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Home » Hercules (Flying Fish/KOFA) » Flying Fish PSQ » 1977 #92390
1977 Hercules (Flying Fish/KOFA) Flying Fish PSQ Serial # 92390 1977 Hercules (Flying Fish/KOFA) Flying Fish PSQ typewriter, Serial # 92390 Gerard Shen's 1977 Hercules (Flying Fish/KOFA) Flying Fish PSQ typewriter. 2020-08-03 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Gerard Shen: 1977 Hercules (Flying Fish/KOFA) Flying Fish PSQ Serial # 92390 Once referred to as the Mysterious 100 by some typospherian, the portable Flying Fish Model PSQ was produced in 1977 according to the original documents. The dimension is 29.5*29.5*7.8cm. This model was later rebranded as Hero model 110 or KOFA 100 (hence the mysterious 100). Design-wise, the machine is essentially an Adler for its body and Olympia Splendid its carriage. So it's fair to say that these small-framed machines have German blood and, when being typed on, feels like one too. The green bilingual label on its back shows that this particular machine is built for export hence better quality. Unlike almost every typewriter made since mid-1980s in China that has PICA typeface, earlier portables are more likely to have Elite typeface 12. Alignment on this machine isn't bad. Also worth-mentioning is that earlier models uses vinyl bags just like most of its western counterpart back at that time, such as Olympia splendid . However, portables made since early-mid 1980s come in plastic bags. Early models are greyish blue, red and white, but mostly red.

A bit of history of typewriter production in China. For at least the first 20 years, typewriter in China was only manufactured in Shanghai, the country's industrial hub back at that time. Under the Chinese planned economic system, 1949-1992, industrial production and distribution of commodities, of which the typewriter industry is a part, was decided by government at all levels. Thus, the production of Flying Fish typewriters, both desktop and portables, was first assigned to Shanghai Calculator Factory. In early-mid 1980s, the Factory was divided into two, namely, Shanghai Typewriter Factory and Shanghai No. 2 Typewriter Factory, to keep up with growing demand. The production of Flying Fish desktops was assigned to the former while Hero Model 110 were assigned to No.2 Factory . In addition to the production of desktop machines, the Shanghai Typewriter Factory also produced another model, namely the Model 2oo. When exported, their products were collectively rebranded as KOFA 100, 200 and 300. KOFA is abbreviation for "scientific development" in Chinese.

1977 Hercules (Flying Fish/KOFA) Flying Fish PSQ #92390

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Gerard Shen (machopolitan)
Created: 08-03-2020 at 04:19AM
Last Edit: 08-03-2020 at 04:43AM

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Description:

Once referred to as the Mysterious 100 by some typospherian, the portable Flying Fish Model PSQ was produced in 1977 according to the original documents. The dimension is 29.5*29.5*7.8cm. This model was later rebranded as Hero model 110 or KOFA 100 (hence the mysterious 100). Design-wise, the machine is essentially an Adler for its body and Olympia Splendid its carriage. So it's fair to say that these small-framed machines have German blood and, when being typed on, feels like one too. The green bilingual label on its back shows that this particular machine is built for export hence better quality. Unlike almost every typewriter made since mid-1980s in China that has PICA typeface, earlier portables are more likely to have Elite typeface 12. Alignment on this machine isn't bad. Also worth-mentioning is that earlier models uses vinyl bags just like most of its western counterpart back at that time, such as Olympia splendid . However, portables made since early-mid 1980s come in plastic bags. Early models are greyish blue, red and white, but mostly red.

A bit of history of typewriter production in China. For at least the first 20 years, typewriter in China was only manufactured in Shanghai, the country's industrial hub back at that time. Under the Chinese planned economic system, 1949-1992, industrial production and distribution of commodities, of which the typewriter industry is a part, was decided by government at all levels. Thus, the production of Flying Fish typewriters, both desktop and portables, was first assigned to Shanghai Calculator Factory. In early-mid 1980s, the Factory was divided into two, namely, Shanghai Typewriter Factory and Shanghai No. 2 Typewriter Factory, to keep up with growing demand. The production of Flying Fish desktops was assigned to the former while Hero Model 110 were assigned to No.2 Factory . In addition to the production of desktop machines, the Shanghai Typewriter Factory also produced another model, namely the Model 2oo. When exported, their products were collectively rebranded as KOFA 100, 200 and 300. KOFA is abbreviation for "scientific development" in Chinese.

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Hunter: Gerard Shen (machopolitan)

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Status: Typewriter Hunter
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Hi, I'm a typewriter enthusiast from Shanghai, China. In a period of 20 years, I have collected more than 100 machines. My interest in typewriter started when I was 11 years old (1989) when China started to deepen its opening-up to the outside world. Hence local stationary started to sell manual typewriters


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