There was a "2" key, just no "1" key on some models.

Actually, it was /most/ typewriters. Having a numeral one (1) key on a keyboard was something brought about by computer input keyboards (where there did, indeed, need to be a distinct numeral one separate from lower case-ell (l)).

But for most typewriters, the ell (l) key also served as the numeral one key.

not really, in the sense that it would be a really old typewriter, there aren't any new typewriters. I'm not super old, and typewriters I used in high school did not have a one. Nobody had an IBM Selectric at home.

BTW on the same subject of fonts, you want to be able to distinguish between 1, l, and I which are not always distinguishable.