tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post4566855788882051296..comments2024-03-25T15:02:25.695+11:00Comments on oz.Typewriter: The Gossen Tippa: The Mighty Mouse of TypewritersRobert Messengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04366507489948676594noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-86220997354697693262024-01-02T00:57:28.905+11:002024-01-02T00:57:28.905+11:00Thanks a lot for this page and the really good exp...Thanks a lot for this page and the really good explanation of the history of the Tippas.<br />I have before been wondering why so many manufacturers made typewriters called Tippa.<br />I recently bought a Gossen Tippa Pilot (1955), which is a quite rare machine nowadays. It has the brown color, which perhaps isn't my favorite, but it is a fine machine indeed and the price was low.<br />For me the name "Tippa" is always a bit funny, because in my mother tongue Finnish that word means "a drop", like a drop of water.Ville Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770792203666889585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-27510195261376155342023-04-06T05:35:52.820+10:002023-04-06T05:35:52.820+10:00Hi again Robert,
I just wanted to let you I'v...Hi again Robert,<br /><br />I just wanted to let you I've posted a brief history of the Tippa at https://iartx.com/typewriters/gossen-typewriter/. This post of yours served as a primary source for my piece, and is acknowledged as such. Comments/corrections are welcome.<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />PatrickPatrick Jamiesonhttps://iartx.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-22943919837092235592023-04-01T07:14:46.073+11:002023-04-01T07:14:46.073+11:00Hello Robert,
Thanks so much for your take on the...Hello Robert,<br /><br />Thanks so much for your take on the various iterations of the Tippa. I have visited this post a number of times over the past few years, and--as I've got my hands on more Tippa models myself--my opinion of it has evolved from "written by a knowledgeable, cranky old man" to "written by a knowledgeable man who sees the decline in Tippa quality just as this cranky old man does."<br /><br />My 1950 Gossen Tippa is my favorite ultra-portable, and it travels with me. I have a backup 1952 Gossen Tippa on its way to me, in the beautiful leather case. I also have a mid-1960s Alder Tippa 1 headed this way; I'll pound on it a bit before gifting it to my five-year-old granddaughter (who has asked me for a typewriter of her own). Finally, the cranky me briefly had a 1968 Alder Tippa S that I absolutely detested the feel of, and couldn't flip fast enough.<br /><br />So, thanks again for sharing your congruent wisdom,<br /><br />Patrick<br /><br />P.S.: I still have the Gossen Super Pilot light meter that in the 1970s was the second most important tool in my camera bag.Patrick Jamiesonhttps://iartx.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-22326433873158196382019-05-23T05:06:27.483+10:002019-05-23T05:06:27.483+10:00Received today a lovely Triumph Tippa (white) aged...Received today a lovely Triumph Tippa (white) aged 1970, very similar to your yellow one (but not labelled as Tippa S, only "Tippa"). Tiny, lightweight, nice rounded small font, precise, a pleasure to use as a portable!D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12066908427988002586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-69608010264377357702019-01-06T07:16:18.943+11:002019-01-06T07:16:18.943+11:00Do you know where I can get hold of a new ribbon f...Do you know where I can get hold of a new ribbon for a Tippa typewriter?<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240915342357468374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-18728366268152364882018-04-23T10:30:08.884+10:002018-04-23T10:30:08.884+10:00Robert,
I have several original Tippas.
