1963 Facit TP1 Portable

One of my favorite typewriters, the Swiss made 1963 Facit portable, designed by a real life prince. It is beautiful in its simplicity and works like a dream. Also, Typewriter Tuesday is now renamed TypeCast. I explain why.

[@tmunk]

Swedish, not Swiss. :D

[@christophermckellar1352]

Thanks for doing that so I didn’t think I had to!

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

Love the BRAND name in HUGE block letters on the rear of the machine. Nice touch to let EVERYONE know from any viewing angle what machine your banging away on so easily and productively! FANTASTIC.

[@douglasjackson9058]

Thanks for the typecast! I saw typewriter minutes on this machine. Enjoyed both videos. On my bucket list :)

[@altongansky]

Great machines. Let me know if you find a Facit. I've only seen one in the wild. I tripped over the case and felt obligated to buy it. Thanks for the comment.

[@johnc.bojemski1757]

Gotta get one! A "MUST BUY" for sure!

[@AllaBader01]

The Swiss ? i can imagine you made the Swedish viewers very sad :(

[@altongansky]

It kinda made me sad too. As you can see, Ted Munk caught my mistake 3 years ago. My brain and mouth had a temporary parting of the ways. One of the problems of being human. Thanks for writing.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Glad you’re back! Isn’t that the smoothest typewriter ever? Thanks so much for the mention.

[@altongansky]

TypewriterMinutes You got that right. It’s a joy. And that case!

[@scottbierly3398]

Really nice video of a gorgeous typewriter, I'm inspired!

[@altongansky]

It truly is a fine machine. I'm still impressed with it.

[@rustyalcorta3643]

Great video. I had never seen one. Someone put your video on my home page.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Great video. I have the Fact 1620, that shares many of the same features, including the unique double tab system and tubular carriage bearing race. A great machine for sure.

[@altongansky]

Joe Van Cleave Thanks Joe. It was a lucky find. It’s a smooth typewriter.

[@scottbierly3398]

Hey Joe, how to you compare the 1620 with the previous TP2 and this TP1 model? Did they go more to plastic and other "improvements", or is the 1620 still worthy?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

@@scottbierly3398 the 1620 has a cast alloy body and ribbon cover plate, very solid. Reminds me of the Volvo of typewriters (back when Volvos were solid!)

[@scottbierly3398]

@@Joe_VanCleave Thank you sir, and in the intervening hour I rediscovered that you actually have a video on the 1620, and got far enough to hear the allow part (will watch the rest tomorrow). Volvo, excellent, can I think Olympia as another comparison then? I sold my ~2008 Volvo C70 turbo hard-top convertible (hmmm, my taste has a pattern...) a few years back. Super fun car to drive, and solid in the sense of super heavy, but it literally fell to pieces with lack of workmanship, sadly. I think you must go further back for good old solid Volvos :)

[@hugocharleshansen8329]

Hi! Hugo from Norway here.I think the "B" on the preset tabulator lever may represent the swedish word "brev", which means "letter" (as in mail). The preset tabs were used for arrangement of a letter's text...as shown in the users manual. Follow this link: site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/FacitTP1.pdf

[@kaiohenrique9393]

Incredible video!

[@altongansky]

Thank you.

[@Fnelrbnef]

Cool to think of it, the typewriter stares you right in the face. Face it.

[@samking4179]

13:53 ... swedish not swiss. Hermes 3000 is actually swiss.

[@billogle4776]

Facit made good Typewriters ans Calculators, their Adding Machines were re-badged Odhners

[@altongansky]

Thanks Bill, interesting information.

[@inq752]

How much one would be worth today? In a 8/10 condition

[@altongansky]

There is no certain way to know. Collectors sometimes pay more to fill a hole in their collection. I bought mine for $45 US and I consider that a great deal. I would have paid more… maybe $125 or so.

[@irmabecx4758]

There is no Swiss language; most Swiss speak either German, French, or Italian. There is however a Swedish language, same as there is a Danish and a. Norwegian language, all of which are related by the way. The "B" on the right hand tab setter stands for "Brev", meaning "Letter", incidentally also in Danish and Norwegian. So the left hand tab setter sets just one tab (1) and the right hand tab setter sets the letter tabs (B). There should be seven of them. You can insert your own joke about insular, myopic Americans here...