Vendex 500T Typewriter — A very-portable 70s design!

Vendex 500T Typewriter — 1975

The Vendex 500T is a particularly attractive example of the compact Japanese portable typewriters that were produced during the 1970s. Vendex was the private-label brand of the Dutch Vroom & Dreesmann department-store group, with machines such as the 500 series produced by Brother and sold through the V&D retail network. The result is an interesting intersection of Dutch retail history and Japanese typewriter engineering.

This 1975 example is distinguished by its vivid orange finish, one of the more characteristic colours of the period. Its compact proportions and exceptionally portable format reflect the emerging idea of the typewriter as a personal object: small enough to travel with, yet sufficiently substantial to remain a proper mechanical writing instrument.

The exterior design is particularly interesting. The rounded housing, carefully integrated keyboard and restrained detailing give the 500T an compact and "soft" appearance, while the orange finish adds a distinctly 1970s character without overwhelming the machine itself.

This typewriter has a QWERTY keyboard and is fitted with an Elite typeface, which produces the smaller, more economical character traditionally associated with professional correspondence and compact portable machines.

The Vendex 500T occupies an interesting place in the history of the portable typewriter: a Japanese-built machine, presented under a distinctly Dutch retail marque, and now an increasingly evocative example of the design language and consumer culture of the 1970s.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: Brother, Japan, marketed under the Vendex name

Brand: Vendex

Model: 500T

Year: 1975

Country of manufacture: Japan

Type: Portable manual typewriter

Colour: Orange

Typeface: Elite

Keyboard: QWERTY

Platen: Excellent condition

Design: Compact, lightweight portable format

Body: Moulded housing with integrated keyboard

Configuration: Compact portable manual typewriter

Historical context: Vendex was the private-label typewriter marque associated with the Dutch Vroom & Dreesmann department-store group

Condition: Professionally serviced and prepared for use