Rare Ideal A3 Typewriter, CA. 1900. Good Condition and Functioning

Lovely Ideal A3 typewriter manufactured in the beginning of the 20th century, circa 1900. This typewriter is in excellent condition and works like new.This model shows more detailed decorations than the first one, Ideal A1. This typewriter is very big and bulky (17 kilos), and started being produced in 1900 in a German sewing machine and bicycle factory (Seidel & Newmann, Desden). In spite of its German production, the design of Ideal A typewriter was developed by two American engineers, E. E. Barney and Frank Tanner. Four versions came out of the first design, and the one we are talking about is an Ideal A3. This typewriters design is at the same time strong and elegant. The name of the brand, Ideal, is cut in the sides, and the letters are painted gold. We can see the name again printed over the keyboard, always showing the elegant signature of the original logo. This model has a particular feature: the carriage return handle is not attached directly to the carriage, but is integrated in the side of the keyboard. Moreover, at the front we can see a strange accessory just under the keyboard. It is a silvery metal lever that can be put into different gaps which run along a metal device. This is probably some kind of tabulator lever. Just over the keyboard there is a golden metal plate whichs is atached to the iron with rivets. It bears an engraved inscription, painted red and wonderfully preserved, with the name, address and telephone of the original distributor: CARL E. HALBARTH Berlin W. 66 Mauerstr. 86/88 Ztr. 15248, 15249, 15240. The rear shows completely the inside mechanism which operates the typewriter. All the components are original and work perfectly, and they are in great condition, with no trace of pitting. One more detail that turns this rare and exclusive piece into a valuable antique from the beginning of the century, perfect for the most demanding collector of vintage typewriters.