Rema I
The first model of the Rema calculator, a Braunschweig firm later bought by Brunsviga. It's high quality, and a wonderfully fiddly and tactile small machine, with the clearing interlocks operated by graciously curved nickeled levers. I found it locally, and apart from the case which is missing its lock (but is otherwise in fantastic condition), it is nearly perfect. It has been in the case for all of its existence, and the case has done a great job protecting it. It really is almost like new.There is another very special thing to find out about this calculator. The little plate on the back reads "Comptoire Générale de Machines à écrire T. De Prins, Anvers, 32 Rampart Ste. Cathérine, Tél. 1620". French is no longer an official language in Antwerp since 1927, but the store is literally around the corner of where I used to live when I bought this machine (Katelijnevest), and, perhaps most surprising of all ... not only is the shop still there, it is also still going strong in these changing times, and the beautiful early 20th century shop front has not been massacred in the 1960s. What foresight the owners had! Here and here it is on Google Maps, and this is their own website. They love their history, and often a number of antique machines will grace their shop window. None of them are for sale though ...
Now, back to the machine at hand - here are some pretty pictures:
