Continental 100 Typewriter, 1938, Rare, Luxury Model, Restored
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:31113980 | Modified Item: No |
| Brand: Continental | Year: 1960 |
Few typewriter models have the iconic status among some typewriter aficionados as the Continental 100. It stands among the Hermes 3000, Royal Quiet Deluxe, Smith Corona Clipper, Erika Model M and Olympia SM4 among others. The reason for this iconic status, in my opinion, is the brilliant melding of form and function, the sublime combining of aesthetic design and inspired engineering, and, of course, its rarity. This was a "luxury model" typewriter when it was manufactured and remains s...o today. On top of that, having been manufactured at the very eve of World War II, it is representative of a moment in European history at the height of modern design and technical capability. There were dark years in Europe to follow.
This extraordinary typewriter is a 1938 Continental 100 in superb, original condition with hard case and two original brushes. This typewriter is in excellent working condition. It has been serviced, adjusted and appropriately cleaned and lubricated. The cosmetic condition is outstanding.
This is a fully-working--as original--typewriter. The only thing that you have to do is sit down, put paper on the roller and start typing. It comes with the Acme seal and a full mechanical warranty for 6 months. We provide careful and attentive after-purchase advice and assistance from the date of purchase to the end of eternity to ensure your full satisfaction.
This is a typewriter model that was considered a top-of-the-line, deluxe model typewriter when it was produced. The cost of this machine, new in 1938, was around 440 Swiss francs. Converting that to today's US Dollars for comparison equals a value, today, of about 1, 400$. Being a very expensive machine, there were not a large number of these typewriters manufactured. Very few of these come onto the market nowadays, most being carefully guarded by the collectors who own them.
The design aspects of this typewriter are inspired genius. The Ribbon Cover is composed of three escalating levels inviting the typer "into" the typewriter. The contrasting texture side panels give a wonderful sense of depth and richness. The design of the paper bail alone can bring palpitations to my heart through its elegance, beauty and effectiveness.
One engineering marvel to note on this typewriter is the combined margin and tab function lever. It allows for multiple Margin settings as well as the usual tabulator settings. It takes a little getting used to but is an extraordinary mechanical innovation that has not been repeated on other models or brands of typewriter.
The mechanical condition: We have thoroughly serviced, cleaned and adjusted this beautiful typewriter to its original mechanical condition. It works as originally, typing well, all levers and keys work in their original manner. The complex tabulator and margin setting features work as new. The platen roller is in very fine condition with a wonderful durometer reading of 91 (Shore A scale--Ideal = 85-95). Probably it was replaced a few decades ago. The Paper Feeder Rollers are in fine condition as are the rubber feet on the bottom assuring good grip on the desktop.
The cosmetic condition...well, take a look at the photos and you can judge for yourself. The body finish is excellent with only some light rubbing, principally on the ribbon cover. The chrome-plated parts are in very fine condition with extremely light signs of usage. The platen roller knobs are intact and solid. The logo "decals" are original and show only light wear.
The typeface is Pica (10 cpi) and you can see from the photos the crisp, dark and clear impression of the characters on the paper. This typewriter has been outfitted with a new, two-colour BACO ribbon (the choice of discerning collectors), on the two original metal ribbon spools. The keyboard is QWERTZ with accents for European languages.
The case is in very good condition however with some marks of use and age. The lock works well but is lacking the original key. The handle is solid and intact. The interior is clean with all original fittings intact and usable. The green felt base of the interior is in good condition but showing some signs of age. It is, though, intact and has retained good colour. The rubber feet on the exterior of the base panel are still very usable on a desktop.
For some discussion of the Continental 100, please see:https://oztypewriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/seeking-solace-in-continental-portable.htmlhttp://xoverit.blogspot.com/2016/10/continental-100.html
This extraordinary example of a Continental 100 will be packed and shipped with the greatest care to preserve its condition and beauty. It will be fully insured for shipment. We have a lot of experience in shipping typewriters and have an excellent track record for proper packing and safe delivery.
