Typewriter Evangelist
@typewriter-man.bsky.social
A lifelong passion for manual
typewriters: I salvage them,
restore them and occasionally
write with them.
typewriters: I salvage them,
restore them and occasionally
write with them.
This 1949 Olympia SM1 with a maroon crinkle finish is among my all-time favourites. It is rare that a typewriter is both photogenic AND a great writing machine. The SM1 has both in spades. Irresistible.
July 1, 2025 at 8:55 PM
This 1949 Olympia SM1 with a maroon crinkle finish is among my all-time favourites. It is rare that a typewriter is both photogenic AND a great writing machine. The SM1 has both in spades. Irresistible.
At the workshop with today’s discarded and broken typewriters awaiting repair and restoration.
“Waiting for a coffee break is like waiting for a vacation.” ☕️
“Waiting for a coffee break is like waiting for a vacation.” ☕️
July 1, 2025 at 10:22 AM
At the workshop with today’s discarded and broken typewriters awaiting repair and restoration.
“Waiting for a coffee break is like waiting for a vacation.” ☕️
“Waiting for a coffee break is like waiting for a vacation.” ☕️
The year is 1956. “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Till We Have Faces” by C.S. Lewis are first published. The English poet Ted Hughes and American poet Sylvia Plath marry. 1956 is also the year that this Rheinmetall KsT (mark III) typewriter is made in East Germany.
January 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
The year is 1956. “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Till We Have Faces” by C.S. Lewis are first published. The English poet Ted Hughes and American poet Sylvia Plath marry. 1956 is also the year that this Rheinmetall KsT (mark III) typewriter is made in East Germany.
Plug an old 110v electric typewriter [such as this 1981 Olivetti Lettera 36] directly into a 220v power supply WITHOUT a step-up transformer — and you WILL fry the typewriter, possibly beyond repair. My advice: do your homework before plugging in or, better still, go manual :-)
January 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Plug an old 110v electric typewriter [such as this 1981 Olivetti Lettera 36] directly into a 220v power supply WITHOUT a step-up transformer — and you WILL fry the typewriter, possibly beyond repair. My advice: do your homework before plugging in or, better still, go manual :-)
Franz Kafka preferred writing longhand, but he also possessed an Oliver Model 5, known as the ‘batwing’ typewriter. Gothic, clumsy, beautiful … the Model 5 is — if well maintained — a fine typewriter that was popular throughout Europe in the early 1900s.
January 16, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Franz Kafka preferred writing longhand, but he also possessed an Oliver Model 5, known as the ‘batwing’ typewriter. Gothic, clumsy, beautiful … the Model 5 is — if well maintained — a fine typewriter that was popular throughout Europe in the early 1900s.
I am not a great fan of post-War Underwood typewriters: they are a little too guilded for my taste. That being said, the “Golden Touch Quiet Tab De Luxe” (not exactly a name that trips off the tongue) has a 1950s vintage charm all of its own.
January 16, 2025 at 10:57 AM
I am not a great fan of post-War Underwood typewriters: they are a little too guilded for my taste. That being said, the “Golden Touch Quiet Tab De Luxe” (not exactly a name that trips off the tongue) has a 1950s vintage charm all of its own.
The 12 typewriters of Christmas — from the 1920s to the 1970s: from Remington to Erika, Smith-Corona to Continental.
I wish my followers — and everyone else at Bluesky — a peaceful, healthy and very merry Christmas 🎄
I wish my followers — and everyone else at Bluesky — a peaceful, healthy and very merry Christmas 🎄
December 24, 2024 at 4:54 PM
The 12 typewriters of Christmas — from the 1920s to the 1970s: from Remington to Erika, Smith-Corona to Continental.
I wish my followers — and everyone else at Bluesky — a peaceful, healthy and very merry Christmas 🎄
I wish my followers — and everyone else at Bluesky — a peaceful, healthy and very merry Christmas 🎄
This Smith-Corona Zephyr De Luxe was made in 1938; it has a light touch and a unique, démodé style including black lacquered keys, crinkle finish, and a metallic “De Luxe” banderole.
December 21, 2024 at 6:52 AM
This Smith-Corona Zephyr De Luxe was made in 1938; it has a light touch and a unique, démodé style including black lacquered keys, crinkle finish, and a metallic “De Luxe” banderole.
