Tag: Professional Elite No. 41 typeface

What is the prettiest typewriter typeface?

Typewriten sample of 7 typewriter typefaces on the same page including an art deco Royal Vogue, a slightly italic, san serif and smaller Professional Elite No. 41, a san serif Hermes Epoca, a serifed Italic Pica No. 31, a blocky serifed Congress Elite No. 84, a crisp, san serif Clarion Gothic, and a computer-esque, san serif Numode No. 61.

I often see typewriter enthusiasts “debating” over which is the prettiest or best typeface, and often, they’re making their judgement on one machine they happen to have or really wish they had. Rarely are these judgements made with multiple typefaces on the same page for easier direct apples-to-apples comparison, so I threw together a small sample from a few in my own collection. 

Gut reaction time: Which of these is your favorite?

Acquired 1959 Olympia SM3 portable typewriter (Olympia-Werke AG)
Serial number: 1477358
Professional Elite No. 41 typeface, 11 pitch, 2.3m/m, 6 lines/inch, bichrome, carriage shift, tabulator
American keyboard, 44 keys, 88 characters
green crinkle paint, black plastic keys
Manufactured in Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Found at The Predecessors while typewriter hunting in Anacortes, WA. It was paired with another similar green Olympia SM3, but I immediately picked this one up because of its beautiful and uncommon typeface. 

It’ll need several new parts including rubber, but this portends to be a fantastic typewriter.

Typed manilla card with sample of a 1959 Olympia SM3 typewriter with a Professional Elite No. 41 typeface which is a small sans serif slightly italic face.

1959 Olympia SM3 portable typewriter in green crinkle paint on an oak library card catalog next to a silver plated cocktail shaker in the shape of a zeppelin.