sommeregger's sammelsurium

Typo 360

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 08:32:00 +0000

I made a short video using a new gimmick for filming - essentially a revolving platform allowing to showcase some of the machines in motion, 360°.

I posted the result on http://www.typewriters.ch/blog/2017/01/typo-360/

I hope you enjoy! http://www.typewriters.ch/blog/2017/01/typo-360/

Exit Empire

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:17:00 +0000

Little did I know that the typewriter I had received from England on June 23rd, International Typewriter Day 2016, would be the last one before Brexit.

You judge by yourself whether the name of this machine, Empire Junior, is telling for the future.

!viva la typosphere internationale!

yours sincerely, Dr. Shordzi

Happy International Typewriter Day 2016!

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 15:52:00 +0000

Can this be a coincidence?
This wonderfully packed parcel arrived at the doorstep today, June 23rd, International Typewriter Day.

Unpacking is not before tomorrow... let's keep up the suspense.

Let's say this much: inside is a typewriter produced in Switzerland, sold in England, and now, thanks to overwhelming support from a well-known typospherian agent in her Majesty's realm, has regained its place of birth after ca. 80 years... reason to celebrate!

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL TYPEWRITER DAY TO ALL OF YOU! Dr. Shordzi

Typewriters in France, plus a hint

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 19:30:00 +0000

Dear fellow typospherians, here is a photo report from a collectors' meeting in France (23 April 2016):
http://www.typewriters.ch/blog/2016/04/typewriters-in-beaucourt/

Now here is the hint. Please consider adding my other typewriter blog to your blog roll. I might use it more in the future, as it is solely dedicated to our machine of choice:
http://www.typewriters.ch/blog/

Cheers, and happy collecting!

Happy Easter!

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 16:15:00 +0000

The Typewriter Revolution reaches Europe

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:59:00 +0000

By not-so-secretive channels, this exciting book reached Switzerland today... First look: awesome! I cancelled all appointments for the day. You can reach me in the Kaffeehaus, reading reading reading.

Beautiful MON BUREAU Covers 1913/14

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 17:58:00 +0000

Have a look at these. I found them while digging in the Basel library's hidden treasures.

Doing so, I also discovered the amazing illustrator William Fell. Remark: only those illustrations labeled W. Fel can clearly be attributed to this master.

Is it "Fell"or "Fel"? According to the editorial of the No. 47 issue of Mon Bureau, it is "Fell". However, the images are signed "Fel".

A google search yields quite a few results for Fel's illustrations. Often, they are of erotic nature. However, I couldn't find any biographical material on this artist. Hopefully someone reads this and leaves a comment.

April 1913 cover of Mon Bureau. This French office magazine was edited by G. & M. Ravisse in Paris. Is it Monsieur Gaston Ravisse himself on the cover? Compare with the photograph below. I think there is strong similarities, down to the pince-nez (weak but visible on the photograph)

This is Hermes, or Mercury. Very fitting for a business magazine. Hermes holds the telegraph wires and literally uncovers or holds his protective hands over a contemporary office. W. Fel's signature on the lower right side.

There we go: Hermes, adorned with the very Mon Bureau magazine, looks triumphantly on what might be St. Sebastian, speared by a giant quilt, symbol of the old office world.

Sexy Hermes - please notice the winged heels - overlooking the city and the port, sends out the merchant ships. In his left hand, the herald's staff with two intertwined snakes.

September 1913 issue, William Fel differently. A serious yet confident-looking business man.

The first issue of 1914. William Fel cover again, Hermes / Mercury again, but a different atmosphere. A serious-looking God of commerce, with belching smokestacks in front of a fire-red sky.

The February 1914 edition. An interesting compound of a sprocket, symbolizing mechanics, and Hermes' symbols, the herald's staff and wings.

Gaston Ravisse again? Yes I think so!

An animated business meeting. One of the participants, however, is pensively looking at the opposite factory.

Looking for the shiny white factory on the hill on the horizon.

A good working climate keeps the smokestacks smoking!

Early Typospherians

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 19:30:00 +0000

Here they are: the crème de la crème of the Early Typosphere... the year is 1913. Taken at the Frankfurt fair, in the premises of Büro-Bedarfs-Rundschau, we see, from the left to the right: O.F. Graband, director of advertising of "Mon Bureau"; Jacob Fresineau, director of the Russian magazine of office supplies (it doesn't give the exact title); G. Ravisse, editor of "Mon Bureau"; Mario Boni, director of "Ufficio Moderno" (I do correct the spelling); Carl Labin, editor in chief of Büro-Bedarfs-Rundschau; Dr. Hemes, director of "Typewriter Topics"; Dr. von Schack, director of "Büro-Bedarfs-Rundschau".

Friedrich von Schack must have been an interesting figure. I wonder if he really was director of the BBR in 1913 - that would have meant a lot of work, as in 1913, Schreibmaschinen-Revue was still running. Schreibmaschinen-Revue was founded by F. von Schack in 1904. I haven't seen all volumes yet, but have scanned volume 1907/08 recently. It results that in 1907 Schreibmaschinen-Revue was issued at a biweekly basis, and that the rhythm augmented to one issue per week as of 1st January 1908... very very busy indeed.

Typewriters in Nancy

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 17:15:00 +0000

Ok, it was a fantastic meeting. Here I share photos of the typewriters present at the October 3rd meeting of the French collectors' associations, held in Nancy in beautiful Lorraine. Please enjoy!

Moby Dick, made in 1948. It followed me home. Typosphere magic: RobertG of backspace does not erase also features a late Adler in today's post.

Moby Normal, 1930s

Adler flatbed writer, or rather, screenwriter

AEG Olympia Standard - now this is a puzzle for a collector. Anyone knows about this model?

The first Caligraph - or is it a Frister & Rossmann?

The second Caligraph - nice! As always, with the famous spelling mistake (it should be "calli")

high on my wish-list: The Chicago, with its intriguing typing mechanism

We type Chinese!

Contin, aka Remington 3, in beautiful deep blue

It's France, so plenty of Dactyle-Blicks

Yes!! I got this one! It's a Dactyle 3, equivalent to the Blick 7

The Dactyle company also labelled calculating machines

all right, there is one S.P. Blick

Ah, one Etoile with original spool covers - they are usually missing, although they can be replaced by a Hermes Standard 3 or 4 typewriter spool covers (which of course requires you own one)

A Hermes Ambassador, guinea-pig edition

Here is something special: it's the first Japy standard typewriter, a Model 3X. Even more special, this one still has "Remington-Sholes" written on the front (to complicated for me now to add the detail picture, this primitive blogger software is really driving me nuts, highly complicated to add one more picture in between - blogger.com software specialists, take wordpress as an example!!). The story goes that the first of the Japy series were still produced in the U.S. and only mounted in France. Something to follow up. Who knows facts?

A Japy 3Y, already labelled "BEAUCOURT - JAPY FRERES & Cie - PARIS"

In Lambert paradise

... and one more

This L.C. Smith is special - according to the seller, it is one of the D-Day typewriters - wow!

ok, Mignon - NICE!!

Mignon 2 - would also be my choice

A model 3

and a Model 4 (with backspace key)

Monditype - I like it. And it followed me home

Ochydactyl - train your fingers till they hurt

Odoma. I find the design very classy

Portex Portex! with glamorous finishing

Yes!! top of tops - a Sholes & Glidden. It was sold in good old Vienna, when the Emperor was still young

It really is a privilege to inspect such a beautiful machine close-by

The Toshiba Typewriter

Also on my wish list - a TYPO. When is Christmas 2017? (I already got myself presents for 2015 and 2016)

Behold! A seemingly innocuous Underwood, but from the bottom of the case unfolds a support for typing in the field. The perfect typer for a type-in with "bring your own table"

The Williams density at the meeting was uncanny - five machines spotted!! Maybe it's not rare after all? :)

I find the tab keys of this Yost particularly charming

and what a beautiful case with faux-woodgrain finishing

Are we done? Yes, for today. I still haven't given you the updates of other summer '15 weekends...

Lots of Used Typewriters in 1915

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 19:02:00 +0000

Mr. Gustav Freudenberg ran a shop specialising in used typewriters in Seefeldstrasse 19, Zurich, 100 years ago. I came across this letterhead from 1915 which I want to share with you:

for FULL RESOLUTION, see here

Have a look! Can you count or ID them all? Which one would you choose?

Can you imagine walking in this shop and seeing all these old machines? It must have been a thrill - rather, it would be a thrill for us to beam back and be there. For the clients at the time, it was the occasion to score an old Densmore and the like. Practically minded people.

Well, ads tend to exaggerate. Nonetheless, all these machines we cherish and want for our collections were considered old already then. Strange thought...

that's it for today. happy typing, and see you soon - in the typosphere

more stationary for download, print and feed to your favourite machine? see here.

Evolution of the Pelikan

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 14:39:00 +0000

Pelikan typewriter ribbon tins are nice to collect. On second sight, there is an evolution in the number of pelican chicks over the years.

The pelican was the coat of arms of the Wagner family. As Günther Wagner (1842 - 1930) had three kids when taking control of the company - founded by Carl Hornemann (1811 - 1896) in 1832 - he had three chicks added to the pelican. So originally, the pelican was feeding three. When a fourth child was born, the number was adjusted accordingly. In 1937, the number was reduced to two. After 2003, only one lonely chick is left in the nest. You can read the details here.

