Optima Elite-3 Typewriter. 1956. Qwerty Keyboard!

OPTIMA ELITE 3 · 1956
Light Grey-Brown · Chestnut-Coloured Keys · Elite Typeface
This 1956 Optima Elite 3 is finished in a light grey-brown with chestnut-coloured keytops. It has its original QWERTY keyboard and Elite typeface and is accompanied by its original fitted hard case, which is in fine condition.
The Elite 3 was produced in Erfurt and developed directly from the pre-war Olympia engineering tradition. After the war, the Erfurt works continued production under the Optima name, and the Elite 3 retained much of the mechanical architecture and design logic of the earlier Olympia portables. The result is a compact but substantial machine, with restrained styling, modest brightwork and a distinctly Central European character.
Collectors and users generally describe the Elite 3 as having a firm, composed typing action rather than a light or springy one. The keyboard gives clear mechanical feedback, the carriage movement feels controlled, and the machine rewards an even, deliberate rhythm. Its grey-brown finish and chestnut-coloured keys give this example a particularly warm and coherent appearance.
This typewriter has been restored by Acme Type Machine Company to its original factory operating standard. The mechanism has been carefully cleaned, adjusted and calibrated, preserving the original finish, keyboard and case. It bears the permanent Acme Seal, attached discretely on the mechanism, identifying restoration within our workshop and providing enduring provenance.
Specifications
Maker: Optima
Model: Elite 3
Year: 1956
Country of Manufacture: German Democratic Republic
Factory: Erfurt
Finish: Original light grey-brown
Keyboard: Original QWERTY
Typeface: Elite
Configuration: Portable manual typewriter
Case: Original fitted hard case in fine condition
Restoration: Acme Type Machine Company, bearing the permanent Acme Seal, attached discretely on the mechanism
Warranty: Two-year mechanical guarantee