I hope you won't mind a heathen sticking a curious nose in .

Working in complete ignorance of ergonomics, I have always used my typewriter on a folding-topped writing-desk, rather like this:

http://www.antiqueforsale.co.uk/assets/product-library/images/1378021845.jpg

Paper of various sizes and weights (from cheap paper for academic notes and rough drafts of essays through to writing-paper**), envelopes, stamps, ink-bottles (I took up dip-pens instead of fountain pens, less fiddling about with inky parts) can all be stowed into the various drawers and compartments.

I use an ordinary wheel-backed chair with arms and a little chintz cushion that ties onto the seat.

It's extremely cramped, but I've always found it adequate. However, my mother informs me my books and papers are an appalling mess. 

That aside, I imagine you all remember the days of universal typewriter use (my aunt used hers on an ordinary wooden desk, but she was retired by the time I was born and never an office typist -- only a volunteer secretary of a local committee for the Liberal Party and an author).

Were there books of ergonomics? Guides for offices and that sort of thing We seem to have ignored them [in good company, Professor Tolkien apparently typed on his bed!], and I dare say are paying for it in stoops and crooked backs, but this is a whole new world for me.

Partly for similar concerns, partly from brute practicality, I've just arranged to buy an Erika from a British dealer -- with sirius' kind blessing and now a new contact in Germany. I'll send him a full German letter as soon as it's arrived.

Hallo!
I wanted to thank you for your kind offers of help, both of which will be enormously useful. First of all, I’d be happy to pay a good price and shipping from Germany if you could trace something. Please send as many questions as you like about my country as you like – in either English or German.
‘MfG’
'Tristan'

I've haggled a good deal about where to place this thread. It's about buying a typewriter, but a degree removed from the actual buying. I have possessed for a long time an English typewriter and would like to obtain a German typewriter [that is to say a typewriter with the QWERTZ keyboard, modified vowels and scharfes S so that the German language can be typed, rather than merely made in Germany], ideally dating from c. 1930s-40s as my special period of historical interest.

There is no shortage of eminently suitable typewriters on eBay if I was capable of restoring a machine, but unfortunately I am not. As such I would need to buy a machine in good working order, perhaps serviced by an expert or sold by a collector who can vouch for it. Germany is likely the best source -- leider ist mein Deutsch etwas eingerostet, aber trotz dieses Hindernisses hoffe ich, daß ich ziemlich leicht verständlich sein würde.

What sort of price can one expect to pay? My English typewriter was inherited and eBay prices are very varied.

Despite a Wagnerian screen-name I am in Scotland, so shipping and packing from Germany would need to be quite expensive. 

Sincerest good wishes,