Notes on the 6-month Mechanical Warranty: Should anything require repair on the typewriter the Acme Type Machine Company (an established company in the Netherlands with Chamber of Commerce registration 74166247) will repair it free of charge when shipped to our workshop. Due to the costs of shipping and the possibilities therein for damage during the shipping process we will work with you to make any required adjustments or repairs at home prior to taking the step to ship it to our workshop in Holland. Should it be preferable due to costs involved, we will also discuss the possibility of bringing it to a local professional typewriter repair service to make the necessary repairs. The warranty does not cover damage due to mishandling, incorrect use or dropping the typewriter, or for ordinary typewriter maintenance such as ribbon changing, platen roller renovation, character adjustment due to extensive use etc.
If you have any questions or wish to see more photos, please don't hesitate to contact us.
ACME TYPE MACHINE COMPANYAcme Type Machines is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of fine vintage typewriters from the era of fine, modern typewriter design and manufacture: the 1930s through the early 1970s. We have a carefully earned reputation for fine machines, excellent conservation and restoration, attentive customer service and good after-sale care and advice.
Our gallery of typewriters has clients in the United States and Canada, Australia and China, Morocco and Brunei, Finland and Japan and may places in-between. Our clients include many important collectors of typewriters, screenwriters and novelists, European and American interior designers, film art and production design departments and the casual--but discriminating--individual.
The aesthetic that drives us at Acme Type Machines is that of the museum conservator: to preserve our "typewriter" cultural heritage in a way that retains the integrity of the original object, restoring its mechanical components to their original utility, conserving the original cosmetic condition, and taking account of any historical aspects of its use or ownership.
All of our typewriters, except in some very exceptional circumstances (carefully noted in the description), are ready to use in the same manner as when they were originally manufactured and purchased. Some of our clients are screenwriters and novelists, using our typewriters on a daily basis. Some are collectors, rarely using the machines to type, who appreciate the meticulousness with which our typewriters are conserved.
Typewriters from Acme Type Machines are not inexpensive. The number of mechanical tests and adjustments, the attention to the cleaning process, small repairs etc., require hours of time and careful and professional work.We find our typewriter treasures throughout Europe and the process of acquiring these fine machines can require long and delicate negotiations. Protected shipment and transportation to our gallery and workroom adds expense, as well.
After a typewriter is sold to a client, it undergoes a final testing, cleaning and inspection. The typewriter is then carefully prepared with protection on the platen-knobs, between the ribbon-cover and the body, and on the carriage return lever and other vulnerable parts. The escapement is protected by immobilising the carriage. The typewriter and case are wrapped in a layer of protective, strong bubble-wrap which is then placed in a carton box of double thick cardboard (carton). Shipment is made with padding--on six sides--of foam-rubber and fitted styrofoam.
Our goal is to provide a wonderful, working, vintage typewriter--usable, beautiful and aesthetically interesting--to your home or office, film studio or art department.
This extraordinary typewriter is a 1938 Continental 100 in superb, original condition with hard case and two original brushes. This typewriter is in excellent working condition. It has been serviced, adjusted and appropriately cleaned and lubricated. The cosmetic condition is outstanding.
This is a fully-working--as original--typewriter. The only thing that you have to do is sit down, put paper on the roller and start typing. It comes with the Acme seal and a full mechanical warranty for 6 months. We provide careful and attentive after-purchase advice and assistance from the date of purchase to the end of eternity to ensure your full satisfaction.
This is a typewriter model that was considered a top-of-the-line, deluxe model typewriter when it was produced. The cost of this machine, new in 1938, was around 440 Swiss francs. Converting that to today's US Dollars for comparison equals a value, today, of about 1, 400$. Being a very expensive machine, there were not a large number of these typewriters manufactured. Very few of these come onto the market nowadays, most being carefully guarded by the collectors who own them.
The design aspects of this typewriter are inspired genius. The Ribbon Cover is composed of three escalating levels inviting the typer "into" the typewriter. The contrasting texture side panels give a wonderful sense of depth and richness. The design of the paper bail alone can bring palpitations to my heart through its elegance, beauty and effectiveness.
One engineering marvel to note on this typewriter is the combined margin and tab function lever. It allows for multiple Margin settings as well as the usual tabulator settings. It takes a little getting used to but is an extraordinary mechanical innovation that has not been repeated on other models or brands of typewriter.
The mechanical condition: We have thoroughly serviced, cleaned and adjusted this beautiful typewriter to its original mechanical condition. It works as originally, typing well, all levers and keys work in their original manner. The complex tabulator and margin setting features work as new. The platen roller is in very fine condition with a wonderful durometer reading of 91 (Shore A scale--Ideal = 85-95). Probably it was replaced a few decades ago. The Paper Feeder Rollers are in fine condition as are the rubber feet on the bottom assuring good grip on the desktop.
