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1945 Patria (Swiss) Portable Serial # 50304 1945 Patria (Swiss) Portable typewriter, Serial # 50304 James Gifford's 1945 Patria (Swiss) Portable typewriter. 2017-01-21 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of James Gifford: 1945 Patria (Swiss) Portable Serial # 50304 I picked this up at a local consignment shop for not much money. The tag said "no markings," and I couldn't see a make or model name on it anywhere when I was in the shop and thought I would figure that out when I got home. Well, I'm stumped. I still can't find any markings. It's metal, with a silver metallic paint job and plastic platen knobs. The return lever pops up to type and locks down again. It's a carriage shift, with double shift. The one identifying marker would seem to be the ribbon selector, which sits to the right of the ribbon vibrator, and I own no other machine with that feature. The case has a curious latching system, which reminds me of the 1950s DM I own. The machine overall resembles the Voss, without the gullwing ribbon covers, or perhaps an Olympia. The low serial number suggests either that this is a relatively low production number or that there weren't that many made. The serial number was stamped in a semi-circle around the foot underneath, another feature I haven't seen before. It types fairly well, though I've clicked something and now the carriage insists on sliding all the way to the left and I can't get it to sit still. All part of the fun, I guess!

1945 Patria (Swiss) Portable #50304

Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Gifford (giffer)
Created: 01-21-2017 at 12:30PM
Last Edit: 01-21-2017 at 01:27PM


Description:

I picked this up at a local consignment shop for not much money. The tag said "no markings," and I couldn't see a make or model name on it anywhere when I was in the shop and thought I would figure that out when I got home. Well, I'm stumped. I still can't find any markings. It's metal, with a silver metallic paint job and plastic platen knobs. The return lever pops up to type and locks down again. It's a carriage shift, with double shift. The one identifying marker would seem to be the ribbon selector, which sits to the right of the ribbon vibrator, and I own no other machine with that feature. The case has a curious latching system, which reminds me of the 1950s DM I own. The machine overall resembles the Voss, without the gullwing ribbon covers, or perhaps an Olympia. The low serial number suggests either that this is a relatively low production number or that there weren't that many made. The serial number was stamped in a semi-circle around the foot underneath, another feature I haven't seen before. It types fairly well, though I've clicked something and now the carriage insists on sliding all the way to the left and I can't get it to sit still. All part of the fun, I guess!

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Low serial number stamped in a semi-circle.
Low serial number stamped in a semi-circle.

Note the ribbon selector to the right of the ribbon vibrator.
Note the ribbon selector to the right of the ribbon vibrator.








Hunter: James Gifford (giffer)

James Gifford's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2325

I am a writer and book editor as well as a collector of typewriters. It started with an Hermes 3000 desktop, which I stupidly sold last year, but now another sits on my desk for typing envelopes with a beautiful sans serif typeface. I type every day on different machines in my collection, which stands at about 60 at the moment. Favourites include my two 3000s, a 1930s Smith-Corona Silent, the Olivetti Studio 44 (red case), and a crinkle, chrome-encircled Royal Quiet Deluxe. I have also been finding very inexpensive Royal 10s of late; I currently own three, two from the 1910s and the other a later model, and another (1931) I sold to a friend at cost for his son, who appreciates vintage things. I am always on the lookout for new and interesting machines and often trade or sell to try new models. Living and working in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.



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