Wanderer-Werke AG Continental Standard - Typewriter - 1920-1930
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Francisco Álvarez
Acquired extensive antiques knowledge through renovation works and running own antiques shop.
Estimate € 110 - € 170
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Description from the seller
An extraordinary piece of twentieth-century industrial history and the history of writing: a Continental Standard mechanical typewriter, an engineering masterpiece crafted in Germany by the famous Wanderer-Werke AG at the Siegmar-Schönau plant.
This specimen features a rare rear badge from the ETA cooperative (Number 953), testifying to its fascinating postwar Central European historical journey.
Founded in 1885, Wanderer-Werke was one of Europe’s most famous industrial giants. Before producing typewriters (starting in 1904), the company was renowned for its bicycles, motorcycles, and especially its luxury cars, which in 1932 merged with Audi, DKW, and Horch to form the legendary Auto Union group (the current Audi, which preserves the four rings). The Continental machines were considered the “Mercedes” of office equipment of the era for their indestructible robustness and the millimetric precision of German mechanics.
Although office models like this were the fruit of the collaborative effort of Wanderer’s in-house technical office, the Continental line has always stood out for avant-garde design with pronounced Art Deco lines. The machine features a solid heavy-iron body with a glossy black finish and beautiful round keys with white legends, protected by a small glass cover and framed by chrome metal rings, a true standard of visual luxury for the era. The Continental’s mechanical design achieved tremendous international success, praised by the market as one of the best machines of its time for writing fluency and stability. Its industrial aesthetic is so iconic that today it is displayed in the world’s most important museums of science, technology, and industrial design.
The item is sold in vintage condition as visible in the photos (retains a splendid authentic patina, the original decals “Continental” and “Wanderer-Werke” are clearly legible).
Excellent as a high-class decorative piece for notary offices, modern lofts, shop windows, or for collectors in the field.
Manufacturer: Wanderer-Werke AG (Siegmar-Schönau, Germany)
Model: Continental Standard
Keyboard: Vintage QWERTZ layout (with glass keys and metal rings)
Special features: ETA rear stamp (No. 953)
Seller's Story
Welcome to our Catawiki store. Our journey in online sales began back in 2004, driven by a clear vision: creating online auctions dedicated to high-value objects.
Today, more than twenty years later, we carry forward that exact same vision. We are proud to have remained a small, family-run business, yet operating with the solidity and scale of major industry professionals: each year, we welcome more than 100 new clients, purchase over 150 lots, and select between 3,000 and 5,000 unique items to offer you.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from the initial find to the final delivery to your doorstep:
• A Purchase with Social Value: Buying from us means securing a great deal while actively supporting the future of young Italian students. We collaborate closely with 3 graphic design and advertising schools in Milan, Bergamo, and Lecco.
We invest our time and expertise to teach these students the secrets of online sales, professional photography, and marketing. By choosing us, you are tangibly contributing to their education and career paths.
• Field Research and Discovery: For years, we have been personally scouting the most remote locations across Lombardy to find unique pieces, rarities, oddities, and mid-century modern design.
• We Invest Our Own Capital: We do not sell on consignment. We invest our own capital upfront to purchase and restore every single item, taking on all the risks ourselves.
• Direct Dealings with No Intermediaries: We manage every single price personally.
This allows us to eliminate third-party costs and ensure you get the best possible profit margin as a buyer or collector.
• Meticulous Restoration and Quality Control: We get our hands dirty. Every item is carefully restored and verified with an obsessive eye for detail before going up for auction.
• Secure and Eco-Friendly Shipping: To prevent inflated shipping costs and ensure indestructible packaging, my wife and I head out almost every evening, often at unusual hours, to collect heavy-duty industrial cardboard from businesses in our neighborhood.
We hand-select only pre-evaluated, ultra-resistant materials to offer you maximum protection at the lowest possible cost.
Choosing our lots means relying on the historic expertise of a family that has lived this passion since 2004, while investing in the next generation. Our schools and students thank you deeply for your trust.
Happy bidding!