The cosmetic condition...well, take a look at the photos and you can judge for yourself. The body finish is excellent with only some light rubbing, principally on the ribbon cover. The chrome-plated parts are in very fine condition with extremely light signs of usage. The platen roller knobs are intact and solid. The logo "decals" are original and show only light wear.
The typeface is Pica (10 cpi) and you can see from the photos the crisp, dark and clear impression of the characters on the paper. This typewriter has been outfitted with a new, two-colour BACO ribbon (the choice of discerning collectors), on the two original metal ribbon spools. The keyboard is QWERTZ with accents for European languages.
The case is in very good condition however with some marks of use and age. The lock works well but is lacking the original key. The handle is solid and intact. The interior is clean with all original fittings intact and usable. The green felt base of the interior is in good condition but showing some signs of age. It is, though, intact and has retained good colour. The rubber feet on the exterior of the base panel are still very usable on a desktop.
For some discussion of the Continental 100, please see:https://oztypewriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/seeking-solace-in-continental-portable.htmlhttp://xoverit.blogspot.com/2016/10/continental-100.html
This extraordinary example of a Continental 100 will be packed and shipped with the greatest care to preserve its condition and beauty. It will be fully insured for shipment. We have a lot of experience in shipping typewriters and have an excellent track record for proper packing and safe delivery.
Notes on the 6-month Mechanical Warranty: Should anything require repair on the typewriter the Acme Type Machine Company (an established company in the Netherlands with Chamber of Commerce registration 74166247) will repair it free of charge when shipped to our workshop. Due to the costs of shipping and the possibilities therein for damage during the shipping process we will work with you to make any required adjustments or repairs at home prior to taking the step to ship it to our workshop in Holland. Should it be preferable due to costs involved, we will also discuss the possibility of bringing it to a local professional typewriter repair service to make the necessary repairs. The warranty does not cover damage due to mishandling, incorrect use or dropping the typewriter, or for ordinary typewriter maintenance such as ribbon changing, platen roller renovation, character adjustment due to extensive use etc.
If you have any questions or wish to see more photos, please don't hesitate to contact us.
ACME TYPE MACHINE COMPANYAcme Type Machines is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of fine vintage typewriters from the era of fine, modern typewriter design and manufacture: the 1930s through the early 1970s. We have a carefully earned reputation for fine machines, excellent conservation and restoration, attentive customer service and good after-sale care and advice.
Our gallery of typewriters has clients in the United States and Canada, Australia and China, Morocco and Brunei, Finland and Japan and may places in-between. Our clients include many important collectors of typewriters, screenwriters and novelists, European and American interior designers, film art and production design departments and the casual--but discriminating--individual.
The aesthetic that drives us at Acme Type Machines is that of the museum conservator: to preserve our "typewriter" cultural heritage in a way that retains the integrity of the original object, restoring its mechanical components to their original utility, conserving the original cosmetic condition, and taking account of any historical aspects of its use or ownership.
All of our typewriters, except in some very exceptional circumstances (carefully noted in the description), are ready to use in the same manner as when they were originally manufactured and purchased. Some of our clients are screenwriters and novelists, using our typewriters on a daily basis. Some are collectors, rarely using the machines to type, who appreciate the meticulousness with which our typewriters are conserved.
Typewriters from Acme Type Machines are not inexpensive. The number of mechanical tests and adjustments, the attention to the cleaning process, small repairs etc., require hours of time and careful and professional work.We find our typewriter treasures throughout Europe and the process of acquiring these fine machines can require long and delicate negotiations. Protected shipment and transportation to our gallery and workroom adds expense, as well.
After a typewriter is sold to a client, it undergoes a final testing, cleaning and inspection. The typewriter is then carefully prepared with protection on the platen-knobs, between the ribbon-cover and the body, and on the carriage return lever and other vulnerable parts. The escapement is protected by immobilising the carriage. The typewriter and case are wrapped in a layer of protective, strong bubble-wrap which is then placed in a carton box of double thick cardboard (carton). Shipment is made with padding--on six sides--of foam-rubber and fitted styrofoam.
Our goal is to provide a wonderful, working, vintage typewriter--usable, beautiful and aesthetically interesting--to your home or office, film studio or art department.