One of Groma’s unintentionally menacing advertisements for the Kolibri typewriter — revealing its East German origins.
December 19, 2024 at 12:36 PM
One of Groma’s unintentionally menacing advertisements for the Kolibri typewriter — revealing its East German origins.
Some additional photographs of my favourite travel typewriter: the 1955 Groma Kolibri in a black lacquer finish. Despite its streamlined good looks, the Kolibri is one of the toughest, most reliable ultra-portable typewriters. It is less than 2.5 inches (6cm) tall, but weighs over 8lbs (3.65kg).
December 19, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Some additional photographs of my favourite travel typewriter: the 1955 Groma Kolibri in a black lacquer finish. Despite its streamlined good looks, the Kolibri is one of the toughest, most reliable ultra-portable typewriters. It is less than 2.5 inches (6cm) tall, but weighs over 8lbs (3.65kg).
The next two posts are dedicated to one of the most timelessly beautiful and storied typewriters: the Groma Kolibri. Made in East Germany at the height of the Cold War, the Kolibri (which translates to “hummingbird”) has a cult following. This mint-condition 1955 model is my go-to travel typewriter.
December 18, 2024 at 6:26 AM
The next two posts are dedicated to one of the most timelessly beautiful and storied typewriters: the Groma Kolibri. Made in East Germany at the height of the Cold War, the Kolibri (which translates to “hummingbird”) has a cult following. This mint-condition 1955 model is my go-to travel typewriter.
A 1940s Smith-Corona Sterling typewriter — the perfect prop for some film noir jazz …
December 18, 2024 at 3:06 AM
A 1940s Smith-Corona Sterling typewriter — the perfect prop for some film noir jazz …
The Erika 10 ranks among the finest post-War manual typewriters (along with the Smith-Corona Silent-Super, Olympia SM9 and Hermes 3000). This 1957 model —with a lustrous black-lacquer finish —is another of my personal favourites.
December 18, 2024 at 2:37 AM
The Erika 10 ranks among the finest post-War manual typewriters (along with the Smith-Corona Silent-Super, Olympia SM9 and Hermes 3000). This 1957 model —with a lustrous black-lacquer finish —is another of my personal favourites.
There is a tragic irony in the fact that this 1939 Erika M — the very pinnacle of pre-War typewriter engineering —was made in Dresden just six years before the city was reduced to rubble.
It is a remarkable typewriter. And one of my personal favourites.
It is a remarkable typewriter. And one of my personal favourites.
December 17, 2024 at 3:21 PM
There is a tragic irony in the fact that this 1939 Erika M — the very pinnacle of pre-War typewriter engineering —was made in Dresden just six years before the city was reduced to rubble.
It is a remarkable typewriter. And one of my personal favourites.
It is a remarkable typewriter. And one of my personal favourites.
This Bijou No. 5 portable typewriter was made in 1936: the same year that novels by Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier, Graham Greene, John Dos Passos, Henry Miller, John Steinbeck, George Orwell, and William Faulkner were published.
December 17, 2024 at 1:18 PM
This Bijou No. 5 portable typewriter was made in 1936: the same year that novels by Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier, Graham Greene, John Dos Passos, Henry Miller, John Steinbeck, George Orwell, and William Faulkner were published.
The year is 1960. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is first published. The horror film, “Psycho” directed by Alfred Hitchcock opens in New York. And this Olympia SF ultra-portable typewriter — with black lacquer finish — is made in West Germany.
December 16, 2024 at 1:53 PM
The year is 1960. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is first published. The horror film, “Psycho” directed by Alfred Hitchcock opens in New York. And this Olympia SF ultra-portable typewriter — with black lacquer finish — is made in West Germany.
