Wanderer-Werke AG Continental Standard - Typewriter - 1920-1930

An extraordinary piece of twentieth-century industrial history and the history of writing: a Continental Standard mechanical typewriter, an engineering masterpiece crafted in Germany by the famous Wanderer-Werke AG at the Siegmar-Schönau plant. This specimen features a rare rear badge from the ETA cooperative (Number 953), testifying to its fascinating postwar Central European historical journey. Founded in 1885, Wanderer-Werke was one of Europe’s most famous industrial giants. Before producing typewriters (starting in 1904), the company was renowned for its bicycles, motorcycles, and especially its luxury cars, which in 1932 merged with Audi, DKW, and Horch to form the legendary Auto Union group (the current Audi, which preserves the four rings). The Continental machines were considered the “Mercedes” of office equipment of the era for their indestructible robustness and the millimetric precision of German mechanics. Although office models like this were the fruit of the collaborative effort of Wanderer’s in-house technical office, the Continental line has always stood out for avant-garde design with pronounced Art Deco lines. The machine features a solid heavy-iron body with a glossy black finish and beautiful round keys with white legends, protected by a small glass cover and framed by chrome metal rings, a true standard of visual luxury for the era. The Continental’s mechanical design achieved tremendous international success, praised by the market as one of the best machines of its time for writing fluency and stability. Its industrial aesthetic is so iconic that today it is displayed in the world’s most important museums of science, technology, and industrial design. The item is sold in vintage condition as visible in the photos (retains a splendid authentic patina, the original decals “Continental” and “Wanderer-Werke” are clearly legible). Excellent as a high-class decorative piece for notary offices, modern lofts, shop windows, or for collectors in the field. Manufacturer: Wanderer-Werke AG (Siegmar-Schönau, Germany) Model: Continental Standard Keyboard: Vintage QWERTZ layout (with glass keys and metal rings) Special features: ETA rear stamp (No. 953)

Estimate:£92.93

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