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Home » Hermes » 8 Robust » 1961 #8073826
1961 Hermes 8 Robust Serial # 8073826 1961 Hermes 8 Robust typewriter, Serial # 8073826 Paolo Dal Chiele's 1961 Hermes 8 Robust typewriter. 2025-03-11 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Paolo Dal Chiele: 1961 Hermes 8 Robust Serial # 8073826 02
Update.
During a visit to my "cave" (the place were I keep my typewriter safely in storage) I have made some more pictures to the Hermes of the Swiss Army, presenting more details on the specific features. In details:
- the tabulator key on the left is bigger that usual, and seems to be adapted to be activated with the palm of the left hand;
- the paper bail is plain, without roller and graduation, as is the paper were expected to go above it instead of below;
- the the two small support paper on the back protection plate are missing, again confirming that the route of the paper was different than usual.
Another important difference is te presence of two supports on the rear of the carriage to fix an articulated appendix to be mounted on top of the carriage. The appendix is movable, and when it is in contact with the paper table (as seems it was its intended working position considering the presence of two rubber support on its back) it is completely hiding the text from viewer. If lifted up, the cover may have the function of a protection, which could have been useful when the the typewriter was used outdoor.
For the moment, I have no idea what was the main reason why the typewriter was fitted with such an unusual appendix.
Inexplicable to me is also the reason why the box contains a second cover and two identical articulated appendixes, which is stressing somehow the importance of the appendix for the typewriter to be used for its intended purpose.
All in all, it a mystery still unsolved for me.
I will investigate the typewriter more in detail when I will find another Model 8 to compare with. It is not for the moment on top of my wish list, but ma be I will succeed to borrow one.

01
Talking about the Olympia SM7 Robust of which I have posted the gallery, I thought about another typewriter specifically made for the army, this Hermes 8.
I actually don't believe that Hermes ever used the term Robust to identify the typewriter for the army, and contrary to the SM 7 it seems not to present obvious differences from the civil models, but the wooden case and some accessories seems to be specific. The box includes in addition to the user's manual and the dust cover, a spare ribbon cover and two strange articulated paper supports that were probably intended for some specific use. I am posting the two pictures that I keep for my records and the card that confirms that the typewriter was assigned in 1969 to the Swiss Army arsenal in Bern. More to come....

1961 Hermes 8 Robust #8073826

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Paolo Dal Chiele (pdcox)
Created: 02-02-2025 at 03:53AM
Last Edit: 03-11-2025 at 10:12AM

Description Hunter 11 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

02
Update.
During a visit to my "cave" (the place were I keep my typewriter safely in storage) I have made some more pictures to the Hermes of the Swiss Army, presenting more details on the specific features. In details:
- the tabulator key on the left is bigger that usual, and seems to be adapted to be activated with the palm of the left hand;
- the paper bail is plain, without roller and graduation, as is the paper were expected to go above it instead of below;
- the the two small support paper on the back protection plate are missing, again confirming that the route of the paper was different than usual.
Another important difference is te presence of two supports on the rear of the carriage to fix an articulated appendix to be mounted on top of the carriage. The appendix is movable, and when it is in contact with the paper table (as seems it was its intended working position considering the presence of two rubber support on its back) it is completely hiding the text from viewer. If lifted up, the cover may have the function of a protection, which could have been useful when the the typewriter was used outdoor.
For the moment, I have no idea what was the main reason why the typewriter was fitted with such an unusual appendix.
Inexplicable to me is also the reason why the box contains a second cover and two identical articulated appendixes, which is stressing somehow the importance of the appendix for the typewriter to be used for its intended purpose.
All in all, it a mystery still unsolved for me.
I will investigate the typewriter more in detail when I will find another Model 8 to compare with. It is not for the moment on top of my wish list, but ma be I will succeed to borrow one.

01
Talking about the Olympia SM7 Robust of which I have posted the gallery, I thought about another typewriter specifically made for the army, this Hermes 8.
I actually don't believe that Hermes ever used the term Robust to identify the typewriter for the army, and contrary to the SM 7 it seems not to present obvious differences from the civil models, but the wooden case and some accessories seems to be specific. The box includes in addition to the user's manual and the dust cover, a spare ribbon cover and two strange articulated paper supports that were probably intended for some specific use. I am posting the two pictures that I keep for my records and the card that confirms that the typewriter was assigned in 1969 to the Swiss Army arsenal in Bern. More to come....

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Not very visible but on the right and left sides of the typewriter are two strange support to be mounted on the carriage which use is not obvious to me.
Not very visible but on the right and left sides of the typewriter are two strange support to be mounted on the carriage which use is not obvious to me.

Made in 1961, the typewriter was probably delivered for its last assignment on 26.02.1969.
Made in 1961, the typewriter was probably delivered for its last assignment on 26.02.1969.


At a first sight, the specific features of the military version of the Hermes 8 are the large tabulator key on the left to be activated with the hand's palm, the plain paper bail without rollers and graduations and the missing paper supports.
At a first sight, the specific features of the military version of the Hermes 8 are the large tabulator key on the left to be activated with the hand's palm, the plain paper bail without rollers and graduations and the missing paper supports.

Details of the large tabulator key.
Details of the large tabulator key.

Detail of the paper bail.
Detail of the paper bail.

Supports of the upper carriage appendix.
Supports of the upper carriage appendix.

The carriage upper support in lifted position.
The carriage upper support in lifted position.

The carriage upper support in contact with the platen.
The carriage upper support in contact with the platen.

The structure of the upper appendix from the rear.
The structure of the upper appendix from the rear.

In the box there is second cover and two upper carriage appendixes.
In the box there is second cover and two upper carriage appendixes.

Hunter: Paolo Dal Chiele (pdcox)

Paolo Dal Chiele's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2818

Interested in historic motoring and vintage cars, I received a typewriter as a bonus when I bought and old off-road car. The previous owner had found somewhere a typewriter produced for the German army and when he sold me the car he gave me the typewriter too. As I learned later, it was a1961 Olympia SM7 Robust..
Of the typewriters I value more character than perfection, the signs that time has left and the stories - or fragments of stories - of those who used them ...


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Hermes 8 Robust on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Hermes Serial Number page and the Hermes 8 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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