SORRY, SOLD! 1943 Triumph Norm 6 Typewriter
This is a wonderful, well-preserved, 1943 TRIUMPH Norm-6 Typewriter with a QWERTY keyboard. This typewriter represents an interesting hybrid of materials: the body is steel, but the ribbon cover is made from heavy bakelite. Presumably to save materials for the "war effort". It is in very nice overall cosmetic condition and working perfectly. It was manufactured during the height of World War II, and has a lovely, solid "touch", good speed and smooth feel, combined with precision German engineering.
This typewriter was originally purchased, in 1944, by a merchant in Amsterdam. The business was located in the Jordaan district, within walking distance of where Anne Frank and her family lived—and hid—during the latter part of the war.
I hope that I don't get into any trouble with anyone if I say: I think this is a rather "masculine" typewriter. It is heavy and solid but it is a very smooth typer.
Cosmetically, it is in really excellent condition. The bakelite top is not cracked or damaged in any way (unlike many of the from this era that. The body finish is mostly un-worn and overall shiny and bright. The little white flecks one can see in the photos are dust and reflections only, not damage to the finish.
Mechanically it is also in excellent condition with good rubber on platen, feeder rollers and feet. The platen measures about 93 on the hardness scale. Ideal is 85 to 95 so it is still in good usable state. The chrome is in fine condition with only some very small areas beginning to show some age and wear. Everything is working as it should and it has all been properly adjusted etc.
The keyboard, as mentioned, is original QWERTY (quite rare for this model and time) and the typeface is PICA (10 cpi). It comes with a new ribbon on two original, metal ribbon spools.
For a discussion of Triumph typewriters visit:
https://oztypewriter.blogspot.nl/2012/05/triumph-portable-typewriters.htmlHistory of the Triumph Typewriters: Two Germans, Siegfried Bettmann and M. Schulte, founded in 1890 “Triumph Cycle Company Ltd” in England. In 1896 they decided to establish a subsidiary “Triumph-Fahrrad-Werke AG” in Nürnberg. In 1907, the Hamburg based company “ Ehrlich &Riegelmann” introduced its typewriter Noriga. In 1909 “Deutsche Triumph-Fahrrad-Werke” took over the bankrupt company and its patent for the Noriga typewriter. The same year the typewriter was introduced with its new name Triumph. In 1911 the company was renamed “Triumph Werke Nürnberg AG”. It became an independent company two years later. During World War I production of typewriters was halted. In 1920 Triumph Werke started making typewriters again with the prewar model 2. The typewriters were continuously improved. During World War II production of typewriters ceased as arms production was started. In 1957 the popular Gabriele portable typewriter and an electric typewriter were introduced. In 1953 Triumph was taken over by Grundig, merged with Adlerwerke and renamed Triumph-Adler. In 1979 the company was acquired by Volkswagen and in 1986 by the Italian typewriter firm Olivetti. Typewriter production was closed down in 1997. (From: http://typewriter.slk.fi/typewriter-collection/triumph/)
This fine example of the TRIUMPH NORM will be packed and shipped with the greatest care to preserve its condition and beauty.