Typewriter Update, June 2013

June was for large part a black month for me, with my only brother dying, a Hammond Multiplex giving me "Typewriter Elbow" (a torn arm muscle), my Typer-Wagen I being written off and weather that would freeze the testículos off a brass Spanish monkey. But there were high points, too, most notably the visit to Canberra of John Lavery and the arrival of some magnificent portable typewriters from Germany. All in all, I hope I can be forgiven for being a few days late with my monthly Typewriter Update.
There were some sympathetic comments on my post yesterday about me moving hundreds of portable typewriter cases from storage closer to the typewriters to which they belong. The reasons they were separated in the first place is too long, boring and painful to relate here. But the long-term hope now is that eventually all typewriters and their cases will be reunited, allowing for easier storage (John Lavery, having seen them first-hand, knows all too well by now the problems I have with space). Scott Kernaghan was kind enough to worry about my injured arm. I was able to move the many cases with the aid of an magnetic elbow support, which meant I suffered no further strain. Unfortunately, however, I can't type with the support: 

MYSTERY EVEREST MODELLO 44

I took possession today of an Everest Modello 44 portable typewriter. The machine is a bit of a mystery to me, as I had previously believed the Modello 90 was the first Everest portable. The various serial number guides (which date the Modello 90 from 1937) and Italian typewriter web pages indicate this is the case. So if anyone can help me with information about the Modello 44, I'd very much appreciate it.

It seems the Modell0 44 may date from 1931. Wilf Beeching gave me the first hint on this and Ernst Martin 
confirms that the model is a significant four-bank advance on the 1922 Juventa (also known as the Agar, Agar-Baby, Ardita, Diadema and Fidat). These were made by S.A. Industria Dattilografica of Milan. Production was later taken over by S.A. Brevetta Brassa (also Milan). An improved typewriter appeared under the name Sabb. There was a four-bank Sabb, which became the Everest in 1931, apparently marketed by A.u.G. Carisch & Co of Milan. Later the manufacturing company was Serio SpA, Milan (which made this Modello 44).

 As it appears in Martin

 On the back

The serial number 27524 fits into the Modello 90 sequence for 1937.

SANPLE, QUALITY AND WELCO:

MYSTERY NAKAJIMAS, OR ARE THEY NIPPO?

Isn't it odd the way one can come across a "new" (as in previously unseen) typewriter, then within days sees four or five similar machines bob up? Not that seeing further examples necessarily answers questions about the typewriter's true origins.

This Sanple 250DL appeared on Australia eBay

A few days later, Richard Polt contacted me about a strange portable (a Quality 003) which had been donated to WordPlay in Cincinnati. There were many distinct similarities. I came to the conclusion it was a Nakajima, but with hints of Nippo here and there:

Lo and behold, two of these models appeared on Trade Me in New Zealand, both from a little town called Motueka on the Golden Bay at the northern tip of the South Island. They are called a Welco 250 De Luxe and a Welco 500 (which  again makes one think Nippo, as Nippo used the trade mark Wellon):

Finally, I found a Welco 266 De Luxe, this one for sale in India:

Anyone know anything about these models? Please note the very distinctive back space key and unusual ampersat (@) on all five models, including the Quality.

WILL DAVIS, YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN

Lesson No 1 for collectors of "modern" portable typewriters: Never doubt the word of Will Davis. Somehow or other Will and I got into a discussion on the Antique Typewriter Collectors' group on Facebook about Kofa portable typewriters. Will pointed me in the direction of a catalogue of Kofa models. One of them looked to me like a Silver-Seiko, which I wrongly believed was made for Sears as the Achiever. Will said he thought it was a Brother that was made for Sears. He was, of course, right. I should have known better:

The Kofa 4013

The Brother Correction 7

Duffy Moon's Sears Achiever (a Brother)

TORPEDO-IMPERIAL (REGENT)

MYSTERY SOLVED

Followers of this blog will know that for many years I had tried in vain to unearth the true story behind Imperial marketing a portable typewriter which had been designed for Torpedo. A Brisbane woman who emailed me about a Regent she owns finally unlocked the mystery. The conclusive evidence is clearly written in a decal across the back of her Regent. It turns out the Regent was assembled by Imperial in Leicester, England, from parts made by Torpedo in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The model was sold in Australia by Chartres, which was the agent for Remington, which owned Torpedo. 

ROYAL MODEL O HELP NEEDED

Derrick Brown in Brisbane needs some help tracking down a replacement escapement unit for a Royal Model O. The model he has has a broken loose dog. "The rest of the machine is in great condition so I don’t want to wreck it."

NEW NAMES FOR TYPEWRITER COLLECTORS

In the exchange of emails relating to a possible face-to-face of "old school" typewriter collectors and the "new breed" of Typospherians during the International Typewriter Collectors Convention in Milwaukee from August 10-14 next year, I was taken by some of the "new" (at least to me) terms used. My favourite was definitely Norbert Schwarz's "Typosaurian". There has also been reference to the "Typewriterati". When the possibility was mentioned of some members from both sides linking up through, say, Sykpe, one of our friends related his experience of being a "remote peeker" in a similar streaming exercise.  The most amusing interlude, however, concerned Dutch Typospherian "Spider" being called a "gentleman". "Yes," Spider promptly replied when Jos Legrand pointed out she was female. "I am indeed no gentleman." Spider's blog describes her as "Female geek, management assistant, girlfriend, sister, cat owner, typewriter collector ..."

