1967 Commodore Unknown #4201770
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Uwe Wachtendorf (Uwe)
Created: 09-10-2014 at 09:12PM
Last Edit: 09-10-2014 at 09:55PM
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Description:
Here's a Commodore that actually isn't a Consul, but an Erika Model 33 instead. Commodore sold Consul machines before, and after, this rebadged Erika was offered to its customers, so I have to wonder why it was even sold in the first place.
Could the Erika have been a stop-gap measure because Consul couldn't keep up with demand, or were there temporary issues with importing the machines from Czechoslovakia, or maybe Commodore was testing the waters in the hope of changing typewriter manufacturers?
Whatever the reason, I can't believe that the Erika model went over very well. The Commodore Erika is a horrible machine, both vague in type feel and clunky in its action. In fact, the typewriter is so awful that when you sit down to type out a page it more closely resembles a session of Whack-a-Mole than anything resembling typing. Despite this the Erika 33 got around; aside from being used by Commodore, it also appeared under other brand names including Optima.
I've gone over this machine carefully with the thought that maybe there was something amiss under the hood, but it's in very good condition and I don't see any options for improving its performance.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Uwe Wachtendorf (Uwe)
Uwe Wachtendorf's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 13159
Typewriter collector based in Toronto who prefers mid-century models.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Commodore Unknown on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Commodore Serial Number page and the Commodore Unknown By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
