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1938 Diplomat 4 Serial # 0190857 1938 Diplomat 4 typewriter, Serial # 0190857 GK Mandigo's 1938 Diplomat 4 typewriter. 2025-12-10 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of GK Mandigo: 1938 Diplomat 4 Serial # 0190857 Nickname "Klaus"
My new oldest typewriter is also my first German keyboard. This pre-WWII machine was manufactured in Olympia's Erfurt, Germany factory. It is a rebadged Olympia Simplex. Olympia sold their own brand in their own stores/showrooms and changed the name for the same machines sold in other places like stationary stores or office supply stores. As the name "Simplex" would suggest, this is a more basic machine than some of its more upscale siblings like the Elite. For example, it lacks a left-side platen knob by design. I will be replacing the current plastic DIN 2103 ribbon spools with metal spools. Once I am able to do that I will put up a typeface specimen sample and give the machine a flush/clean but it is remarkably clean for a nearly 90-year old typewriter. Monochrome 10-CPI Pica typeface and glossy black body paint and black keys that feel like Bakelite and beautifully intact decals.

1938 Diplomat 4 #0190857

Status: My Collection
Hunter: GK Mandigo (gkmandigo)
Created: 12-10-2025 at 10:51AM
Last Edit: 12-10-2025 at 11:03AM

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

Description:

Nickname "Klaus"
My new oldest typewriter is also my first German keyboard. This pre-WWII machine was manufactured in Olympia's Erfurt, Germany factory. It is a rebadged Olympia Simplex. Olympia sold their own brand in their own stores/showrooms and changed the name for the same machines sold in other places like stationary stores or office supply stores. As the name "Simplex" would suggest, this is a more basic machine than some of its more upscale siblings like the Elite. For example, it lacks a left-side platen knob by design. I will be replacing the current plastic DIN 2103 ribbon spools with metal spools. Once I am able to do that I will put up a typeface specimen sample and give the machine a flush/clean but it is remarkably clean for a nearly 90-year old typewriter. Monochrome 10-CPI Pica typeface and glossy black body paint and black keys that feel like Bakelite and beautifully intact decals.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:














Hunter: GK Mandigo (gkmandigo)

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Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 797

Metastatic cancer fighter and sudden cardiac arrest survivor who has gotten into vintage typewriter collecting after realizing that life is short and typewriters are fascinating. My machines range from 1938 to 1973 and I type on all of them and have given each of them a name. Have I mentioned that life is short? I am having great fun with this obsessi- I mean hobby. I live in San Diego, California.


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