1961 Neckermann Brillant Super #4010559

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Stanislaus Strodorodofjodoff (Stanislaus)
Created: 09-19-2023 at 08:25AM
Last Edit: 09-21-2023 at 05:32AM

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Description:

That East-German Erika was branded as "Neckermann" model "Brillant Super" for export to Western Germany's catalogue department store Neckermann, and it is a genuine Erika 20. (See https://typewriterdatabase.com/Erika.20.242.bmys) History fact: It was built before the Berlin Wall was built. The typewriter still exists.

The type font of this typewriter is Erika Perl with its rather special 11.5 characters per inch or 2.25 mm character spacing. It has six lines per inch vertical single spacing. The carriage is 100 characters wide. Switching the levers at the left and right side (close to back) you can easily remove the carriage for cleaning or to equip the typewriter with a small or wider carriage. The carriage also as a "magic margin marker" where you pull the carriage to the left position as intended and press the left margin knob and repeat this using the right margin knob respectively.

The number of features of this medium-sized portable is sheer amazing. The Erika 20, disguised as a Neckermann Brillant Super, has a u t o m a t i c a l d o u b l e s p a c i n g (which this editor window obviously does not). Tab positions can be set individually and deleted individually or at once. A special tab brake softens the carriage's movement when tab key was pressed. The tab brake is realized by a metal belt which's tightness can be adjusted. Will do another photo later.

It is one of the – up to this point in production – rare Erikas with segment shift. (The Erika 10 seems to have still the softer keystrokes.) Also, the machine provides four (!) different line spacings, and it does also have a correcting spacebar. Last, but not least, you can set the ribbon selector to four positions (empty, upper half, middle, lower half). So, for single colour 13 mm ribbons you're not wasting the ink in the middle. For transport, it has a carriage lock which also locks the keys (except for "dead keys"). The key lock obviously it coupled with the transport mechanism.

I found that machine recently online at a quite reasonable price. It came with soft cover, hard box, and the typical toolset. Even the transport safety brackets and the two additional screws to fix it to the case bottom are still there. So, it is complete except for the papers. After a three hours cleaning session it write as shown without any disassembly required.

* Hint *
If you own an Erika 20 or one of the rebrands and you are missing the manual: Try a download of the manual for an Erika 105. Following functions there are close to identical as for the Erika 20:
• ribbon changing,
• paper support w/ end-of-page indicator (adjustable),
• correcting space key/half-step space key,
• and many more. Some functions can be found at different positions/keys.
Magic margin setting, four-way line feed and double spacing are not available to models 100/105 (not sure about segment shift).

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Top view of a top typewriter.

Tastenanschlagsstärkeneinstellhebel or as you may call it: key stroke strength selecting lever.

Platen knob, margin release and (little out of focus) the margin set button. If the carriage is within the margins, simply press left or right maring setting buttons and it's done. When you wand to move the margina outside its setting: You (1) simply press and (2) hold the margin set button, than (3) press and hold the carriage release switch. Then move the carriage to desired margin and release margin set button. A small indicator at the rear for the casing appears.

I found it all clean there. Just the keys and the area beneath did need some dust blowing, some grease where it applies.

The ruler can be set to three positions. For paper feed I prefer the forward position. Anyway, it is better made with Erika 10 where the ruler does have a little hook as a handle.

Yes, it is sorted amongst sub-brand, anyway it's still a genuine Erika 20, manufactured in my home town.

Right left of the double spacing switch is a metal lever which does the carriage lock. BTW: I do not understand that rebranding/renaming thing because this "Brillant Super" is in fact an "Erika 20". Probably it has something to do with the usage of pre-war trade-marks across the occupation zones of post-war Germany. Another example: Perlon, Nylon, and Dederon are trade names for basically same fiber where Nylon was not allowed to be used in East Germany.

The basket shows signs of use but the machine as such is in good shape. No surface damages and all at its place.

Right in front you see the a u t o m a t i c d o u b l e s p a c i n g selector. "|" for single spacing. "||" for double spacing. You can switch anytime.

The carriage lever is ergonimically designed and long enough to provide you with an easy carriage return/line shift feature :•)

They call this colour scheme "ivory - green". On the left of the keyboard you can see the tab settings, on the right the single-spacing - double-spacing selector. The keys became a little bit greyish over the years. I do hope I can brush it up with salad oil.

I am not sure if there is any computer from 1961 in a condition suitable for daily use. This word processing output device still works.

Hunter: Stanislaus Strodorodofjodoff (Stanislaus)

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

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 156

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 an Optima Plana, a Mignon, a S&N model S, a S&N model 10, a folding Erika by S&N and most recently an Erika 20 (disguised as a Neckermann Brillant Super) have been added. All in working condition and with fresh ribbons.
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...