I love the way portable typewriters present fresh surprises around every corner.
When John Lavery was down here from Beaudesert at the weekend, he asked whether I had a spare parts mainspring for an Adler Contessa portable. I must confess I showed my ignorance - I wasn't sure which model John was talking about. But I was pretty certain I didn't have one.
The Typewriter Gods soon put me right on that score. The day after John and his wife Margaret left Canberra for Queensland, I was driving home up Hindmarsh Drive toward the intersection with Mugga Lane. With some spare time up my sleeve, I decided to turn off and cut across to the rubbish tip's recycling centre, to see if it had any typewriters worth buying.
There, smack bang on the counter, was an Adler Contessa De Luxe portable! In top condition, with case, new ribbon, and all for $15!
I took it home and was most pleasantly surprised by how well it typed. I have never really valued this model before, but now I have a whole new appreciation for it:
14 comments:
Thanks for the review! I've always been very taken by their looks but hesitant to spend more than I would for any other 70s typewriter.
Looks like a nice typewriter. I enjoy your color-coordinated text!
They aren't very easy to find in the US.
Beautiful machine and typeface!
My Adler J4 in script is one of my favorites in my collection. Despite its mostly plastic body, it feels very substantial and types beautifully -- much like an Olympia.
I do love the color. I used to have a bike that color.
I had an Adler Tippa S not long ago. I loved the typing feel, but hated the wussy and oddly angled return lever.
This post reminds me of the Adler J-4 I received damaged a while back. Described as "near mint" by the seller, and it probably was, going by the photos, until the seller packed it with one layer of very thin bubble wrap inside a close-fitting box and sent it on its way. Both the plastic case and body of the typewriter are now cracked, with other miscellaneous small pieces of plastic rattling around. An insurance claim for my $71 is still making its painfully slow way through the USPS, so I haven't touched the poor thing. Since this incident I've provided packing suggestions to sellers, and I think it has helped. Hopefully the wonders of adhesive technology will get this pretty little machine functioning again someday.
I am wondering if the contessa's deluxe mechanism is exactly the same as in the Adler Gabriele 35?
Just lovely! I have seen zines made on typewriters ... and it is not just us older people with nostalgia for the older technology. My daughter just bought a record player (that's right, NOT a CD player) from the Green Shed also.
Thought you might like these photos of a deep orange version of the Contessa. http://www.massmadesoul.com/adler-contessa
It is indeed a lovely looking machine. Thanks for the background info you provide on it!
I have found the mechanics on this typewriter are the exact same as on the Adler Tippa.
Are there differences bewteen Tippa and Contessa? Or they are similar?
hi...how do we unlock a Contessa Deluxe ?
Thank You
Lovely machine! In part due to your encouragement, I picked up a gorgeous orange Contessa, and agree that it deserves a special place in the light with other Adlers, the German engineering really stands apart. I wonder how much it depends on the model, with this and the J5 the typing experience is kind of like a Silver Seiko (as in, surprisingly excellent, but with a slightly less confident feel compared to, say, an Olympia). But--the Adler's are of so so so much better quality of build. Or, frankly, a Lettera, but mileage varies and those are of lower quality build, I think.
Anyway, mine came with broken plastic, bent ribbon vibrator, and gunked up ribbon reverse and escapement. How she zips along rather well, and I can't stop looking at it...
PS: the lever on the top left is the carriage lock. If you mean remove it from the base, that requires removing two tiny nuts left/right under the carriage, and the visible screws. IMPORTANT--then slide the top towards you about 4-5mm BEFORE trying to lift it up. Get this wrong and you will likely break the plastic mount, which I just fixed with epoxy!
ya know, when i'm considering making a bid or outright purchase on ebay of a machine i've never handled, i google it and almost always end up here.
for the contessa deluxe, robert's sold me on. it. thanks as always for your impeccable work, mister!
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