Rare Factory Colour Olympia Splendid 33 / SF Ultra-Portable Typewriter (New Platen Fitted)

Meet the Olympia Splendid 33 / SF—a robust West German engineering classic, professionally overhauled in our UK workshop and glowing in its exceptionally rare original factory finish.

Widely regarded by restorers as one of the finest ultra-portable typewriters ever manufactured, the Olympia Splendid SF combines slim travel convenience with the heavy-duty mechanical reliability for which West German Olympia machines are world-famous. Fully restored by BBC’s The Repair Shop featured experts Walid Saad & Joujou, this typewriter isn't just built to look impressive—it is calibrated to deliver thousands of fluid manuscript pages.

Mechanical Condition & £150 New Platen Investment

• Brand-New Platen Roller Fitted (£150 Value): We personally invested in fitting a freshly vulcanized rubber platen to this machine. This provides superior key-strike cushioning, whisper-quiet typing acoustics, and sharp ink imprints that will last for decades.

• 100% Workshop Restored: Deep-flushed, chemically degreased, segment-aligned, and mechanically tuned for smooth, fluid key movement.

• Fresh Ribbon Installed: Fitted with a brand-new Purple 10-meter fabric typewriter ribbon on standard spools, ready to write straight out of the box.

Cosmetic Condition & Included Accessories

• Rare Factory Finish: Features its stunning, original factory paint colour. A highly sought-after cosmetic variation for Olympia collectors.

• Chassis Condition: Cleaned thoroughly inside and out. The outer frame remains in very good condition with light, authentic age marks primarily on the left side of the lid (please inspect high-resolution photos).

• Keycaps: Off-white keytops are clean, bright, and offer a crisp visual contrast against the colourful body frame.

• Original Carrying Case & Manual: Includes its original zip-around carrying case (good vintage condition with minor interior pocket wear )  along with the original instruction manual.

Keyboard Layout & Technical Specifications

• Brand & Model: Olympia Splendid 33 / SF (Ultra-Portable)

• Manufacturer: Olympia Werke AG (Wilhelmshaven, West Germany)

• Keyboard Layout:  QWERTY Keyboard (Ideal for English prose, scripts, and journaling) with EU Accents. 

• Typeface / Font: Classic PICA Typeface (10 characters per inch / 10 CPI)

• Platen: Brand-New Vulcanized Rubber Roller

• Ribbon Compatibility: Standard 1/2-inch fabric ribbon (Group 1 / GR1 spool fitment)

Quick Specifications Overview

🌍 Global Shipping, Timelines & Tariff Information

• 🇺🇸 United States & 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Shipping (100% Free & All-Inclusive): Standard local & international shipping to the US and UK is completely free and included in the listed price. Furthermore, all US import tariffs and customs duties are fully prepaid by our workshop. There are absolutely zero hidden checkout fees, surprise border holds, or cash-on-delivery demands at your door.

• 🌐 International Shipping (Europe, Australia, Canada & Rest of World): We dispatch all website orders in less than 24 hours. We offer flexible, fully tracked premium shipping options calculated at checkout:

  • Standard International Delivery: Safely delivered via premium air courier directly to your doorstep in 3 to 7 working days (with prompt EU dispatch and highly competitive rates to Australia and remote destinations).

  • Express International Delivery Upgrade: Arrives at your door in just 1 to 3 working days for a small additional fee.

• Proprietary Global Packaging Protocol: To ensure a 1930s classic survives international air travel perfectly, we mechanically lock down the carriage, insulate the outer frame in multi-layered shock-absorbing cushioning, and suspend the entire unit within a heavy-duty, double-walled outer shipping carton.

🤝 The "Ready-to-Write" Package & Lifetime Support

• Unbox & Start Writing: Your Imperial Good Companion arrives pre-installed with a fresh ink ribbon and our primary step-by-step startup instructions designed by our workshop team. Simply unbox, release the carriage lock, and begin typing immediately.

• Video Learning Academy: Your package includes a direct link to our dedicated YouTube video tutorial, teaching you exactly how to type on, care for, adjust the margins, and change ink ribbons on your specific Imperial Model 1 typewriter.

• Lifetime Technical Partnership: Your relationship with our workshop does not end at delivery. Every typewriter we sell comes with lifetime technical support. You receive direct email and video-call troubleshooting access to Walid and Joujou, the celebrated restoration experts from the BBC's The Repair Shop and major Netflix productions.

📖 Have questions about Olympia typewriters or maintaining ultra-portables? Read our complete guide: Typewriter FAQ: The Ultimate 100 Questions Answered