Identifying My Remington Rand Typewriter

To make the repairs I needed to figure out what I was dealing with. The case said “Remington Rand” but I had problems finding the serial number. I finally found the serial number on the right side of the frame under the carriage rail:

J1391378

The back pops up easily if you pry it gently from the top

The back pops up easily if you pry it gently from the top

It took me forever to find the serial number

It took me forever to find the serial number

Fortunately, there is an online database of serial numbers for typewriters here:

http://typewriterdatabase.com/remington.227.typewriter-serial-number-database

With this information, I was able to identify the year and model. I had a 1948 Remington Rand KMC. This typewriter features the KMC key – Keyboard Margin Control. I found a very informative blog post in which the author Richard Polt had a type-off between the KMC and a similar Royal:

http://writingball.blogspot.com/2013/06/kmc-vs-kmm.html

Obviously we had a winner.

Diagram of Remington Rand KMC found here.

This is the right side twin of the mystery key - "KMC" clearly printed on it.

This is the right  “KMC” key.

64 thoughts on “Identifying My Remington Rand Typewriter”

      • Jerry Martin says:

        Hi, I found the serial number for my Remington Rand, it is JT1012390…. i can’t find this serial in any database… any thoughts please? It is a wide carriage.. but i’d like to find the model and year and any information/history on this machine. Thanks so much.

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      • Hi Jerry – If you have something like what I have, you probably have a No. 17 or KMC from 1946. I went to the Remington serial number page at Typewriter Database:
        http://typewriterdatabase.com/remington.42.typewriter-serial-number-database

        And scrolled down a bit on the page:

        serial numbers

        Your typewriter may look a lot like Richard Polt’s (except yours is wide carriage):
        http://typewriterdatabase.com/1946-remington-kmc.1322.typewriter

        Richard Polt’s has a “JT” prefix in the serial number as well , and he theorizes that the “JT” prefix may be be related to the tabulator.

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      • Jerry Martin says:

        Thanks so much for the info… yes it is quite like yours and Richard Polt’s. However, both your typewriters have the smooth single colored keys while mine have the silver frame around them… Also, yours has that long tray-like key under the Remington, mine doesn’t and both Richard’s and yours have two extra keys (Richard has one that says KMC, yours says TM?, and a similar one on the opposite side) which mine doesn’t have…. I don’t know if it is relevant, mine is in spanish. Would you know if these slight differences would indicate a different model or year? Thank you so much for your help 🙂

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      • It sounds like you have a Remington Model 17 which was the predecessor of the KMC. The KMC has weirdly shaped “KMC” keys on either side of the keyboard and were used for Keyboard Margin Control. Richard Polt and I have KMCs – my KMC has a defaced KMC key on the left.

        Here’s a picture of a Model 17 with silver-ringed keys in the TWDB – it’s very handsome:
        Remington Model 17

        The long bar under the word “Remington” is the tab bar. Here is a diagram of the typewriter that might be useful to you:

        KMC diagram

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      • Jerry Martin says:

        Awesome, it is a close match. Still, mine has no tab bar nor KMC keys (which do appear on the 17 diagram). Does DOEHLER 2-41024 mean anything regarding date and model? So, up to now it is Standard no.17 (1946) right? Thanks so much… this info is going to be published in a book on my art work, that’s why im trying to be thorough.

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      • I apologize for being unclear – I should have said that the diagram was of a KMC (thus the KMC buttons).

        I do not know the significance of DOEHLER 2-4102, but I googled “DOEHLER typewriter” and found other Remingtons on eBay with “DOEHLER” stamped on them.

        I do believe that you have a 1946 Remington Standard Model 17. Here are some pictures at Typewriter Database of other Model 17 typewriters:

        http://typewriterdatabase.com/Remington.17.42.bmys

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      • Barbara Joelson says:

        Can you help I camt find the year for this Remington Rand Deluxe Model 5 Portable Typwriter w/Case # B1583994

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    • John Tapp says:

      Are you asking about a tear down involving removing the outer shell? It would be the same on both models. What parts are you wanting to get at? Getting the shell off of one of these critters will involve a pretty major tear down of the whole machine. First, after removing the top and back, you’ll have to remove the cross member below, the four bolts that hold on the back, and to make the whole thing really interesting, the carriage will have to come off. Be sure to secure the spring drum drawband to the plate which will come off later–along with the spring drum itself. You’ll have the machine torn down into six major pieces. After you have found what you were after, you’ll have fun getting her buttoned back up. Long story short, chances are, you might be able to get what you’re after without having to go through all this rigmorole. Take it from a guy who’s been down this rocky road a time or two. Chances are, not knowing what’s wrong with your machine, it might need a bit of cleaning, or a slight adjustment that can be accomplished from underneath, or better yet, from the back or the top.

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  7. Nienke Laane says:

    I’m Nienke Laane, I live in the Netherlands. I want to ask you what you think of this typewriter. Remington Star nr. 11. I would like to sent a foto but I don’t know how. Looking forward to your reaction. My email is: .

