1978 Triumph Electric 151f #41029286

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Rainer Fredrich (Eagle)
Created: 05-09-2026 at 01:12PM
Last Edit: 05-31-2026 at 12:06AM

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Description:

This typewriter was manufactured by Triumph-Adler’s Adlerwerke factory in Frankfurt am Main, Germany in late 1978. It's fully identical to the Adler Electric 151f except of the nameplate. All of the Triumph and Adler 111/131/151-series typewriter were build in Frankfurt as well as the almost identical Royal 970 (different styling and control elements) and the technically identical Royal 991. And the Imperial 800 belongs to this series of typewriters too. This was the time when Litton Inc. had owned these companies and optimized their capabilities by concentrating the standard electric typewriter production of Litton’s subsidiaries Royal and Imperial to Germany.

After acquiring the typewriter in 2024 (which was 46 years old then) and having a look into it I noticed that all of the oil that was applied during production on specific mechanical elements had vanished. The machine parts (joints, linkages etc.) were very dry. After re-lubrication the typewriter is now functioning well again. Beside from that the rubber of the platen has a bit hardened over time which is very common with old typewriters.

The sellers of the typewriter were a young couple who had taken over the house—along with a multitude of household items—of a deceased master electrician. The typewriter was among these items. It was offered for a modest sum via the classifieds. I made the two-hour drive to pick it up in person. The fuel costs were definitely higher than the purchase price. The typewriter was only slightly dusty—and, unlike many office typewriters, had seen relatively little use and was treated with care. The electrician probably made a lot of typos because there were many Tipp-Ex correction paper scraps scattered in the machine, which I then removed during cleaning.

This one is equipped with the RaRo typeface 'Elite-Schatten Ro84' with 12cpi (2,12mm spacing).

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

• Triumph Electric 111/131/151 f+d Instruction Handbook
• More photos & technical details
• Imperial 800 (TWDB)
• Royal 970 (TWDB)
• Royal 991 (TWDB)

Photos:

Hunter: Rainer Fredrich (Eagle)

Rainer Fredrich's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 25

Born in 1959, I started an apprenticeship as a mechanic at Adlerwerke in Frankfurt am Main in 1976 after finishing school. During this time, I gained a deeper understanding of many types of metalworking, such as drilling, turning, milling, grinding, and so on. The apprenticeship was very diverse because many different departments within the company were tasked with various responsibilities for the production of typewriters. There was also a toolmaking department, a hardening shop, and an electroplating shop. Most of the components for the typewriters, as well as the necessary tools, were manufactured by the company itself.

During my apprenticeship, I also came into contact with the production of typewriters. At that time, the Triumph/Adler "St.e." (Standard electric) model series, with its models 131 and 151, as well as the largely identical typewriters for the companies Imperial and Royal, were produced there. As far as I can remember, about 400 electric office typewriters were produced there daily, in addition to mechanical office typewriters.

After finishing my apprenticeship in 1980, I joined the German military (Bundeswehr). When I returned to the company in 1981, it was no longer the same. Classic typewriters were no longer selling as well and had become too expensive to produce. Electronic typewriters and computers were on the rise. Mismanagement had brought the company close to bankruptcy. The production of classic typewriters was stopped. The company was in a very bad state. There was talk of closing the production site in Frankfurt. Due to strong protests from the workforce and politicians, a closure was prevented. However, this was unfortunately accompanied by the layoffs of 1600 employees. At the end of 1981, I then joined the daisy wheel typewriter department, where I worked until I left the company in 1989. After that, I worked for an airline and did something completely different. Now I am retired.