1939 Erika Model 5
Up for sale is a beautiful and rather rare Erika Model 5 which was manufactured in Dresden, Germany right before the outbreak of WWII in 1939. This typewriter is in amazing condition overall, and is fully functional down to the bell. The black glossy paint does have a few very small blemishes, but it still shines nicely. The labels are all crisp and in-tact. The carrying case does have some wear, and the handle has been replaced, however it still does its job well and also includes two cleaning brushes. All the rubber on this machine has been replaced- the platen, feed rollers, and rubber feet. While universal ribbons will work with this machine, I would recommend re-threading and using the original metal spools since they are visible and make this machine a bit more authentic. A single-color ribbon will also be adequate, since this machine does not have a ribbon color selector. Interestingly, this typewriter has a QWERTY keyboard, as opposed to the German QWERTZ layout, but still has a German keyboard (see the shift keys and backspace keys).
A more thorough overview for the Erika model M (a very similar machine) can be read here: https://typewriterreview.com/2015/12/22/erika-m/
The owner's manual for this machine (also known as the 'Ideal') can be accessed for free here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/Ideal5.pdf
Despite this typewriter's age, this machine is smooth in all mechanical aspects and makes for an excellent workhorse that can be used heavily and reliably. If you can appreciate this machine's historic value on top of its functionality, then this it the one for you!