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  8. John Tapp says:

    I have a 1947 Remington KMC that was once used by the U. S. Army–Fort Hood, Texas to be exact. It has names carved on the insides of its top and its back–including one from December, 1947! I’m not ABOUT to part with that one–too much soul. I’m gonna use it ’till it runs out of ink.

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  9. Edyner says:

    i have a deluxe model 5 SN B1186431. Went on the database website but SN was not found. The closest SNs were those in the deluxe model 5 “1941 line” but none match mine. Am I reading this wrong or missing anything? Any info can help.

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  11. susan mary collis says:

    hi can anyone help with my Remington standard typewriter the only number i can find is at the right side back of the carriage RE94938 and cant find anything else and nothing on the database
    thanks

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  13. nick says:

    hey i got and old typewriter issue is the serial number doesnt come up with anything its cj 531396 its aremingtong rand. short of that im unsure any help would be awesome also what ribbon do i use.

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  14. Cyndi says:

    Hi! Just randomly ran across your page. In cleaning out an old house, I found a “Remington 5” portable typewriter. What a beauty, and in amazing condition! A couple of the keys were sticking so I threw on some sewing machine oil … figured that couldn’t hurt it, and it did help to loosen up. I don’t know anything about old typewriters, and wondering where to go for more info. I found the Typewriter Database, but I actually found two numbers on the machine (wow, that was hard, too!!) and don’t know which is the actual serial number. Would love to connect with someone who could tell me more about this cute little machine!

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    • Hi Cyndi – Lucky you! I love those Remington portables. I cleaned up a Remington 5 up for a friend of a friend once:
      https://myoldtypewriter.wordpress.com/category/remington-5/

      The serial number is stamped on the front of the machine behind the back space key on the right.

      Richard Polt has an amazing typewriter site:
      http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/

      with a whole page on Remington portables:
      http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/rem-portables.htm

      You can find old typewriter manuals on his site too:
      http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-manuals.html

      He has a page on basic typewriter restoration:
      http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html

      but for more in-depth info, consider his book:
      http://typewriterrevolution.com/

      Good luck with your Remington 5 – what a find!

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      • Cyndi says:

        Oh wow! Okay, I knew there had to be a great community! What great resources, thank you! I have a number of vintage sewing machines, and I know where to reach out there, but this is new to me. My personal typewriter (that I haven’t used in years but I hold on to “just in case”) is a Smith Corona from the 80’s. This Remington is in amazing condition considering she’s nearly 81 years old, born in 1937. Paint is nice and glossy, no scratches to speak of, and only a little dirty inside — no rust or anything. Even the ribbon still prints, not strong, but enough to test with! Not bad for having been in an attic for who-knows-how-many-years. The case is good too, except for one latch that is damaged, and I love how the machine snaps into the base! At first I thought I’d give her up, but now I’m not so sure. After playing for a little while this afternoon, I’m becoming attached quickly. Although it’s funny, it’s been so long since I’ve used a manual keyboard that I broke 3 fingernails!! I forgot what that’s like, LOL!

        So there’s another number stamped on the underside of the top cover, not the serial number. Do you have any idea what it signifies? It’s N13587-1. Serial number, where you describe, is V916437. It was really hard to find those without guidance, and I actually saw that “N” number first.

        I really appreciate your guidance and help! Can’t wait to get her properly cleaned up!

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  15. LITA DES ROCHERS says:

    Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me find my model of typewriter. I found the serial number but I can’t find it on the database. J635703

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  16. Kathy Sherrod says:

    Hello Mary — The Serial Number that I have found on my vintage typewriter is J148715. So how would I determine the date of manufacturer?

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  17. Grace says:

    Can you help me id my Remington Rand. Serial 743729. Is the first number 1917, 27, 37? The platen has a diameter of 1.496 so I believe it is a Quiet-Riter, Office-Riter. Is this all of the id info on this typewriter? I have not been able to find this number in the database. Thanks

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    • Hi Grace – send me a picture of the typewriter and a close up photo of the serial number to my email:
      mary
      I’ll take a look and help you identify the model and the year it was manufactured. Mary

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  20. Harman Singh says:

    Hey, love the site and the wealth of information it provides. I got an old typewriter. Remington, Serial number J120800-K. So its a model 17? from the database. Although looks like a super Riter from the pictures. Can you help ? I’d love to paint it !
    Looks terribly beat up. But I love to use it.

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  21. Dwayne Chrest says:

    I just got a Remington Rand J1452746 I’m working order albeit dusty as heck.

    thanks to you & the database seemed to figure it out. Manufactured July 1948 and has the KMC and I’m assuming only CAPS.

    Now to figure out where to get parts / supplies / ribbons and write a letter !!

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    • Hi Taylor, It’s hard to say what model your Remington is without seeing it. Is it a small portable? There are Remington portables with the “S” prefix. You can also send a photo to me at
      send pix here

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