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Home » Olympia » Robust » 1944 #502777
1944 Olympia Robust Serial # 502777 1944 Olympia Robust typewriter, Serial # 502777 Bryan Kruk's 1944 Olympia Robust typewriter. 2014-07-06 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Bryan Kruk: 1944 Olympia Robust Serial # 502777 This typewriter is definitely my favorite out of all my machines in my collection. This Olympia Robust was a bring-back from a U.S. soldier during the Second World War. It was most likely used by the Nazis at the end of the war; but that part is not completely known. What I do know for sure, is that J.L. Nelson (his name and army serial number is painted on the bottom of the case) brought this machine back after serving in WWII. The SS symbol on the 5 key is not rubbed or damaged in any way, but the typebar is altered. Possibly for legal reasons, the typebar has a "$" symbol instead of the SS. You may also have already noticed that the usual QWERTZ keyboard on is now the more American "QWERTY" so this also suggests that Mr. Nelson might have planned to use this typewriter for personal use.
Mr. Nelson had some experience with machines and mechanics, so it's very possible that he could have brought this machine back intending to use it, and altered the typebar himself. Anyways, Mr. Nelson and his wife both died on the same day, and I first found this machine a few months later at a bid-board auction where I ended up winning it.

It would be stunning to know how Mr. Nelson exactly found this machine and who used it and where it was used before it was captured, but for now it's only a mystery.

1944 Olympia Robust #502777

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Bryan Kruk (Typewriters101)
Created: 07-06-2014 at 07:59AM
Last Edit: 07-06-2014 at 08:14AM

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Description:

This typewriter is definitely my favorite out of all my machines in my collection. This Olympia Robust was a bring-back from a U.S. soldier during the Second World War. It was most likely used by the Nazis at the end of the war; but that part is not completely known. What I do know for sure, is that J.L. Nelson (his name and army serial number is painted on the bottom of the case) brought this machine back after serving in WWII. The SS symbol on the 5 key is not rubbed or damaged in any way, but the typebar is altered. Possibly for legal reasons, the typebar has a "$" symbol instead of the SS. You may also have already noticed that the usual QWERTZ keyboard on is now the more American "QWERTY" so this also suggests that Mr. Nelson might have planned to use this typewriter for personal use.
Mr. Nelson had some experience with machines and mechanics, so it's very possible that he could have brought this machine back intending to use it, and altered the typebar himself. Anyways, Mr. Nelson and his wife both died on the same day, and I first found this machine a few months later at a bid-board auction where I ended up winning it.

It would be stunning to know how Mr. Nelson exactly found this machine and who used it and where it was used before it was captured, but for now it's only a mystery.

Typeface Specimen:

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Hunter: Bryan Kruk (Typewriters101)

Bryan Kruk's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 51

I'm a 17 year old typewriter collector/dealer in Pennsylvania.
I bought my first typewriter, an Olympia SM4, from a church flea market when I was 11. Ever since, I've loved typewriters.

I sell the newer models on my website (typewriters101.com) but I also have a quite large collection that I've built up of about 75 typewriters which are not for sale.
The machines I sell are cleaned, oiled, and have new ribbons. It's definitely provided plenty of money for machines to buy for my collection. I hope to share many of my machines from my collection here.


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

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