Typewriter VEB Optima model Bambino

The VEB Optima Büromaschinenwerk of Erfurt, model “Bambino” is a typewriter produced from 1950s in the East Germany,

The model name in Italian means child, and according to the name, it could be a toy typewriter. In fact many colour were available. It’s very similar to the Frolio typewriter from 1920s years, or the Gunka typewriter, still from 1920s.

The differences are that in the Frolio there is a ribbon, in this typewriter there is an ink roller. Also, the Frolio is mainly in metal, this typewriter is in plastic.

Inside there are only few pieces, it's very simple.

Optima actually is a very old German producer, since 19th century it was a supplier for the German Army. During the 1st World War it employed 13000 people. But after the war had to stop the production of rifles, and decided to merge with AEG in the production of typewriters and office furniture. In the middle of ’30 years they changed the name in Olympia and their group, with AEG, was the bigger typewriter producer in Germany.

Also in Second World War they produced parts of weapons, and after the war of course they had to stop production, and again started to build typewriters, under the name of VEB Optima Büromaschinenwerk in Erfurt, in DDR.

After the war they had to change the name from Olympia to Optima, and at the beginning of 2000s years disappeared.

If you want to see how it works, here there is a video.

Here another video, the internal parts in detail

An artistic presentation

A gallery