1950 Optima Elite #664284

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Jonas Lauritsen (legofanatikeren)
Created: 07-27-2023 at 04:28AM
Last Edit: 07-27-2023 at 04:38AM

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Description:

Found this by chance at a flea-marked, the guy didn't know anything about it and appeared to expect to sell it as a decoration item ... Got it for under $8 after I did a quick visual inspection and noted the TAB key was jammed real good. The original case was included, and I can tell it's the original just from how banged up and battered it was.

After taking it home, I was stumped on the manufacturer and the serial number, which seemed incompatible. Kappel hadn't made machines with 6 digit numbers, so what was going on?? Turns out, this model got turned into the Olympia Elite, and then further changed into the Optima Elite over the course of several years... Which explains the year of manufacture, as well as the S/N, but NOT why they still branded it as a Kappel... Oh well.
this S/N is is from 1950, and was sold in København. There's a sticker with a service-check dated 1968 on the inside of the cover, so it all checks out.

Got it cleaned up from dust, and old ink on the typefaces. The spools on it don't appear to be the originals, since they seem too "new" DIN 2103 types, but they fit perfectly in so of course I kept them - after a change to a fresh ribbon, as the old one was drier than dirt.

It's a Danish keyboard, with all keys looking good expect the å/Å key for some reason. As mentioned the TAB key is completely jammed for unknown reasons, and not likely to change since I'm not brave enough to completely dismantle it. The C-key is also binding.

One interesting thing about this machine is that the serial number is not only located on the underside of the frame, it is also stamped into the right side front of the platen. Likely to keep the components linked if the platen is removed. Another interesting thing is the caps: normally the basket is raised when using caps, however, this machine instead raises the entire platen.

MYSTERIES! Got a few mysteries hanging about still:..
* I haven't found a way to lock the carriage - since it's a portable machine, this should be possible...
* there's a lever on the backside, sticking out, and I haven't found any possible use for this yet. Thought it was the carriage lock, but it doesn't appear to do anything when switching positions.
* there's a lever on the right side of the platen, on top of the platen release button. Normally such a position would make that the paper-lock lever, but as far as I can tell, it has no function.
* the TAB creator button does as advertised, and creates a tab stop. BUT I've found no way of removing tab stops created... Most of the tab positions are active tab stops as a result, with no way of resetting them (doesn't matter since the TAB key is jammed either way, but still...)

Needles to say if anyone knows anything about those mysteries, let me know!

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

side view of the case

top down view with cover off

close up of the keyboard, Danish layout. Jammed TAB key on the bottom right

Serialnumber located on right side front of platen. There's also the same stamped on bottom of frame

close up of the mystery lever on right side of platen. Looks like a paper lock, but it doesn't do anything...

backside view

the margin set key works - but that's about the only thing about the TAB system that does...

close up of the Danish retailer in København that sold this machine back in the day

the mystery lever on the backside. No idea what it's supposed to do...

bottom of the frame, where the S/N is also located (top of photo). All four feet are intact

Hunter: Jonas Lauritsen (legofanatikeren)

Jonas Lauritsen's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 253

Casual collector of replica flintlock pistols, and in that same vein, picked up a couple of typewriters through the years - as a mechanical engineer, I could not resist.