Translated by Google TranslateAn extraordinary piece of twentieth-century industrial history and the history of writing: a Continental Standard mechanical typewriter, an engineering masterpiece crafted in Germany by the famous Wanderer-Werke AG at the Siegmar-Schönau plant.
This specimen features a rare rear badge from the ETA cooperative (Number 953), testifying to its fascinating postwar Central European historical journey.
Founded in 1885, Wanderer-Werke was one of Europe’s most famous industrial giants. Before producing typewriters (starting in 1904), the company was renowned for its bicycles, motorcycles, and especially its luxury cars, which in 1932 merged with Audi, DKW, and Horch to form the legendary Auto Union group (the current Audi, which preserves the four rings). The Continental machines were considered the “Mercedes” of office equipment of the era for their indestructible robustness and the millimetric precision of German mechanics.
Although office models like this were the fruit of the collaborative effort of Wanderer’s in-house technical office, the Continental line has always stood out for avant-garde design with pronounced Art Deco lines. The machine features a solid heavy-iron body with a glossy black finish and beautiful round keys with white legends, protected by a small glass cover and framed by chrome metal rings, a true standard of visual luxury for the era. The Continental’s mechanical design achieved tremendous international success, praised by the market as one of the best machines of its time for writing fluency and stability. Its industrial aesthetic is so iconic that today it is displayed in the world’s most important museums of science, technology, and industrial design.
The item is sold in vintage condition as visible in the photos (retains a splendid authentic patina, the original decals “Continental” and “Wanderer-Werke” are clearly legible).
Excellent as a high-class decorative piece for notary offices, modern lofts, shop windows, or for collectors in the field.
Manufacturer: Wanderer-Werke AG (Siegmar-Schönau, Germany)
Model: Continental Standard
Keyboard: Vintage QWERTZ layout (with glass keys and metal rings)
Special features: ETA rear stamp (No. 953)
Seller's Story
Welcome to our Catawiki store. Our journey in online sales began back in 2004, driven by a clear vision: creating online auctions dedicated to high-value objects.
Today, more than twenty years later, we carry forward that exact same vision. We are proud to have remained a small, family-run business, yet operating with the solidity and scale of major industry professionals: each year, we welcome more than 100 new clients, purchase over 150 lots, and select between 3,000 and 5,000 unique items to offer you.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from the initial find to the final delivery to your doorstep:
• A Purchase with Social Value: Buying from us means securing a great deal while actively supporting the future of young Italian students. We collaborate closely with 3 graphic design and advertising schools in Milan, Bergamo, and Lecco.
We invest our time and expertise to teach these students the secrets of online sales, professional photography, and marketing. By choosing us, you are tangibly contributing to their education and career paths.
• Field Research and Discovery: For years, we have been personally scouting the most remote locations across Lombardy to find unique pieces, rarities, oddities, and mid-century modern design.
• We Invest Our Own Capital: We do not sell on consignment. We invest our own capital upfront to purchase and restore every single item, taking on all the risks ourselves.
• Direct Dealings with No Intermediaries: We manage every single price personally.
This allows us to eliminate third-party costs and ensure you get the best possible profit margin as a buyer or collector.
• Meticulous Restoration and Quality Control: We get our hands dirty. Every item is carefully restored and verified with an obsessive eye for detail before going up for auction.
• Secure and Eco-Friendly Shipping: To prevent inflated shipping costs and ensure indestructible packaging, my wife and I head out almost every evening, often at unusual hours, to collect heavy-duty industrial cardboard from businesses in our neighborhood.
We hand-select only pre-evaluated, ultra-resistant materials to offer you maximum protection at the lowest possible cost.
Choosing our lots means relying on the historic expertise of a family that has lived this passion since 2004, while investing in the next generation. Our schools and students thank you deeply for your trust.
Happy bidding!
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Era
1900-2000
Material
Cast iron
Manufacturer/ Brand
Wanderer-Werke AG Continental Standard
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Height
23 cm
Width
38 cm
Depth
36 cm
In Working Order
Yes
Estimated period
1920-1930
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