Here is some tins (later made of cardboard) from my collection to show this evolution.

This one looks older like the one below - I just bought it as a result of my research. It shows the official founding year of the company 1838 (April 28th, to be exact).

detail from the wrapping paper of Pelikan ink, Alfred R. Wepf collection 2015

detailed view:

and here we go down to one:

in detail:

That's it for today. As always, Happy Typing!

UPDATE 30.8.:
Read on the Pelikan brand story: http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US_INTL.CMS.displayCMS.151367./pelikan-the-brand

Hermes 2000 and Japy 50

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:45:00 +0000

I was lucky at a German bay auction and got a Japy 50 portable. It came in its original case, quite used, a few things to clean an polish. Mechanically, it is sound, and alignment is still perfect, despite obvious heavy use in the past. The platen is rock hard, but hey, we can't have it call, can we.

What wasn't my surprise to see its serial number 20525. Why was I surprised? The Japy 50 is the same built as the Etoile. Both were Japy brands, but the typewriters were made in Switzerland by Paillard, and only sold by Japy in France. This was around 1934/35. Don't quote me on this, as research is ongoing. So what we have here are Swiss typewriter, traded in France. I will include them in my book on Swiss typewriters, of course.

Still, why was I surprised? The Japy / Etoile registered so far have serial numbers in the 50'000s and 51'000s. As this doesn't fit the Hermes 2000 numbering, it is safe to say that Japy got their own separate numbers. From the samples known so far we might deduce that "Japy" / "Japy 50" correspond to the 50'000s, followed by "Etoile" in the 51'000s. This would mean consecutive names.

Now, this new Japy specimen is number 20525. This would be a very early Hermes 2000 number - they started with 20'001 in 1933. I placed this next to a very early Hermes 2000 #22970 (built in 1934). And indeed: a perfect match.

So what we have here is an Japy with the original Hermes 2000 numbering. The very low number doesn't necessary mean Japys were sold as early as 1933. Rumour has it that Paillard used older stock for sale in France (for example, with the Hermes Baby S, sold ca. 1939, but with a much earlier construction). This might very well be the case here. It's fascinating to find a machine with a number so close to the production start, though.

The Japy / Etoile only differ in the round ribbon cover, the slightly raised top cover, a slightly differently shaped return lever, and the cover above the platen (including the metal paper support). The lids are identical with the ones used on the Hermes standard machines of the period. They are missing on my Japy, but I found a Hermes 3 to replace them (or at least borrow them for the photo shooting).

St. Mecano - Patron Saint of Typewriter Repair

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 08:53:00 +0000

When in Lausanne, Switzerland, don't miss a visit at Jacques Perrier's typewritermuseum. Servicing of business machines is also Jacques' dayjob, and in his daily work he is protected by St. Mecano, patron saint of smooth repair.

The Musée Perrier gives a great overview not only of the history of typewriters, but equally features all other items typically found in the historic office: calculating machines, staplers, dictation machines, you name it. This makes for a complete general impression of what our offices looked like in the 20th century.

Apart from the general exhibition, Jacques periodically arranges for theme exhibitions. These days, it's Olivetti.

The iconic ICO, and Xanti Schawinski's poster

The imposing and elegant Lexicon 80 electric

The much coveted Graphika, and yes @Richard, I looked up the serial number: 1810597

A beautiful blue Studio 42. We were not sure whether the feed-rollers are original.

The Big Three: Nizolli, Sottsass, Bellini

trompe-l'oeuil: not the real typewriter, but the arsenic theater's original program for the season 03/04

I always find it interesting to see a succession of models side by side. Here is the evolution of the Olivetti portable:

And no post shall be complete without a Hermes Baby. Here is the rather rare green variant:

Many thanks to Jacques, and wishing you all a good typewriter day! shordzi

Happy Typewriter Day!

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 19:49:00 +0000

Wishing a glorious Typewriter Day to all you Typospherians out there! Three points:

First, Monsieur in his own right:

Here is TC (the typewriter cat) wishing you good luck with your collection!

Second, today Historische Bürowelt number 1 0 0 !! arrived in my mailbox. Fresh from the press, and packed with beautiful stories. Hurray, and ad multos!

Historische Bürowelt Nr. 100, edited by M. Reese, published by ifhb.org

Third, Janine of UPPERCASE sent a Typewriter Day message (see here for more) and informs that their book "The Typewriter: A Graphic History of the Beloved Machine" is ready for pre-order! Sensational news, and not to be missed!

