Erika 12 - Typewriter - 1960-1970

Offered an Erika Model 12 typewriter in working condition from 1961, model number 2075766. The typewriter works, though a new ribbon is advisable.

The Erika Model 12 is an iconic and high-quality mechanical portable typewriter, produced in the 1950s and 1960s by VEB Schreibmaschinenwerk Dresden (formerly Seidel & Naumann) in the former East Germany (GDR). The machine is known in the typewriter community for its exceptionally solid build quality and smooth typing action.

Key features & specifications
Construction: Fully metal housing with chrome details and a high-quality mechanism.
Difference with Model 10: The Erika 12 is the streamlined variant of the popular Erika Model 10. It typically lacks the built-in tabulator and has two fewer keys on the top row.
Type mechanism: Uses a unique lever system that provides a light, springy, and very fast typing action.
Functions: Equipped with a two-color ribbon setting (black/red), a retractable chrome paper support, and a clear margin bell.
Aesthetics: Often finished in typical mid-century vintage colors such as pastel green, cream/sahara sand, or two-tone variants with contrasting dark green or brown keys.
Case: Supplied in a distinctive wooden or (faux) leather carrying case that is fastened to the machine’s base with a snap mechanism.