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1962 Groma Kolibri N Serial # N43143 1962 Groma Kolibri N typewriter, Serial # N43143 Ted Munk's 1962 Groma Kolibri N typewriter. 2024-01-16 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Ted Munk: 1962 Groma Kolibri N Serial # N43143 Sighted at MTE, while I was visiting, an older fellow carries this battered case into Bill's store and tells us about having received the machine gratis from the manufacturer back in his newspaper reporting days in the early 60's. Stickers on the case seem to confirm this, showing press stickers for various events from 1964 to 1969.

This is a puzzler, because the Kolibri N was supposed to have ended in 1957. This example has a hand-engraved serial number higher than any listed examples I've found, and seems to conform to the "Second Series" serial numbers for the Kolibri (not "N" model), but about a year or more after the highest known serial. Really weird, this one.

Oh, and QWERTY keyboard! (:

UPDATE: good gravy! I went by MTE again today and Bill had this thing working perfectly and typing like a dream! I couldn't believe it. The thing was a *mess*.

And now I really kind of want it. I made him an offer, but I think he wants to hold onto it awhile. Apparently it was hours of work re-attaching snapped keylever bars and even re-mic-ing out the segment slots. Apparently Kolibri segments are made of a very soft metal, or so he reports.

And now it's MINE! :D

1962 Groma Kolibri N #N43143

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Ted Munk (munk)
Created: 05-01-2015 at 06:08PM
Last Edit: 01-16-2024 at 07:56PM

Description Hunter 18 Photos 7 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

Sighted at MTE, while I was visiting, an older fellow carries this battered case into Bill's store and tells us about having received the machine gratis from the manufacturer back in his newspaper reporting days in the early 60's. Stickers on the case seem to confirm this, showing press stickers for various events from 1964 to 1969.

This is a puzzler, because the Kolibri N was supposed to have ended in 1957. This example has a hand-engraved serial number higher than any listed examples I've found, and seems to conform to the "Second Series" serial numbers for the Kolibri (not "N" model), but about a year or more after the highest known serial. Really weird, this one.

Oh, and QWERTY keyboard! (:

UPDATE: good gravy! I went by MTE again today and Bill had this thing working perfectly and typing like a dream! I couldn't believe it. The thing was a *mess*.

And now I really kind of want it. I made him an offer, but I think he wants to hold onto it awhile. Apparently it was hours of work re-attaching snapped keylever bars and even re-mic-ing out the segment slots. Apparently Kolibri segments are made of a very soft metal, or so he reports.

And now it's MINE! :D

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Hunter: Ted Munk (munk)

Ted Munk's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Curator
Points: 2786

I am a scoundrel without a cause, and my swank outshines the sun.

I am a casual Typewriter Hunter residing in the sweltering deserts of Arizona with a wife, three cats and about 50 typewriters. My main hunting ground is thrift stores, and I rarely pay more than $10 for a machine. My collection consists mainly of portables with cases, and they stay in the cases unless I am actively using it (usually more than one at a time). I do, however keep a handful of interesting Selectrics, including a Composer and a couple of large Nakajima Electronics to use as daisywheel printers for my vintage laptop collection.


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

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