1970 Consul 235 #0235057069
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Jonas Lauritsen (legofanatikeren)
Created: 04-21-2024 at 05:35AM
Last Edit: 04-21-2024 at 05:53AM
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Description:
Stumbled across this at a flea market, for about $10.
It seemed decently intact, and is possibly the lightest and most compact machine I've had my hands on to date. Even the original case that was included hinted at this - it had a straight up shoulder sling like a handbag for your portable typewriter.
Besides the case, there was a few (non-original, I'm pretty sure) brushes for cleaning, and the original spools were also included. In fact, the ink ribbon itself wasn't dry, so I immediately took off the spools and stored them in an airtight container. Thus, no type sample this time, I'm afraid.
Interestingly, looking at the few other examples of the 235 model, mine don't have any traces of the "Consul" lettering on the right side of the top cover, instead using a sticker in the center. Maybe it once had it, or maybe there's some other story behind it. I'll likely never know... I do prefer the colour palette of this green though.
After a clean up there was a few defects; first of all the spring that held the paper support arm interfered with the tabulator system in the back - essentially the carriage ground to a halt halfway and couldn't pass by because the spring was in the way (see pictures). It turned out the paper arm itself was bent, thus pushing the spring further out. Having attempted to bend it back, it now runs fine, though it requires a helping hand from a pair of pliers or the like to fish out the arm itself, being pretty much immovable due to tension from the bend pressing it into the backside. I dare not attempt to straighten it out further, as it's riveted to the backplate and the bend itself is nigh impossible to reach without deformation of the enamel plate.
Secondly, there was a decorative black metal plate on the top cover, on which the old glue had given up. A new, thin coat of glue fixed that up, along with some clamps.
And lastly, the case itself has a broken lock, given the fact the top has been ripped partially off the case. I'm not capable of fixing this, so it'll just have to stay that way.
The keyboard has a Danish layout, all the keys function just fine, as does the ribbon reverse, platen levers, tabulator systems, colour switch, etc.
the model number is written on the back, and the serial number can be found just underneath the right side spool mount, stamped into the frame.
Feet are original, intact, and very low to the ground, in keeping with the very minimalistic height on this machine.
Curiously, the topcover had an embossed string of numbers and text inside, see pictures. It could just be a minor thing, but I at first thought it had to do with the serial number. No the case though.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Jonas Lauritsen (legofanatikeren)
Jonas Lauritsen's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 643
Casual collector of replica flintlock pistols, and in that same vein, picked up a couple of typewriters through the years - as a mechanical engineer, I could not resist.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Consul 235 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Consul Serial Number page and the Consul 235 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
