Pimping up my favourite ultra-portable Antares Parva
This is my favourite ultra-portable machine. It beats Hermes Rocket/Baby in typing action and even Groma Kolibri - especially in weight class. Not as sexy as Kolibri but there was a potential to make it look better.
Hot-epoxy moulded cover was originally painted dull grey. Same with machine’s bottom. Handle was made in flexible plastic - which on my machine has developed cracks due to age.
I removed the dull paint, made leather handle and put cork under the machine, to make it look more like Italian machine (which she is) than Kriegsmarine piece of gear.
Here is the result. More details can be seen here.
Not only is she a great typer - functional design features make her stand out from the crowd.
The cover is made in a way that the machine can be nested in it, for very comfortable lap-typing.
A bit like in Rooy typewriter - but not compulsory as on Rooy - sitting in the cover the machine rises a bit, just enough for comfortable typing while it sits on one’s lap.
With “rabbit-ears” (paper support) in erected position she is a cute, little machine but very capable and pleasant to use indeed.