Antique Ideal A Typewriter in perfect working order. Germany, Circa 1900

This beautiful antique Ideal A typewriter was made in Germany in the early 20th century. It is a fine model that stands out for the golden logo (the word Ideal) molded into the sides of the cast-iron body. The typewriter boasts an unmistakable art-deco style that turns it into a singularly decorative piece. As well as being in very good condition, the machine works perfectly and can be used to type documents. The Ideal logo can be seen in different parts of the typewriters: as well as molded into the sides, it is also printed on the carriage and over the keyboard. The logo is golden with turquoise shading. Ideal typewriters were patented in the USA by E.E. Barney and Frank Tanner in 1897, but they were produced by Seidel & Neumann, a German company located in Dresden. The Ideal A was the first model to be launched by the firm; it happened in 1900. Typical for all Ideal A typewriters is the carriage return handle it is not attached directly to the carriage, but integrated in the side of the keyboard. The machine that we can see in these photos is the first Ideal A model; years later, four more versions were launched. The black-enameled cast-iron body preserves its shiny and deep finish in good condition. This finish is embellished with golden and turquoise lines matching the colors of the logo. The machine has QWERTZ keyboard composed of round black keys with white symbols. It is complete and all the keys are in optimal condition. Over the keyboard there is a small metal plate with the engraved name of an antique distributor, located in Wien. Its turn-of-the-century elegance and good working order turn this Idea A typewriter into a great piece, a wonderful find for any collector.