Beak, That's a good idea. I have such a desk and it's very helpful and a great conversation piece. All I have seen are wood though I think some were metal.

In general, they are very sturdy (but check every one you're considering). There are at least two types: the one I have is a folder and it stores the typewriter in the middle of the desk on a slanted surface so it must be bolted in place; the other has an articulated shelf off to one side which remains level throughout its travel. The side-shelf designs leave the top surface of the desk open for use while typing; the folding designs do not--the typewriter replaces the desktop. On the one I have the typewriter sits eight inches below the desktop height, which is a much better position than with a regular desk.

My SG1 does not have dedicated mounting holes for bolting down but since the feet are bolted on you could substitue a longer bolt there and drill properly spaced holes in the slanting shelf. Many other typewriters, like the Royal Model 10 that is in my desk, have factory holes for that purpose, though I had trouble finding the matching thread (turned out that metric 6 x 1 worked). You might be happier with the side shelf design (does not have to be bolted down) if you can be confident that the linkages are strong enough for the heavy Olympia.

There are more of these out there than one might think. They really look like an ordinary desk and many people may not know what they have and so not advertise it is such. I paid $80 including a very nice Royal 10. I hope you can do as well.

== Michael Höhne

Saw it.  Bought it.  Reasonable price for the desk alone, but bargain with the TW mechanism, I think.
Nice old piece in solid silky oak, that will just fit.  Lucky.

Mechanism sound (it's the centre fold-away type) and looking forward to restoring the timber, which should be a breeze since it has the original finishes (no coats of poly - ughhh: hate that stuff).

Shall post more pix when it's here, restored and rigged with typewriter.

That is a nice desk. Wish I had (and the room for) one like it.

Beak. I am so insanely jealous in such ways that you cannot possibly imagine. 

Very nice Beak! And congratulations.

These oak desks appear in local ads in my area almost daily, many are free because the person just wants rid of it, and although I love them very much I don't have a place in my home that would suit one - never mind the physical challenge of getting it down a winding flight of stairs!

Could you explain a little more why a portable is too small to work? I don't understand that limitation of its mechanism.

As an aside, I recenlty saw an SG1 carriage for sale - shocked actually, because I never thought that I would ever see one for sale on its own - but I didn't bring it to your attention because the price was completely obscene ($170); you could buy three SG1s for that price. Just for your reference, the carriage was available in seven sizes (10", 12", 13", 15", 18", 24", and 35").