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Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
Hello everyone, congratulations on your forum ..!
I registered here and I write to you because I recently inherited a typewriter from my grandfather's father, and I would like to know more about it; before bothering I looked a bit on the web, but the truth, I have not found anything definitive.
The typewriter is a Wanderer-Werke Siegmar-Schonau CONTINENTAL. With Spanish keyboard, QWERTY and has the letter Ñ.
According to the information that my grandfather gave me, his father brought this typewriter from Cuba to Spain in the 30s, (I do not know the date of purchase) and since then the typewriter has been in his house ...
The serial number, which is on the back of the machine is 49001.
So far what is objective ...
- Spanish Continental
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Re: Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
From here, I tried to find more information, first, the model, which apparently is a STANDARD ... according to what I could find ...
As for the serial number, I have seen in a couple of websites that the numbers were like this:
1904 400 units
1905 to 1700
1910 to 20,000
1911 up to 40,000
1912 up to 55,000
1914 up to 80,000
1934 up to 500,000
According to these data there would be little doubt, it would be 1912 if it is a Standard ...
But I also read that before going to Siegmar's factory they were in Chemnitz (I think Siegmar started making machines in 1927)
With all this I infer that my machine should be after 1927 according to the label and 1912 if I trust the serial number ...?
Well, looking for other similar on the web, I found one, with serial number after mine, 76600 (1914?) That is still manufactured in Chemnitz (at least that puts on the front ...) and another really similar, (with different drawing on the front,) with number 16100 (1910?) also manufactured in Chemnitz
On the other hand I see that all of the ones I've found in Google, if the front door has two handles is usually with the Chemnitz factory drawing, or something like that ... but I have not seen any with the phrase Siegmar Schonau and the two shooters,
The ones that I see more similar have two levers on both sides of the front door, and mine only has the one on the left ... very similar to the 16100
So I go to the experts to see if they can help me,
1.- Is it a normal Standard?
2.- Do you think it is from 1912 according to the serial number?
3.- The possible non-correspondence with the sign (after 1927 as I think ... I can be wrong) can come from a repair of the door? Or perhaps being a bit weird keyboard, being in Spanish, could have been manufactured in 1912, with lots for this language, and then pending to complete and put the door of the new model when it was effectively sold and finished assembling ... Maybe something like that?
4.- Would someone have a manual in Spanish or English?
Thank you very much for everything and an affectionate greeting, it is great that these sites exist ... congratulations
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Thread Starter- Spanish Continental
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Re: Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
I'll see if I can attach some photos .....
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Thread Starter- Spanish Continental
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Re: Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
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Thread Starter- Uwe
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Re: Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
That's a lot of information to go over! 
The provenance of your typewriter is very exciting, in particular for me because I'm quite immersed in Cuban history at the moment. I hope you keep that machine in your family for a long time to come.
Spanish Continental wrote:
I also read that before going to Siegmar's factory they were in Chemnitz (I think Siegmar started making machines in 1927)
The Continental factory was located in Schönau, which is an industrial suburb of Chemnitz. That's why the Continental machines had Schönau bei Chemnitz written on them (translated: Schönau NEAR Chemnitz). Schönau was a very small town, so it made sense that Continental would associate it with Chemnitz, which was better known as a city within Germany.
In 1935 Schönau merged with the neighbouring town Siegmar to become Siegmar-Schönau. Continental ads and labels were changed from Schönau to Siegmar-Schönau to reflect that, although it's possible that some predated the official merger, presumably because that's how the area was already being referred to.
#1.- Is it a normal Standard?
It looks like a normal standard to me. The lever you might have seen on the right side of the access door is a tabulator, and since your machine doesn't have a tabulator system the handle wouldn't be there. My earlier Continental standards do not have the tabulator lever either. I don't think tabulator models were available until 1933.
I have a 1922 Continental standard with a decimal tabulator; although there's plenty of research still needed to be done for that machine, my assumption for now is that it was retrofitted to the machine at some point after 1933.
#2 and #3: Do you think it is from 1912 according to the serial number?
One of the biggest mistakes I see typewriter collectors make is the odd assumption that their machines were never serviced, repaired, or altered in any way. The typical typewriter, especially standard models, was probably serviced many times over its history, perhaps even refurbished/rebuilt.
I would definitely trust your serial number, and it's safe to assume that the machine was originally manufactured in 1912.
However, since your machine has the Wanderer Werke badging on it, it's also safe to assume that it was either serviced or rebuilt after 1929. I'm guessing it was post 1929 because I had always assumed that Wanderer Werke brand was timed with the introduction of the Continental portable (the first models appeared in 1930 - I think).
My 1935 Continental Model A standard has the exact same badging on the front panel.
#4.- Would someone have a manual in Spanish or English?
I have only come across manuals for the portable models. If you do end up finding a manual for the standard, please let me know.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
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Re: Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
Excuse me UWE, I have not been able to answer you before to thank you for your reply
Thank you very much for taking so much time to clarify our doubts ...
As for the history of Cuba, so close to that of Spain until recently ... part of my family left Spain for Havana in 1920, my great-grandfather and grandfather returned in the 30s (with the Continental) but other brothers of my grandfather stayed there, and some ended up in the USA, with the peculiarity that Spaniards were born, Cubans were nationalized in the 1930s and later died as newly nationalized Americans. (three countries in one life ...)
I copied a photo of another Cuban object that was with my great grandfather's things:
Is not it great?
Returning to the theme of the Continental, it is true, all these machines have had to be repaired or adjusted at some point ... cleaning mine I have seen that the bicolor upper rule is an underwood ....:
I suppose they would put it in some repair ...
And regarding the instruction manuals, it is curious that with all the machines that were manufactured are so rare ... I thought I saw one, of the continental standard, in Spanish, in a store in Madrid, but I think I asked for 50 euros and I thought it was expensive, should I go back running for it?
I put a couple of more photos of my machine, that after cleaning it I see it great ....
Thank you again and greetings to all the colleagues of the forum.
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Thread Starter- Spanish Continental
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Re: Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
Oh, and yes, it is my intention to keep the machine in my family for a long time ...
Apparently everything works, but needs cleaning, lubrication, a full maintenance (around 100-120 euros maybe?)
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Thread Starter- Uwe
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Re: Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
50 € for a user manual is a lot of money (5 € would be my limit)! You could buy a typewriter - or two - with 50 €. If I was in the area again I would ask the seller if there was a mistake with the price.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- Spanish Continental
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Re: Wanderer-Werke Continental 1912?
50 € for a user manual is a lot of money (5 € would be my limit)! You could buy a typewriter - or two - with 50 €. If I was in the area again I would ask the seller if there was a mistake with the price.
Thanks a lot UWE, I thought it was expensive, but as you said you did not have it, I assumed that it was not easy to find this model, so I thought maybe it was its price ... unfortunately it was not a mistake ..
thank you !
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