal controls #2

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Speedometer (0-90 cpm)

Tab amnesia button

Air brake

Crumb tray

Right ribbon bobbin

Head rest

Ribbon juggler

Cooling fins

Hyperdrive

Smiley buttons

Calculator keys

Poetry keys

Volume control

Forget this

Remember this

* Threading guide: ribbon shown in pink for illustration purposes only

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Typewriting

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Featured typewriter manufactured 1958 in Kingston upon Hull by Imperial Typewriter Co. Ltd., Leicester, England • S/N: 5M919Booklet typeset in ITC Frutiger Light and Richard Polt’s Byron MkII © Rob Bowker 2011

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