TYPEWRITERS FOR SALE IN ENGLAND

John Lavery kindly passed on some images taken by his brother Derek at George Blackman's typewriter shop in Eastbourne on the south coast of Sussex in England. The prices are interesting. £89 British pounds sterling is a little more than $US135:

POOR, POOR OLD CORONA

I thought Australia was bad. Then Michael Clemens pointed out some doozies in the US. Now this, on Trade Me in New Zealand:

The seller, in Mount Maungaturoto, is asking $NZ40. He says, "Old antique Corona Standard. Great ornament or artefact, highly unlikely to ever get going again but would sure make for a cool piece of nostalgia in a writers office or magazine or newspaper ..."
Meanwhile, further south in Mount Maunganui, a "collection" is up for sale, starting bid $NZ100 ($US78), buy it now $NZ300 ($US233). And some people think I treat my typewriters poorly by leaving them in a shed (well, at least these are in their cases):

FLORIAN IS BACK!

Florian ended his maschinengeschrieben blog in April but returned in June with msgschr, his new blog project. "It is still a typewriter blog, and not that much different - and yet entirely different," says Florian. "I'm aiming for at least one weekly post, but the most important lesson I've learnt from maschinengeschrieben is that things should always be in a state of flux - rigid patterns stifle evolution. We'll see what msgschr becomes. In the first post on msgschr.blogspot.com, you may see what posts to expect in the next weeks. I'm glad to be back." Florian, we are triply glad to have you back!

CRAP ON EBRAY

I complained to eBay that my daily email about typewriter listings contained 90 per cent non-typewriters. eBay responded and said it would look into it. For two days I got real typewriters on my listings alert. Then today it was back to this crap from Ozmarket of Stanmore in Sydney. And to think they are asking $99 for this rubbish:

Australian eBay sellers, meanwhile, continue to list typewriters without images. One lady wanted $50 for an Olivetti, sight unseen. She showed us the bag it came in. I contacted the seller, but she reckoned this was all we needed to see. Naturally, the typewriter in the bag didn't sell.

Another seller got all uppity yesterday when I said I wouldn't be bidding $50 on a typewriter I couldn't see. Are these people mad? Or just stupid?

GERMAN VALUE

While grossly overpriced merde proliferates on Australia eBay, I am pleased to see that Scott Kernaghan has taken my advice to look at German eBay and has bought himself a Gossen Tippa from my old mate Peter Muckermann (who secured for me my Optima P1, Monpti and other machines). (Note, two n's in Mr Muckermann's name.)
This reminds me that I was asked during the Typewriter Workshop in Sydney in late May what it would cost to buy an Olivetti Valentine in Australia these days, and I answered $400 to $450 for one in complete shape (including the front section, not always offered here) and reasonable condition.
My argument about value for money on German eBay was exemplified last week when a Valentine was listed here for $395 (it got no bids) while two sold on German eBay for $A118 and $A143 respectively. Add in $A85 for shipping and you are still way out in front. What's more, it will generally be far better packed than in Australia, and will get here almost as quickly. 

Didn't sell in Australia for $395

 Sold in Germany for $A118

Sold in Germany for $A143

DOCTOR WHO'S TYPEWRITER

Dwayne Fuhlhage drew to my attention that this battered Olympia SM3 was incorporated into the controls of the Series 7 Tardis. "I spotted it while watching an episode with the family," said Dwayne. "The typewriter has a link that goes to the original idea for the show in 1963. Very cool." See the typewritten notes at http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/doctorwho/6403.shtml?page=2 

MUSICWRITER FOR SALE

A lady in Tucson, Arizona, has a Cecil Effinger-designed Musicwriter for sale. It's the same design as the one shown below. If anyone is interested, tell me know and I can put you in touch:

INTERESTING SALES

As I understand it, typewriters, both real and working replicas, were sold on eBay from a Dutch collection ("Scryption"?). This reconstructed Thurber "Mechanical Chirographer" was made "​​around 1985 by J.A.Groenen, Tilburg, Netherlands":

It sold for 2060 euros ($US2691) after 29 bids. This very early Blick 5 (serial number 2226) sold for 156 euros ($US204) after 10 bids and a rare Baby Rem sold for 329 euros ($US430) after 22 bids:

This lovely chromed National portable sold for 302 euros ($US395) after 37 bids (I was one of them - but, sadly, unsuccessful):

This Underwood Champion sold for $305 on Australian eBay after 36 bids. Again, I was left way behind in the dust. But I have done OK - I now have my little purple star for more than 500 positive feedbacks (190 this year alone).

MISS TYPEWRITER, JUNE

She is absolutely stunning!

WANTED TO BUY

I am trying to track down one of these Rooys to buy (this one is Adwoa Bagalini's) - in this condition, hopefully colour, and at a fair price, please:

WOULDN'T IT BE LUVERLY?

Dream on until next month ...