If you find one at a garage sale for $10, buy it. Clean it. Spend a weekend fixing the drawband. And then sit down and type a letter. You will find that the word "Easy" isn't just a brand—it is a philosophy. It is easy to love a machine that asks for so little and yet still manages to put words on a page decades after it left the factory.
This article is a comprehensive guide to the Easy Renault 614 Portable. We will cover its history, mechanical design, common flaws, and—most importantly—why this "easy" machine is actually a very difficult one to find in working order. First, let’s clear up the name. The "Easy" brand is not referring to the difficulty of typing. "Easy" was a badge-engineered brand used by various European distributors. The Renault name here is a massive red herring. This typewriter was not made by the French car manufacturer. easy renault 614 portable
Instead, the Easy Renault 614 was almost certainly manufactured by the corporation of Japan. During the 1960s and 1970s, Brother produced millions of portable typewriters that were sold under dozens of different names: Webster, Wizard, Gorenje, Silver Reed, and yes—Renault. If you find one at a garage sale for $10, buy it
One specific trick to know: The carriage often does lock down automatically. To transport the machine safely, you must turn a small red or grey lever near the right platen knob to disengage the carriage spring. If you forget this step, the violent shaking during travel can snap the carriage return lever. And then sit down and type a letter
The "easy" moniker fails when you look at the touch. The keys require a decisive, deep press. This is not a machine for a soft touch or fast typing. If you try to type at 80 words per minute, you will find the keys locking up frequently. However, if you type slowly and deliberately—as one might when writing a letter or a journal entry—it works beautifully. The "Portable" Feature: Carrying Case and Travel The most common way to find an Easy Renault 614 today is still inside its original hard case. The case is usually a beige or black plastic clamshell with a metal latch.
Because the machine is so light, it is genuinely portable. You can shove it in a backpack. The keyboard layout is standard QWERTY, so there is no learning curve. The action is surprisingly crisp for a budget machine; because the levers are short, the typebars snap to the platen quickly.
Have you restored an Easy Renault 614? Share your experiences in the comments below. Easy Renault 614, Easy Renault 614 Portable, Renault typewriter, 1970s portable typewriter, Brother typewriter rebrand, typewriter repair guide.