1907 Azed

These are fairly rare, especially in the United States. Known serial numbers range from 109 to 1703. This one is 253.

Between 1910-1912, Maschinenfabrik Carl Engler, G.m.b.H. manufactured Albus typewriters in Austria under license from the Standard Typewriter Company. This is why an Albus looks virtually identical to a Standard Folding No. 1, with shift keys on the left and right sides of the keyboard.

The keyboard on mine was made for a French user, so I believe it was probably an Azed. I know of an Azed with serial 277, which is only 24 away from mine - so that's more support for this one being an Azed.

Note the MAJ and CHIF keys. Majuscule translates to “upper case.” Chiffre means “figure.”

Austrian, German, and French armies used these early typewriters. The Albus was the first typewriter to be “used with great success on an aeroplane.”