The Odell #2 in this collection was found in Pennsylvania in winter of 2019

The Odell #2 in this collection is very unusual in that the machine has a serial number. For a very short period of time the model 2 had a tag which showed the serial number on it. Most Odell’s do not have a serial number, and those that do are all within a close serial number range. Odell typewriters all used an ornate engraved base, which was nickel plated, or on some earlier models gold in color. The model 2 could type in both capitals and lower case. To shift between the 2 there was a toggle on the type rail. It is not uncommon for a type rail to be missing with a Merritt, as it will slide in and out of its slot with no tools and little effort. To type you would line up the pointer on the type rail and push down on the unit, to press the type rails desired letter against the paper. Inking was achieved by an ink roller mounted onto a spring like wire and the roller would move out of the way every time a letter was printed. Additionally the roller would re ink the character every time the type rail raised, which was a major benefit over machines such as the Odell which had a stationary roller and would require moving the rail to re ink the character if multiples of a single character were wanted in a row. Production of the Odell started in around 1889, ceasing production around 1905. All Odell’s have a round base with the exception of the earliest version which was more so the shape of a dog bone.