I've prepared this machine for my good friend and his daughter, in a hope that they will find it useful in their enormous creativity.
It started a bit like “Hanks effect”, with a picture of another typewriter starring in current popular series on streaming channel. Juwel is this other machine. I did not have it in my collection but accidentally it was listed a few days ago on Tradera. I ignored it at first - it did not look interesting, design-wise it was rather moderately boring. A kind of Halda Portable. I did not know it is now famous machine due to television series.

It was not certain that I win the auction and that the machine will arrive in time before my journey so we chose another machine - much in the style of this Juwel but most probably much better typer and - in my eyes - much nicer to look at.

Continental Portable. Very good machine, favorite among many sport journalists back in the day due to its fantastic typing action, robust construction, light weight (that is relative) and compact form. Robert Messenger wrote about these on his blog.

I have two machines, they differ slightly in small details but their engine is basically the same. The chosen one has nicer paper table - with paper guide on the left - and wire paper support. Just like the Juwel.

Both my machines had problem with backspace action but otherwise they work perfectly well, even though they are dirty and dusty as hell. That tells a bit about robust design.

As always I started with disassembling cover panels and platen removal. No surprises - all is done more or less as on every other portable machine.

There are signs on the front panel that someone was attempting removal by prying near ribbon spool.

Luckily he/she did not get through (I think) because there are no screw heads which were butchered with improper screwdrivers. What a joy to work on such specimen!

The front panel is easily taken out once side panels - and their metal inserts - are removed. I flattened dents near ribbon spool and blackened them to match the rest.

Platen removal is straightforward. Platen rod goes out on the left side, after releasing blocking plungers and knob screw on the right.

Right margin stop has bell incorporated, sliding together on the margin track. The whole track is spring-loaded, spring attached below it, to the right side of the frame.

Backspace mechanism was kind-of working, especially when the machine was tilted a bit backwards. This “gravitational assist” was certainly not by design so I detached the mechanism for better look.

The arm looks solid and not deformed by any means so I formed only the end of it, where star-wheel engaging rollers reside. After several attempts with very gentle forming I hit the spot where the mechanism works regardless of machine inclination. Ready to be taken to ISS!

Rest of the job left was routine dusting off the mechanism and chemical bath in “typewriter soup”. Lots of compressed-air later the machine is clean and ready for assembly.

Rubber feet are still fine so I leave them in place. This machine must have had platen and paper rollers changed not long ago (like - 30 years ago?) because rollers are grippy and round and the platen, even though marked with dents from typing, is still elastic and grippy.

I sanded the platen smooth, to remove dents and oxidized rubber. Oiled platen axis rod - with clutch disengage cones - goes in without additional drama unlike on Olympia SM4.

Before assembly all panels get waxed and buffed. Side inserts got their felt dampening stripes re-glued.

Lastly key-tops got scrubbing, to remove dirt from edges of metal rings. These keys have real glass, not celluloid like Smith-Corona portables, so they are still perfectly clear and free from scratches.

And so we are done. Test typed on new black-red ribbon reveals no issues, all works as it should.
The beauty is taken home for photo session before she leaves my collection.

If I interpret Typewriter Database correctly then this machine is from around 1942.

Typeface is in Pica size: 10 cpi, classic style.

CONTROLS

Left side of the carriage:

Line advance - blue arrow
Left platen knob - yellow arrow
Step-less line advance (clutch engaged - “row memory”) - red arrow

To disengage line-advance clutch you pull both platen knobs away from each other. Platen moves independently of the toothed wheel and “row memory” can be reset.
To go back to stepped line advance push both knobs back towards each other.

Single and 1 1/2 line spacing lever is under line advance arm.

Area zoomed above shows color selector for bi-chromatic ribbons.

Right side of the carriage:

Carriage release - red arrow, pull towards you.
Paper release - green arrow. Picture shows “working position”. To release paper pull towards you.

Not complicated and rather straightforward, I think. No nonsense like “magic margins” or tabulator keys - it is a portable machine after all!

A bit of mechanical porn at the end.