Saturday, June 25, 2011

Hermes Regent typewriter



PPS: Somehow this didn't occur to me until now, but could the story about the embassy have anything to do with the Ambassador model??

14 comments:

  1. Interesting... It's got to be a pre-68 machine (graphic on backspace and margin release keys) and it has quite a few of the features of the Ambassador, except the extra carbon ribbon, but looks smaller and somehow sleeker. I *like* it, and I kind of want one now. :D

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  2. Actually, my Ambassador is a pre-1968 machine and it has different symbols.

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  3. A little late, but browsing my own site I found a further clue: http://typewriters.ch/collection/patria_typewriter.html#office_patria

    see also: http://machinesoflovinggrace.com/ptf/Japy.html

    isn't typewriter detective work fun?

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  4. I forgot to mention that the "Patria" machine I referred to has the serial number 2101179 807, so, similar to the "Regent". It is btw currently for sale on german ebay (item 250840674495).
    The machines are proof of the close links of Patria, Japy, and Hermes in later years.

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  5. As Mr. Spock would say, "Fascinating." We know manufacturers in the States lent out their machines under other names as SCM made Tower machines for Sears and Remington made noiseless machines for Underwood. My guess, this is something similar, but, the Hermes name is still retained as the major label was not on the machines I just mentioned. Perhaps a small special model run, but the keyboard is American, so it just adds to the puzzle.

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  6. Just bought an identical Hermes Regent. Has a few small dents and dings but works great. Serial number was exactly where you said.
    2163763 710.

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  7. This is exciting news! My "baby" has a twin somewhere and isn't all alone in the world :-)

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  8. Hello there!
    I've just now been thinking about retrieving my Hermes Regent from my parent's house this Christmas, googled it and here I am! It was given to me by my step-grandfather when I was just a kid, in 1978. I was in brand new condition and has only been used a few times. As I remember, It was purchased as a Christmas gift for his son who never came home from the war. Could it have been the Korean War? I could almost swear the registration card reads 1951.
    Anyway, I'll be back in a few weeks with more information.
    Mary

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mary!

      That's an interesting though sad story behind your Regent. It sounds as if it's in near-new condition.

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    2. The Ace Typewriter Repair shop in Portland Oregon received one of these for repair this fall, so you might be able to find out more about them from someone who has worked on one recently. You can get contact info by googling the name...DRB

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    3. Finally, I retreived my typewriter. The serial number is 2152537 705.

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  9. Surprise! I'm working on changes to the TWDB Hermes page and I came upon a small reference to the Hermes Regent in the 1962 edition of the NOMDA line book. It suggests that the Regent was made for only 2 years:
    1957 - 2145M
    1958 - 2169M

    This List places yours and Becky's in the first production year of 1957.

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