It is 1942. Commonwealth forces in Singapore surrender to the Japanese; the movie “Casablanca” premières in New York; wolf-pack attacks by German U-boats sink more than 1,000 allied ships. And this Continental Wanderer-Werke 100 typewriter is made in Saxony …
December 15, 2024 at 9:29 AM
It is 1942. Commonwealth forces in Singapore surrender to the Japanese; the movie “Casablanca” premières in New York; wolf-pack attacks by German U-boats sink more than 1,000 allied ships. And this Continental Wanderer-Werke 100 typewriter is made in Saxony …
The year is 1959. Charles de Gaulle is innaugurated as president of France; the Barbie doll makes its first appearance; the original Mini car is launched in England; and this beautiful Olympia SM4 portable typewriter is made in Germany …
December 14, 2024 at 5:37 PM
The year is 1959. Charles de Gaulle is innaugurated as president of France; the Barbie doll makes its first appearance; the original Mini car is launched in England; and this beautiful Olympia SM4 portable typewriter is made in Germany …
This Juwel 3 typewriter was made in Cologne, Germany, 1941. It is a ‘standard’ machine — not in the same class as Erika or Continental. But today, thanks to Wednesday Addams and Netflix, Juwel are among the most sought after — and expensive — typewriters in the world.
December 14, 2024 at 8:18 AM
This Juwel 3 typewriter was made in Cologne, Germany, 1941. It is a ‘standard’ machine — not in the same class as Erika or Continental. But today, thanks to Wednesday Addams and Netflix, Juwel are among the most sought after — and expensive — typewriters in the world.
This 1965 Olympia SM9 (with Senatorial #71 font) is widely considered to be one of the finest post-WW2 typewriters. Fans will tell you that the soft colours and boxy shell are deliberate design elements — to aid distraction-free writing.
December 14, 2024 at 3:47 AM
This 1965 Olympia SM9 (with Senatorial #71 font) is widely considered to be one of the finest post-WW2 typewriters. Fans will tell you that the soft colours and boxy shell are deliberate design elements — to aid distraction-free writing.
The year is 1933. The world is in the midst of the Great Depression … Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany … Franklin D. Roosevelt declares, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” And in Turin, Italy, this Invicta portable typewriter is made.
December 12, 2024 at 6:07 PM
The year is 1933. The world is in the midst of the Great Depression … Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany … Franklin D. Roosevelt declares, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” And in Turin, Italy, this Invicta portable typewriter is made.
This 1947 Remington Noiseless Model 7 is — strictly speaking —not noiseless, but it is a quiet typewriter. Remington achieved this with 3-piece ‘flying buttress’ type bars that guide rather than hurl type at the platen.
December 12, 2024 at 5:47 PM
This 1947 Remington Noiseless Model 7 is — strictly speaking —not noiseless, but it is a quiet typewriter. Remington achieved this with 3-piece ‘flying buttress’ type bars that guide rather than hurl type at the platen.
TUCHTYPE KEYBOARD (circa 1945)
I recently found this beautifully preserved rubber key-top set — designed to be placed over round typewriter keys. They not only provide a more comfortable touch they aid in faster, more accurate typing.
I recently found this beautifully preserved rubber key-top set — designed to be placed over round typewriter keys. They not only provide a more comfortable touch they aid in faster, more accurate typing.
December 6, 2024 at 11:10 PM
TUCHTYPE KEYBOARD (circa 1945)
I recently found this beautifully preserved rubber key-top set — designed to be placed over round typewriter keys. They not only provide a more comfortable touch they aid in faster, more accurate typing.
I recently found this beautifully preserved rubber key-top set — designed to be placed over round typewriter keys. They not only provide a more comfortable touch they aid in faster, more accurate typing.
1966 Consul 232: this baby-blue ultra-portable typewriter is far more rugged than it first appears. A great travel typewriter and — with the lovely metallic flat base —ideal for lap-tapping.
December 5, 2024 at 4:16 PM
1966 Consul 232: this baby-blue ultra-portable typewriter is far more rugged than it first appears. A great travel typewriter and — with the lovely metallic flat base —ideal for lap-tapping.
The Underwood Master, exhibited at the 1940 World’s Fair. It weighed 14 tons and took 3 years to build. Each type bar weighed 40 pounds (20kg), the carriage — 3,500 pounds (1,587kg). Not surprisingly, the Underwood Master is believed to be the largest working typewriter ever made.
December 5, 2024 at 1:58 PM
The Underwood Master, exhibited at the 1940 World’s Fair. It weighed 14 tons and took 3 years to build. Each type bar weighed 40 pounds (20kg), the carriage — 3,500 pounds (1,587kg). Not surprisingly, the Underwood Master is believed to be the largest working typewriter ever made.