Doesn't that make for a nice Typewriter Day? Happy typing, shordzi

Lambert

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 12:05:00 +0000

I recently joined Frank in the Lambert Club. His is a model 1, mine (serial number 4329) a model 2. Ever since I started collecting, this machine has exerted a strange fascination over me. I find it incredibly beautiful, and the life story of Frank Lambert is testimony of genius inventorship. We still know little about the likely co-developer, Eugène R. Pastre.

So I finally jumped on an occasion to buy one. A particularly well-preserved specimen. I preferred to see it with my own eyes before buying, so this was no e-bay transaction. I had seen Lamberts in the wild before, and very early on in my collecting career even passed on a (seen in retrospect) very good offer at a French collectors meeting. Prices for Lamberts are quite stiff, which on the one hand can be explained by the fact that is commonly agreed that the Lambert is a sought after model. But then, if it is true that 30.000 units were produced (cumulative US, GB and French production), and if the price is a function of the offer available, I cannot but reiterate the question Peter Muckermann asked 20 years ago: what happened to all those Lamberts? They fetch high prices at auctions, maybe a bit less so compared to 10, 15 years ago. Price lists like the one available for members of the IFHB confirm high level prices. Then again, there is other auction results where the Lambert scored much less.

Be it as it may, here it is, at my home. I attach some pictures as preview. My new pet project now it to restore the writing function to a good level. The machine in the state it arrived did print, some letters better than others, but ok in general. Upon closer inspection of the manual and the actual ink-pad, I concluded that it is seriously worn out. As I haven't found original new old stocks of Lambert ink-pads, I am currently carefully experimenting with replacement material, and ink. To be continued...

Pictures of an Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Mon, 25 May 2015 19:22:00 +0000

Babys back home

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Mon, 25 May 2015 09:48:00 +0000

"Nach der Ausstellung ist vor der Ausstellung" (after the exhibition is before the exhibition). Babys back home, some of them awaiting their journey home to the Netherlands.

Hermes Baby get-together

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sun, 24 May 2015 17:18:00 +0000

Sumiswald, Berne, Switzerland, 23rd May 2015.

We had 61 variants on display - a WORLD RECORD! (I suppose)

4x hermes baby hebrew

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sat, 23 May 2015 11:05:00 +0000

https://www.flickr.com/photos/shordzi/17361340294

Getting Started

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Thu, 21 May 2015 20:00:00 +0000

http://typewriters.ch/files/hermes_baby_stammbaum_20150516.jpg

Current state of research

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 18:52:00 +0000

Welcome to Hermes-Baby-Landia!

the library...

Mr. Cat watching sceptically: Will Shordzi ever finish writing this stuff?

Happy Easter Typosphere!

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 18:33:00 +0000

Hermes Baby: the Painting!

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 19:08:00 +0000

German architect and painter Rainer Grune created this painting by special commission for the upcoming Hermes Baby exhibition. I believe it came out perfectly. We feel honoured.

"Typewriter ever used...

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 19:11:00 +0000

... by the foreign affairs section of the South Bureau"[of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China]. Thus is labelled a typewriter on display in a museum in Chongqing. We thank our Man in China for this interesting information.

Some context: "The South Bureau of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China was set up in January 16th,1939, which is the representative organ of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China in the centre of the areas (Chongqing)which is ruled by National Party during the period of Anti-Japanese War and the early stage of Liberation War , respectively in charge of many Party organizations such as Sichuan , Yunnan , Guizhou, Hunan , Hubei , Guangdong , Guangxi , Jiangsu , Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shanghai , Hong Kong, Macao ,including entire southern countries ruled by National Party as well as some enemy- occupied areas.The historic mission of South Bureau, which under the leadership of the Centre of CPC, was that leading people of all ranks in the nation-ruled areas to contrive to repel Japanese aggressor and build new China depended on people democracy while cooperated with the people in the base of anti-Japanese." (source)

The machine:

And here is what we think it is: A Hermes 44, sold by Hermes Precisa International S.A., Yverdon, Switzerland. This model was built in the late 1970s, early 1980s. According to one source (Dingwerth), it was actually produced by the HPI's Hungarian partner, IGV in Budapest.

So, Switzerland in China, way to go!

update 24/3/2015: image kindly provided by Robert Messenger:

The Hermes Baby is 80!

noreply@blogger.com (shordzi) — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 21:35:00 +0000

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

Yes, believe it! The ever young HERMES BABY is turning 80 these days! After presenting a preliminary HERMES BABY family tree (see last post), I am happy to show you a HERMES BABY of the first series. A fascinating artefact! And it types nicely.
You will notice from the other pictures that I patched up the main picture a bit by adding the second spool which is absent from the original - thanks Photoshop.

HERMES BABY #65165, manufactured by E. Paillard & Cie S.A., Yverdon, Switzerland, in 1935!