Urania Klein 1935

This is a typewriter from another planet! The rare and renowned Urania Klein typewriter in near mint condition. This truly amazing survivor was produced during the very first year of manufacture of the Klein model. It is notable for its many technical innovations including its use of "Silumin", a high strength aluminium alloy for the body and ribbon cover. Also notable is the carriage return lever on the right side and the placement of other levers in unconventional places. The internal mechanics are well-designed, strong and surprisingly compact.

This 1935 Urania Klein comes from the former collection of Jake Mulhane, a respected collector of European typing machines. It is sold with a 3-month mechanical warranty and will be shipped to the buyer at no extra cost, including full insurance and a guarantee of safe delivery.

This typewriter is entirely original and has not been overpainted. The finish is just as it came from the factory. It has been fully restored including a deep-cleaning, adjustment, alignment and appropriate lubrication. It is fully working in every particular and is in mearly perfect cosmetic condition.

The great typewriter historian Will Davis has written of this typewriter: "...[the] Klein-Urania can be found to have no real faults". You can find is review of this typewriter here: http://davistypewriters.blogspot.com/2012/10/klein-urania.html.
And for another perspective, read here the equally great Robert Messenger who says of the Urania-Klein: "I just love it..." and "This is one of those portable typewriters you could type with all day long and not tire of it for a moment." See his article on this typewriter at: https://oztypewriter.blogspot.com/2013/07/urania-portable-typewriter-i-join-davis.html

Mechanically, this typewriter is working perfectly and will type up a storm for you. The chrome is in excellent condition all-around. The platen is harder than ideal, registering 96 on the durometer (85-95 is generally considered ideal) but the imprint is still fine (see typing sample in photo). The paper feed rollers are in good condition gripping the paper appropriately well. The rubber feet are soft and in fine condition. All mechanical devices work as oringially designed. The original catgut carriage cable is still present and is in wonderful condition.

Cosmetically the condition is, well, astonsihingly good. The flaws in the finish are so minimal as to not require delineation. The gold on the lettering is original and shining bright. The red number and line highlighting on the paper bail is intact. The knobs are intact and undamaged. The keytops are in excellent condition with no cracking of the glass. There are one or two keys with very minor chipping on the edge. The spacebar is original with the original finish--not overpainted.

Based on the serial number (134193) this machine was manufactured in 1935, as noted the first year of production of the Klein model.

The keyboard is a US/UK QWERTY. The typeface is a wonderful Pica with characters that are around 25% taller than the average Pica giving the imprint a wonderful, bold, idiosynchratic look. I have outfitted this typewriter with a vintage ribbon from the 1940s which is still quite usable and comes with two metal ribbon spools. Note that this is an original, factory-installed QWERTY keyboard. It has not been adapted or changed.

The original hard carrying case is in excellent condition. The only flaw is that it is missing the original handle and the key.