The Halberg portable was produced in a striking number of variants. On top of that they had different names. To shed some light on the Halberg series, I made a list of Halbergs and a model classification. I hope they give a good impression of the evolution of the Halberg and are of help for anyone interested in the subject.
I would like to improve the list by adding more Halbergs. Do you have a Halberg? Please consider to contribute to the list by sending me the serial number and a couple of photos of your machine. Thank you!
Questions, comments or contributions? Please contact me at laurenz@planet.nl.
Based on a couple of distinct features, the Halberg series can be divided into three main groups. The machines in these groups I classify as Model 1, 2 and 3. Between these three groups are machines with mixed features. These I classify as Model 1 transitional and Model 2 transitional.
Only machines with known serial numbers have been used for the model classification, except for #32 and #53. Machines #34, #54, #69 and #75 are considered (very interesting) anomalies.
Halbergs of the first model have round, plastic keys and a metal spacebar. The keyboard resembles the 1940 Hermes Baby keyboard. The carriage end caps have the same width. The paper table has a paper guide and the paper bail has no scale.
Halbergs of the second model have plastic tombstone keys, but still a metal spacebar. The carriage end caps are now of unequal width (the right one is narrower). The paper table no longer has a paper guide and the paper bail now has a scale. A “crop circle” pattern has been added to the bottom plate.
Halbergs of the third model have a redesigned, rounded body with matching carriage ends, inverted tombstone keys with a matching plastic spacebar and platen knobs with big grooves. The return lever has a shape that resembles a shoehorn.
Halbergs that share features of multiple models are classified as transitional. The red Halberg (image on the left) has all the features of a Model 1 machine, except for the Model 2 keyboard. Therefore this typewriter is classified as Model 1 transitional. The pale green Traveler (image on the right) is a Model 2 with a Model 3 keyboard and return lever. Hence the classification Model 2 transitional.
A feature only found on Model 2 transitional machines is a plastic spacebar that has the same shape as the older metal one (image on the right).
Most of the Halbergs in the list I found on the internet. Machines with serial numbers have been dated using the serial numbers further down this page. The ones without serial numbers have been listed primarily according to the model classification features and secondarily according to other features, such as the names on the ribbon covers and the keyboard layouts. Their position in the list is an estimate.
| ID | Image | Name | Serial | Year | Keyboard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round keys, metal spacebar, same width carriage end caps, paper guide, no scale on paper bail |
||||||
| 26 |  |
Halberg | HB01225 | 1951 | QWERTY (NL) | Serial number prefix |
| 34 |  |
Halberg Junior | 01278 | 1951 | QWERTY (NL) | Scale on paper table Anomaly (no paper guide) |
| 47 |  |
Halberg Junior | 01602 | 1951 | QWERTY (NL) | |
| 6 |  |
Halberg Junior | 01952 | 1951 | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “KAPTINO” |
| 65 |  |
Halberg Junior | 02371 | 1951 | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “De Houtpoort” Case lid repainted |
| 50 |  |
Halberg Junior | 02821 | 1951 | QWERTY (NL) | |
| 41 |  |
Halberg Junior | 02957 | 1951 | QWERTY (NL) | Missing margin rack and case lid |
| 16 |  |
Halberg Junior | 03266 | 1951 | AZERTY | Decal “CENTRE MECANOGRAPHIQUE” |
| 12 |  |
03712 | 1951 | AZERTY | Unusual ribbon cover Repainted |
|
| 45 |  |
Halberg Junior | 03540 | 1951 | QWERTZ | |
| 14 | |
Halberg Junior | 04908 | 1952 | AZERTY | |
| 14 |  |
Halberg Junior | AZERTY | Badge/plate on ribbon cover | ||
| 4 |  |
TRAVELLER | 05609 | 1952 | QWERTY (EN) | |
| 31 |  |
TRAVELLER | 05615 | 1952 | QWERTY (EN) | |
| 43 |  |
TRAVELLER | QWERTY (EN) | |||
| 35 |  |
Halberg Junior | 06286 | 1952 | QWERTY (NL) | Missing paper bail and right shift key |
| 57 |  |
Halberg Junior | 06449 | 1952 | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “VAN BUREN & KUIPERS” |
| 18 |  |
Halberg Junior | QWERTY (BR) | Decal “REGIMAQUINAS LTDA” Non-original U key |
||
| 56 |  |
Halberg | AZERTY | |||
| 72 |  |
Halberg | AZERTY | Badge/plate on ribbon cover | ||
Mixed features Model 1 and Model 2 |
||||||
| 53 |  |
Traveler | 06830 | 1952 | QWERTY (US) | N key lever detached Incorrect serial number or anomaly |
| 25 |  |
Halberg Junior | 07649 | 1952 | QWERTY (ES) | |
| 54 |  |
Halberg Junior | 07826 | 1952 | QWERTY (NL) | Anomaly (Model 1 features) |
| 48 | |
Halberg Junior | 07853 | 1952 | QWERTY (NL) | |
| 67 |  |
Halberg Junior | QWERTY (NL) | |||
| 15 | TRAVELLER | QWERTY (EN) | Decal “Office Equipment” Looks the same as #48 and #67 |
|||
| 51 |  |
TRAVELLER | 11805 | 1953 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 3 |  |
