
The Corona No. 3, despite what you might see on Etsy and eBay, is not a rare machine. Certainly unique, this folding portable typewriter was an extraordinarily successful machine from the 1910s through the 1920s, and even into the 1930s. Hundreds of thousands of these were made over that period. Not rare, and certainly not worth $200 or $300 as advertised in many listings. That said, there are some unique variations, particularly in the first years of its run. Can you identify what makes this machine unique?
(If you can, please post answer in comments.)
P.S. I paid $90 for this machine. Just noting.


© 2019, Mark Adams. All rights reserved.
The open space behind the segment. Also the ribbon selector looks different then both of mine.
And the ribbon/typebar guide.
Interesting, yet there is still one unique detail that inspired me to buy this machine at all.
Looks like the segment is cast differently than most and the typebars are shaped a bit different
Likely an optical allusion. I will note that this is a very early Corona, but not too early. Somewhere in between.
Is it the exclamation point?
Is it the “Incorporated”? I’m not a Corona expert …
Yes! I write about it here: https://type-writer.org/?p=5526.