A brand-new 48-year-old typewriter

The label on the bag for the carriage is marked with the typewriter's serial number.

The carriage return lever is tucked back, but it's easily put in the right position without any tools.

Wrapped around the platen was this form that asks the office machine dealer to report back to Grundig on the condition of the typewriter.

Here's a cover, an accessories kit, and the screws that attach the carriage to the body.

 The accessories kit holds two brushes, an eraser, an erasing shield, and a cleaning cloth.

An instruction manual in German, Danish, Italian, and Portuguese:

This supplement explains the special accommodations for the blind that are found on this machine.

Raised dots on some keys provide tactile guidance.

 

You can also find tactile help on the paper support ...

... and the scale is marked with Braille numerals. You can feel the exact location of the printing point thanks to the protrusion on the little structure above the type guide.

 The serial number dates the typewriter at 1967:

 

 

Type unblemished by any ink:

There were small amounts of rust on the typebars and segment, which I removed with a brass wire brush. A little old grease in the segment was making the typebars stiff, so I loosened them up with Lectra-Motive Electric Parts Cleaner, my favorite degreaser.

On the left side of the typewriter you see a socket where a Grundig Stenorette tape recorder can be plugged in. The key to the left of the space bar makes the tape play when you hit it, or rewind when you hold it down. A key to the right of the space bar stops the tape. Very useful for typing from dictation, and especially useful for the blind.

And there you have it: a brand-new 48-year-old typewriter! 

It feels great: precise, speedy, and durable.