TRAVELLER | QWERTY (US) | |||
| 38 |  |
TRAVELLER | QWERTY (US) | |||
| 80 |  |
TRAVELLER | QWERTY (US) | |||
| 36 |  |
TRAVELLER | 12295 | 1953 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 7 | |
Halberg | 12862 | 1953 | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “... CLAVAUX” |
| 8 |  |
Halberg | 13872 | 1953 | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “... CLAVAUX” |
| 1 |  |
Halberg | QWERTY (NL) with Rp | |||
| 13 |  |
Halberg | AIERTY | |||
| 5 |  |
Halberg | 14032 | 1953 | QWERTY (NO) | Decal “OSLO KONTORTEKNIKK” |
| 49 |  |
Halberg | 14100 | 1953 | QWERTY (NL) | |
| 61 |  |
Halberg | QWERTZ | Decal Luxury case |
||
| 22 |  |
R.C. Allen Traveler | 15021 | 1953 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 11 | |
Traveller | 15209 | 1953 | QWERTY (NL) | Non-original shift lock key |
| 64 |  |
Traveller | 15355 | 1953 | QWERTY (NL) | |
| 68 |  |
Traveller | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “John Pols” | ||
Tombstone keys, metal spacebar, unequal width carriage end caps, no paper guide, scale on paper bail, “crop circle” on bottom plate |
||||||
| 20 | |
Halberg | 1705x | 1953 | QWERTZ | Decal “HENRY WIEGEL” |
| 42 |  |
Halberg | 30052 | 1953 | QWERTY (NL) | |
| 62 |  |
Halberg | QWERTY (NL) | |||
| 33 |  |
Traveler | 31927 | 1953 | QWERTY (US) with accents | Missing paper bail |
| 27 |  |
Traveller | 33122 | 1953 | QWERTY (SE) | Decal “AB OSCAR J. NORDS” |
| 59 |  |
Halberg | 34381 | 1953 | AZERTY | Luxury case |
| 78 |  |
Halberg | AZERTY | |||
| 46 |  |
Halberg | AZERTY | Decal “COMPTOIR MECANOGRAPHIQUE N. AFR.” | ||
| 79 |  |
Halberg | AZERTY | |||
| 23 |  |
Halberg | QWERTY (NO) | |||
| 2 |  |
Halberg | 38023 | 1954 | AZERTY | Missing W key |
| 21 |  |
Halberg | 38230 | 1954 | QWERTY (NL) | Luxury case |
| 24 |  |
Halberg | 38361 | 1954 | QWERTY (ES) | |
| 28 |  |
Traveler | 38550 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 58 |  |
Traveller | 38624 | 1954 | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “John Pols” |
Mixed features Model 2 and Model 3 |
||||||
| 9 |  |
Traveler | 39515 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 29 |  |
Traveler | 39666 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 66 |  |
Traveler | 39687 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 69 |  |
Traveler Deluxe | 40609 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | Anomaly (Model 3 features) |
| 60 |  |
Traveler Deluxe | QWERTY (US) | |||
| 40 |  |
Traveler | 40908 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 17 |  |
Traveller | 41553 | 1954 | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “John Pols” |
| 77 |  |
Traveller | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “John Pols” Missing shift lock key |
||
| 10 | |
Traveler | 41606 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 74 |  |
41874 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | Missing ribbon cover | |
| 30 |  |
Traveler | 42341 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 75 |  |
Halberg | 42459 | 1954 | QWERTY (NL) | Decal “C.L.D. von Münching” Anomaly (Model 3 features) |
| 39 |  |
Traveler | 42863 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | Decal “MAC’S TYPEWRITER SERVICE, INC.” Book typeface |
| 73 |  |
Traveler | 43962 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | Book typeface |
| 81 |  |
Traveler | QWERTY (US) | Decal “CONSOLIDATED TYPEWRITER CO.” | ||
| 37 |  |
Traveler | QWERTY (US) | Missing paper bail | ||
| 44 |  |
Traveler | QWERTY (US) | Book typeface | ||
| 71 |  |
Halberg | QWERTZ | |||
| 63 |  |
QWERTZ | ||||
Rounded body and carriage end caps, inverted tombstone keys with matching plastic spacebar, platen knobs with big grooves, “shoehorn” carriage return lever |
||||||
| 70 |  |
Traveller | 45498 | 1954 | QWERTY (ES) | |
| 52 | |
Traveler | 45753 | 1954 | QWERTY (US) | |
| 19 |  |
Traveler | QWERTY (US) | |||
| 55 |  |
Traveller | 45869 | 1954 | QWERTY (EN) | |
| 32 |  |
Traveller | 596xx | 1955 | QWERTY (EN) | Unlikely serial number |
| Serial | Year |
|---|---|
| 1-4000 | 1951 |
| 4000-10000 | 1952 |
| 10000-35000 | 1953 |
| 35000-50000 | 1954 |
| 50000 and up | 1955 |
Halberg serial numbers as published by The Typewriter Database on 5 December 2021.
The user manual that came with Halberg 45869 (EN).
The user manual, warranty and leaflet that came with Halberg 42459 (NL).
Advertisement in the “Succes” magazine, early 1950s (NL).
Thanks goes out to all Halberg owners who answered my questions and gave me permission to use their Halberg images.
I did my best to ask permission for the use of the Halberg images on this website, but was not able to reach every copyright holder or did not always get an answer to my request. If an image on this website is yours and you didn’t get my request for permission and/or you disagree with the use of the image, please contact me.
See also The Olympia Traveller site and Laurenz’s typewriters
Site by Laurenz van Gaalen (laurenz@planet.nl)
Updated on July 26, 2024