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Home » Optima » Elite 2 » 1954 #42221
1954 Optima Elite 2 Serial # 42221 1954 Optima Elite 2 typewriter, Serial # 42221 Daniel Burgoyne's 1954 Optima Elite 2 typewriter. 2023-06-11 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Daniel Burgoyne: 1954 Optima Elite 2 Serial # 42221 Found locally in Ottawa, Ontario. I was told this machine was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Mendel, who lived in Ottawa and later, in L'Orignal.

Needs a thorough cleaning to remove pink eraser crumbs from the inside. Otherwise, it is in good condition but a bit gummed up. Nice steel DIN 2103 ribbon spools on the machine. The case is in almost perfect condition.

This machine does not have a provision for a paper rest, unlike the other Elite 2 listed here. The carriage cover that serves as a rear paper pan does not have any holes to fit a paper rest.

This QWERTZ keyboard has some useful symbols, such as: § + ! and, an accent grave ` and aigu ´ that meet together to form an accent circonflexe ^. That being said, these diacritics are not special nor rare on a QWERTZ layout, but I would still love to find one of those keyboard layouts that also includes the cédille and a tréma as dead keys. They exist, I have seen them on Erikas.

Typeface looks like the standard Courier but I could not find a reference to the codes. Pitch of 2.6 mm per caracter and please don't tell me it's 10 cpi.

1954 Optima Elite 2 #42221

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Daniel Burgoyne (Ixzed23)
Created: 05-09-2023 at 08:02PM
Last Edit: 06-11-2023 at 01:17PM

Description Hunter 10 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

Found locally in Ottawa, Ontario. I was told this machine was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Mendel, who lived in Ottawa and later, in L'Orignal.

Needs a thorough cleaning to remove pink eraser crumbs from the inside. Otherwise, it is in good condition but a bit gummed up. Nice steel DIN 2103 ribbon spools on the machine. The case is in almost perfect condition.

This machine does not have a provision for a paper rest, unlike the other Elite 2 listed here. The carriage cover that serves as a rear paper pan does not have any holes to fit a paper rest.

This QWERTZ keyboard has some useful symbols, such as: § + ! and, an accent grave ` and aigu ´ that meet together to form an accent circonflexe ^. That being said, these diacritics are not special nor rare on a QWERTZ layout, but I would still love to find one of those keyboard layouts that also includes the cédille and a tréma as dead keys. They exist, I have seen them on Erikas.

Typeface looks like the standard Courier but I could not find a reference to the codes. Pitch of 2.6 mm per caracter and please don't tell me it's 10 cpi.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:




Machine locked onto the base of its case.
Machine locked onto the base of its case.

The paper guide plate, covering the top of the carriage, has no provision for a paper rest either of the formed wire type or of the later model's single sliding vertical ruler.
The paper guide plate, covering the top of the carriage, has no provision for a paper rest either of the formed wire type or of the later model's single sliding vertical ruler.


I quite like this latching system, with a closing safety flap to prevent the top from accidentally opening.
I quite like this latching system, with a closing safety flap to prevent the top from accidentally opening.

Underside of case
Underside of case

Base onto which the machine is fixed for storage and transport. You put the rear end down first, then lower the front and lock it in place with the two levers.
Base onto which the machine is fixed for storage and transport. You put the rear end down first, then lower the front and lock it in place with the two levers.

Typeface codes: 1+2 1 "unknown symbol" 2
Typeface codes: 1+2 1 "unknown symbol" 2

Hunter: Daniel Burgoyne (Ixzed23)

Daniel Burgoyne's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 595

Bonjour! I am from the region of Montreal, Quebec and moved to Ottawa, Ontario in 1992.

Amateur watchmaker and machinist, I love anything mechanical, hydraulic or electric. I have restored American and Canadian clocks and small lathes, milling machines and a jig bore.

Most of my typewriters have French Canadian QWERTY keyboards, with some exception for rare finds.


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