I assume...Robert,<br /><br />I have several original Tippas.<br /><br />I assume the red button is the same as the double arrow button on the Tippa = the margin release.<br /><br />The silver knob on the left side adjusts the tension, or roughly how hard you have to hit the keys to get it work. <br /><br />The question I has is - Does anyone know what the metal clips on either side of the Tippa mid way down are for?<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05085976143068270326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-11299550079868162812018-04-12T03:34:27.053+10:002018-04-12T03:34:27.053+10:00Hello Robert,
I received my "original" ...Hello Robert,<br /><br />I received my "original" Gossen Tippa yesterday, and it's an amazing little typer, and I feel a kinship already much like with my Erika 5.<br /><br />There are two controls that I can't seem to understand:<br /><br />1) the red button on the upper left corner of the keypad;<br /><br />2) on the left side of the machine, very near to the referenced red button in #1 is a silver knob that turns, with a #2 on one side and #1 on the other.<br /><br />What do these two controls do, pray tell?<br /><br />Best,<br />James<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08837271152155747306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-84364482869152724062018-03-25T03:21:51.993+11:002018-03-25T03:21:51.993+11:00Thank you, Robert, for your love of typewriters, i...Thank you, Robert, for your love of typewriters, including your great affection for the "original" Gossen Tippa!<br /><br />It was your review that inspired my search, and I found such an "original," in black, in nearly like-new condition, complete with its stylish metal case with that oh-so-cool springy handle, from an Etsy Seller in the Netherlands.<br /><br />At home, I have a 1961 Alpina, in like-new condition, also sent from the Netherlands (what is it about the Netherlands and typewriters?), and also the result of your beaming review of the Alpina.<br /><br />I also have an Erika 5, in original gold marble motif, but sent from Amsterdam this time.<br /><br />So, this little Tippa will be for venturing beyond these walls, when the words find themselves within other walls, other lands.<br /><br />Thank you for all you do, Robert.<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />James D'Ambrosio<br />Old Orchard Beach, Maine, USA (in case there's a Maine somewhere other than here)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08837271152155747306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-86229497768125809932017-12-03T14:00:30.241+11:002017-12-03T14:00:30.241+11:00I have what looks like a Pilot from 1955, although...I have what looks like a Pilot from 1955, although it has no Pilot script on the left hand cover. It would’ve been purchased in NYC and brought to Christchurch NZ in 1974 by photographer L. N. Shustak. He may have liked that Gossen was also a famous German light meter brand… I’m not sure if it was the same company. L. N. S. died in 2003 and I rescued the machine from some items destined for the tip about 2010. Kawowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733244723404927884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-72251637098916243002016-12-06T09:24:48.243+11:002016-12-06T09:24:48.243+11:00I just took delivery on an Gossen Tippa, very earl...I just took delivery on an Gossen Tippa, very early model (the dealer said 1949), and it types beautifully. Not sure how to describe the feel: it is snappy but at the same time responsive and rather delicate. For example, one has to get the feel of the spacebar to know when it has engaged fully and when it only half engaged, say. But what's especially unusual about the model is the ribbon rewind feature. There is a little knurled shaft protruding from the right rear of the case, down toward the base of the machine. Apparently when one types enough so that the ribbon has come to its end, one has to turn this little shaft so that the ribbon rewinds onto the left hand spool. Or is this something that should happen automatically, but simply does not on my old, but restored, machine? A small price to pay, methinks, for a wonderful piece of late 1940s technology.<br /> frank cioffinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-70238658936959477812016-09-29T03:30:11.283+10:002016-09-29T03:30:11.283+10:00I just bought a Royal Sahara, which is identical t...I just bought a Royal Sahara, which is identical to the Tippa S. It has a lot of dust inside, and I was wondering how I would get the machine out of the base of its outer casing. Also, your blog is always amazing!Nick Bodemerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12298328355143940707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-63416697351373520422016-05-28T13:36:01.819+10:002016-05-28T13:36:01.819+10:00You may have switched on the carriage lock by mist...You may have switched on the carriage lock by mistake. I can't recall exactly where the switch is on this model, but it will either be under the carriage itself (either side) or on the top left on the keyboard.Robert Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04366507489948676594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-61247747497379040642016-05-28T06:00:18.556+10:002016-05-28T06:00:18.556+10:00Hello, I live in the Netherlands and I have one of...Hello, I live in the Netherlands and I have one of those yellow Tippa beauties.<br />I've got a question about the mechanics.. I really hope you can help me out.<br /><br />Somehow the space key got stuck. Or the paper feed roll, or both. The roll won't move to the left or the right anymore. Not by hand and not with the space key. So when I try to type something I just type the letters all over each other in the same place.<br /><br />Do you have any idea how I can fix this?<br />Thanks very much in advance. <br /><br />NienkeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08560584533382227330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-67520329627719822782016-01-11T12:34:14.125+11:002016-01-11T12:34:14.125+11:00I just bought a Tippa S made in 1969. It has a cur...I just bought a Tippa S made in 1969. It has a cursive typeface.<br />I don't particularly like all the plastic. It was a cheap buy at an antique mall<br />and I was not familiar with the brand. I bought at the same place an Olympia<br />SM3 (1959). The Olympia far outweighed the Tippa in material build and looks.<br /><br />Tom Beauvais (TomA2Mich member on The Typewriter Database)<br />Ann Arbor, MichiganTom Beauvaisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-85342496825043323762014-10-04T09:48:26.795+10:002014-10-04T09:48:26.795+10:00Nice retrospective of this machine, thank you! It ...Nice retrospective of this machine, thank you! It gives me hope. I've just bought an Adler Tippa circa 1960 on Ebay and am hoping it arrives in the good working order the seller promised (when I add a new ribbon, that is). I didn't spend too much on it, which made me happy... but now my wish-list is growing much like other commenters' and that is a bit worrisome. The original Tippa looks delightful!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-11906718767192028112013-11-14T23:15:23.202+11:002013-11-14T23:15:23.202+11:00Thank you for your quick reply! I'll place my ...Thank you for your quick reply! I'll place my bid for the Olivetti, and if I won't win the auction, I'll try with the Tippa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-16802408024302560872013-11-14T08:12:04.610+11:002013-11-14T08:12:04.610+11:00By a 1960 Tippa I am presuming you mean an Adler o...By a 1960 Tippa I am presuming you mean an Adler or Triumph Tippa. In which case I'd probably opt for the Olivetti, by a short margin.Robert Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04366507489948676594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-24731371248006461152013-11-14T05:52:07.254+11:002013-11-14T05:52:07.254+11:00Very interesting article!
