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1907 The Empire 1 Serial # 33754 1907 The Empire 1 typewriter, Serial # 33754 Javier Vazquez del Olmo's 1907 The Empire 1 typewriter. 2019-09-27 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Javier Vazquez del Olmo: 1907 The Empire 1 Serial # 33754 Mixed feeling about this oldie.

First the bad news: I seriously doubt this contraption will type again. Too many things are damaged: the platen (cracked), the feed roller (corroded / mutated into something horrid), the caps system (jammed, even missing pieces there), some severely rusted parts... Too many open fronts. In addition, the seller was mistaken about the real condition of the typewriter. He was deceived by the apparent good working of the machine because all the keys and typebars move, the carriage advances happily and the "Empire" decal is fairly well preserved. Even the bell makes a nice "ding!" at the end of the line.

Then the good news: I can't feel bad about such an old typewriter. Even if it won't type again there's a good spot for it at home. Besides, looking at the s/n (which was covered by a thick layer of sh- I mean, dirt), this is an OLD one. Everything over the century mark is welcome. Thing is I have doubts about my dating. According to the TWDB, this thingy got out of the production line around 1907, but by looking deeper I'm confused about the Empire / THE empire issue. Are Empire and THE Empire one and the same? Is this a rebranded Adler 7? For starters it's noticeably lighter than the Adler 7, and several pieces look wildly different. but at the same time, the Empire page here says it's a German licensed product, therefore being probably an Adler 7. But then again Martin Howard gives a different verion in his website (see links). So, what am I looking at? An original model or a licensed one?

1907 The Empire 1 #33754

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)
Created: 09-27-2019 at 08:18AM
Last Edit: 09-27-2019 at 08:20AM

Description Hunter 13 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

Mixed feeling about this oldie.

First the bad news: I seriously doubt this contraption will type again. Too many things are damaged: the platen (cracked), the feed roller (corroded / mutated into something horrid), the caps system (jammed, even missing pieces there), some severely rusted parts... Too many open fronts. In addition, the seller was mistaken about the real condition of the typewriter. He was deceived by the apparent good working of the machine because all the keys and typebars move, the carriage advances happily and the "Empire" decal is fairly well preserved. Even the bell makes a nice "ding!" at the end of the line.

Then the good news: I can't feel bad about such an old typewriter. Even if it won't type again there's a good spot for it at home. Besides, looking at the s/n (which was covered by a thick layer of sh- I mean, dirt), this is an OLD one. Everything over the century mark is welcome. Thing is I have doubts about my dating. According to the TWDB, this thingy got out of the production line around 1907, but by looking deeper I'm confused about the Empire / THE empire issue. Are Empire and THE Empire one and the same? Is this a rebranded Adler 7? For starters it's noticeably lighter than the Adler 7, and several pieces look wildly different. but at the same time, the Empire page here says it's a German licensed product, therefore being probably an Adler 7. But then again Martin Howard gives a different verion in his website (see links). So, what am I looking at? An original model or a licensed one?

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

Photos:




It took a while to find the s/n. mainly because it was well hidden below a mountain of dirt.
It took a while to find the s/n. mainly because it was well hidden below a mountain of dirt.


This feed roller makes my eyes bleed.
This feed roller makes my eyes bleed.



Severe damage here: missing pieces in the caps system. As a bonus feature, it's jammed.
Severe damage here: missing pieces in the caps system. As a bonus feature, it's jammed.

The underside of this typewriter looks like a torture device...
The underside of this typewriter looks like a torture device...


Ribbon advance system at its simplest. Make a iron piece go from side to side an pull the gears on the ribbon spools.
Ribbon advance system at its simplest. Make a iron piece go from side to side an pull the gears on the ribbon spools.


Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)

Javier Vazquez del Olmo's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 6476

The first typewriter I saw was my grandpa´s Olivetti Linea 98 at the office. It was just a curio for me. Then I was given a Nakajima, which I didn´t use and my grandfather took it from me because it was easier to handle than the bulky Linea 98. Now I own that typewriter, and I started a little collection in Valladolid, Spain. The Nakajima, which is "my" typewriter only returned home in 2017, almost 20 years later, when he wanted a better typewriter.

A collection that started small grew into something bigger, a nuisace for my family and a great source of satisfaction for me.


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