Erika 6 Portable Typewriter, Germany, 1940s-50s.

This lovely and original portable typewriter is an Erika 6, a design that was made in ten versions and became quite popular between the 1920s and the 1950s. It is a German typewriter made by company Seidel & Neumann (Dresden). The piece comes into its original protecting case, made of thin plywood covered by light green fabric and with the original lock and key. This machine is, as stated before, a portable version that as well as being beautiful and decorative is also a practical piece: it works fine, typing clearly and precisely.Seidel & Naumann was a German company that started out in 1872, when Bruno Naumann was joined by Emil Seidel to develop and commercialized his sewing machines. Though Seidel left the company in 1876 the name remained unchanged. In the beginning the firm made cycles and sewing machines, and in 1906 produced 100,000 units a year. In 1900 Seidel & Naumann started producing typewriters and they eventually became the main stay of the company's products. Erika typewriters were especially popular because of their comfortable design, and the most sold version was the Erika 3.The typewriter we can see in these photographs was made later: it is model 6, with four rows of keys. The black-enameled body is in great condition and the finish look shiny and new. The name of the typewriter, Erika, stands out printed in fine golden lettering over the keyboard. At the bottom we can also see the inscription A-G vorm. Seidel & Naumann Dresden and two numbers 6 into two squares. The typewriter has German keyboard composed of white round keys with black symbols inside. The companys monogram, a circular metal piece with blue background and the capital letters SL inside, can be seen over the keyboard to the right.As attractive as functional and complete, this exclusive Erika typewriter is bound to become part of a wonderful collection.