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1929 AEG Mignon 4 Serial # 347065 1929 AEG Mignon 4 typewriter, Serial # 347065 Stanislaus Strodorodofjodoff's 1929 AEG Mignon 4 typewriter. 2026-01-21 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Stanislaus Strodorodofjodoff: 1929 AEG Mignon 4 Serial # 347065 For some reasons I forgot to show this thing. The pointer Mignon is remarkable for more than one reasons. Firstly, it was very wanted in the Communist part of Germany, since the secret service, AKA Stasi, had no typeface samples from these pre WWII typewriters. Secondly, it single key/pointer mechanism empowered people with no touch typing skills to create a letter in a readable fashion quite fast. See photo description below for explaination.

WHOEVER does have spare type cylinders for sale please do not hesitate to offer these to me. Thank you.

1929 AEG Mignon 4 #347065

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Stanislaus Strodorodofjodoff (Stanislaus)
Created: 01-21-2026 at 07:45AM
Last Edit: 01-21-2026 at 12:19PM

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Description:

For some reasons I forgot to show this thing. The pointer Mignon is remarkable for more than one reasons. Firstly, it was very wanted in the Communist part of Germany, since the secret service, AKA Stasi, had no typeface samples from these pre WWII typewriters. Secondly, it single key/pointer mechanism empowered people with no touch typing skills to create a letter in a readable fashion quite fast. See photo description below for explaination.

WHOEVER does have spare type cylinders for sale please do not hesitate to offer these to me. Thank you.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:


Complete typeface specimen.
Complete typeface specimen.

Pretty thing.
Pretty thing.

Wooden box in nice condition.
Wooden box in nice condition.


The lowercase part of the letter layout.
The lowercase part of the letter layout.

Typical German words such as "ab" (from), "am" (on), often used combinations like "sch", and German articles "der" and "den" (the) or even English words as "nerd" can by typed with minimal movement of the pointer. Who sees english words? Note: If you miss the j you're right, you'll find it at the boundary amongst the special characters. Look for the English word "delete" which you can type with just minimal movement of the pointer. I am pretty sure the layout of letters was defined by German scientists according to frequency of use in most common words.
Typical German words such as "ab" (from), "am" (on), often used combinations like "sch", and German articles "der" and "den" (the) or even English words as "nerd" can by typed with minimal movement of the pointer. Who sees english words? Note: If you miss the j you're right, you'll find it at the boundary amongst the special characters. Look for the English word "delete" which you can type with just minimal movement of the pointer. I am pretty sure the layout of letters was defined by German scientists according to frequency of use in most common words.

The German word "schoepfung" (creation) can be created with consequent small moves of the pointer which explains how easy it was to type using just one pointer and one key. Each corner of the blue line represents one keystroke. Of course "Schöpfung" in German has an uppercase S (so start on the left character field) and an ö-Umlaut (which is found at the top boundary of the caracter field).
The German word "schoepfung" (creation) can be created with consequent small moves of the pointer which explains how easy it was to type using just one pointer and one key. Each corner of the blue line represents one keystroke. Of course "Schöpfung" in German has an uppercase S (so start on the left character field) and an ö-Umlaut (which is found at the top boundary of the caracter field).

Contemporary picture from the era. :-)
Contemporary picture from the era. :-)

Three keys in fact: Left key is Space, middle key is type, right key is backspace.
Three keys in fact: Left key is Space, middle key is type, right key is backspace.

The pointing plate.
The pointing plate.


Platen release, line shift, carriage release, stepping .. all on the right hand side of the platen.
Platen release, line shift, carriage release, stepping .. all on the right hand side of the platen.

Fancy ribbon spools for 11 mm ribbons.
Fancy ribbon spools for 11 mm ribbons.

The ordering of the letters is the same as on the character field to point on. Thus, as the example above does show, typical German requires just minimal movements (turns and steps) of the cylinder mechanism. If you write a few letters with Mignon you'll experience how close most words are located on the character field.
The ordering of the letters is the same as on the character field to point on. Thus, as the example above does show, typical German requires just minimal movements (turns and steps) of the cylinder mechanism. If you write a few letters with Mignon you'll experience how close most words are located on the character field.

The type cylinder rotates and moves up and down according to the selected
The type cylinder rotates and moves up and down according to the selected

Please note: The screw that secures the type cylinder has a leather ring which need to face towards the sheet metal. Otherwise the metal part of the screw scratches the label.
Please note: The screw that secures the type cylinder has a leather ring which need to face towards the sheet metal. Otherwise the metal part of the screw scratches the label.

Top view.
Top view.





Hunter: Stanislaus Strodorodofjodoff (Stanislaus)

Stanislaus Strodorodofjodoff's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 197

A bloke from Germany who used to have a small computers collection to get the history of typing and text processing over periods of time. An S&N Ideal model D was the first in early 80ies. Later to be followed by an IBM Selectric as the step towards digital. Someother devices I used for typing in my professional and personal life, such as a Commodore CBM and Macintosh as well as a VAXstation as well as other things to process characters, were in the collection. The collection was ressolved due to space issues.

Today the Selectric, the Ideal D and a Macintosh Classic II are the remains from the past. Over recent years some other machines to write by types on bars have been added. Most recently an Erika S with a rare Fraktur typeface joined the party.
Please enjoy my galleries!!

I am also looking for stuff, well stuff that anyone wants to collect: special typefonts (olde German), IBM printing elements for the 88 character machine, Mignon type cylinders and pointer-plates, mint condition Smith-Coronas...


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the AEG Mignon 4 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the AEG Serial Number page and the AEG Mignon 4 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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