Antique Torpedo Typewriter No. 5 in operation. Germany, Circa 1920

This gorgeous antique typewriter is a Torpedo No. 5 model, made in Germany in the 1920s. The machine is in very good condition and works perfectly, so it can be used to type documents as well as a decorative item. It comes with its original wooden base and cover; the lock and the key work well. This typewriter is a rare and efficient piece, perfect to be shown off in a study or a shelf for its ancient age and magnificent condition. Over the carriage and in the two front symmetrical decals we can see the companys name, TORPEDO, in clear capital lettering. The Torpedo Büromaschinen Werke AG started out in 1896 under the commercial name of Peter Weil & Co., a firm founded by Peter and Heinrich Weil to manufacture bicycles. The company was located in Frankfurt, Germany. In 1907 they expanded the business and started making typewriters, after acquiring Johan Volkers company. This firm was responsible for the making and launching of the Hassia typewriter. The machine was adapted by Torpedo and launched as Model 1. The company also commercialized other typewriters under the Regent market name. In 1931, Remington Rand purchased the company but kept the commercial name. The piece that we can see in these images is the Model 5. It is a solid and compact typewriter with a black-enameled cast-iron body and side and rear openings. It has a QWERTZ keyboard composed of black circular keys with white symbols, all of them reinforced with the classic nickel-plated rings. Over the keyboard, in the center of the machine we can see a golden and black metal plate with the name of the original distributor, a shop in Bonn. The TORPEDO brand name is also embossed in the metal rolls that support the ink ribbon. The protecting wooden cover is well preserved and bears the market name printed in blue and White lettering, as well as a sticker with the incomplete name of the typewriters original owner. As rare as beautiful, this Torpedo No. 5 typewriter is a collectors piece full of charm and still functional.