Serial Number: 7084044
Hermes Epoca typeface, 10 pitch, slugs: SNO, 6 lines/vertical inch, portable, bichrome, segment shift, tabulator, U.S. keyboard with 44 keys and 88 characters
light green plastic body, grey-ish cream colored plastic keys
Manufactured in France
Jan Macho, Sr.’s grandson Chris Macho eulogized his grandfather on Instagram:
This is a Hermes 3000. My grandfather, Jan Macho, “Deda” to me, made a living and a small fortune as an exec at Hermes Typewriter Co., and he sold a million of these. I admit, I don’t think of him as often as I should, and it takes hints like these in the wild to remind me of him. Fuck me, he was just so legendarily amazing, kind, generous, and plain THE SHIT in how he carried himself (and now I’m tearing up as I write this). I mentioned him and the Hermes thing to the people at this place here and they gave me a beer. So here he is, still hooking me up from the other side. Love you, miss you Deda.
Generally his typewriter is in solid condition aside from some cosmetic issues in the rear body plastic possibly due to heat exposure. It’ll need a full C/O/A and some new rubber, but will be resurrected to be a spectacular little portable typewriter for a few more generations.
I was so enamored of the provenance of the typewriter that I barely managed to get through a preliminary check of the functionality before buying. I completely didn’t even notice the Epoca typeface until I got it home. Somehow I’ve always been the bridesmaid when it comes to Hermes machines, but it seems I’ve jumped right over the bride title straight to princess.
Resources
- Hermes 3000 manual via Richard Polt.
- Hermes typefaces from the 1964 NOMDA Blue Book via Ted Munk
- The Hermes 3000 and Media 3 Typewriter Repair Bible
Great story behind this one and I love the typeface. You go, princess!
What a typewriter and a story! I love the history on these machines and wish there was a better record for each (similar to your book plate idea). I’m the second owner for a couple of my machines (or would it be third, if they were passed down to a child, who then sold it to me?), and I wish that I had spent more time interviewing the people about the first owner.
Anyhow, regarding this Jan Macho and his son Chris… might he happen to have any more Hermes that he needs help getting rid of?
The Hermes. The card catalog. The bottles. What a perfect picture!
Isn’t this the version that people don’t like?
How do you type so clean on a note card so small?
Love this!
I had to use 2 machines to make one whole, 100%.
I love typing on mine (made in 1972) a lot more than typing on my Gen 1 Hermes 3000 made in 1964.
https://preview.redd.it/n0d2rj37zekh1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d9b23bb16601f2a9811e40fb04d6b2475216b489
And epoca, to boot… Some people just have all the luck! Well, perhaps I’m just unlucky because I haven’t even been able to find a regular H3k for a decent price. Just last week I missed a local estate sale by one day! I know people say the function and type feel is pretty much the same on all three generations, but I must admit I’m too enamored with the style of 2nd gen with the white colored keys to jump the gun on this plastic bodied version.
Anyway, congrats on the legendary find. I’m sure the story behind this specific machine makes this newest acquisition all the more sweeter. Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful story! I love knowing the history of these machines. I’m not familiar with Hermes, but that’s a gorgeous typeface: congrats!
That is a NICE typeface. I also believe that typewriters hold spirits and ghosts. Each one speaks to you in a different way. And as a writer, that “vibe matters a ton. The provenance of this typewriter bodes well for friendly and supportive ghosts.
A reply to Chris Aldrich’s Hermes 3000 post