I'm going to buy my ...Very interesting article!<br />I'm going to buy my first typewriter, and I'm undecided between an Olivetti Lettera 32 and an Adler Tippa (1960). Which one would you suggest me for reliability, durability and ease of typing?<br />Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-30659589475090263132012-07-18T12:27:04.569+10:002012-07-18T12:27:04.569+10:00Anybody out there ever hear of the wonderful pre-W...Anybody out there ever hear of the wonderful pre-WWII TORPEDO office machine? Best standard typwriter ever made, in my view. As re. the yellow Tippa mentioned above, I've only had five nervous breakdowns installing ribbons. Lucky me.......Gordon Ackermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-89880940448390577622012-07-18T12:19:30.865+10:002012-07-18T12:19:30.865+10:00I own GOSSEN photographic light-mters. Is this the...I own GOSSEN photographic light-mters. Is this the same Gossen to which you refer on this site?Gordon Ackermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-59105582046972274302012-07-18T12:14:52.725+10:002012-07-18T12:14:52.725+10:00Not even spelling my own name correctly - it's...Not even spelling my own name correctly - it's GORDON ACKERMAN. See what happens when you're 80? Cheers. (By the way,I own a later model Tippa. Is there a market for those?)Gordon Ackermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-70437686084514204142012-07-18T12:08:30.737+10:002012-07-18T12:08:30.737+10:00At the risk of appearing egoistical, I would direc...At the risk of appearing egoistical, I would direct you to my website, "The Reporting of Gordon Ackerman", best reached through Bing.com. It's not uploaded to Google yet. You will also find me on Wikipedia. The photo of the typewriter on my site is inaccurate and irrelevent. For all of my Time-Life work, for six years,in Europe and Africa, and for three books(four re-writes for each), I used a Triumph Tippa which I bought in Munich in 1956 - an utter jewel. It was sadly destroyed in a fire in Geneva in 1970. Thank you.oordon Ackermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-69077997795835788222012-06-26T02:19:55.781+10:002012-06-26T02:19:55.781+10:00Hello, a Groma Kolibri had been chosen for the fil...Hello, a Groma Kolibri had been chosen for the film "The Live Of Others", because the plot played in the GDR (East Germany) , but the Gossen typewriters were produced in FRG (West Germnany) in Erlangen. And normally you did not get products of West Germany in the GDR.<br />The other direction was possible instead.Stefannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-13969956838847457672012-06-26T02:15:35.959+10:002012-06-26T02:15:35.959+10:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-88944617564880362322012-04-24T10:30:08.364+10:002012-04-24T10:30:08.364+10:00Hi David. Without seeing the machine, my guess wou...Hi David. Without seeing the machine, my guess would be a problem with the spring attached to the S typebar underneath the machine, possibly caught up in something, causing the spring not to retract smoothly. Maybe a replacement spring has been used and it is too tight. Have a look under the machine to see if all the rods, springs and connections are in line, or take the ribbon spool cover off and look down to make sure there are no obstructions in the area of the S typebar.Robert Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04366507489948676594noreply@blogger.com