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| Zbrojovka Brno, located in Prague, Czechoslovakia, had worked with Remington-Rand prior to the Second World War, although its production had not been of world-reaching scope. This the company sought to correct in the post-war years, producing both standard and portable machines of notable quality and offering all for export not only to all of Europe but to the USA as well. The company became a significant producer in the 1950's and 1960's, which were its days of greatest success. Here is a selection of machines from around that time frame. |
| ZETA 1501 STANDARD Tilman Elster collection This is the first post-war Zeta standard. Serial ZA-69893, built 1949. |
| CONSUL 203 Tilman Elster collection 1967 machine from the days when Consul machines were sold world-wide. Name-change occurred 1958. |
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| ZETA PORTABLE Tilman Elster collection First portable produced by the company, beginning date unknown exactly (many sources differ) but thought to have been around the 1950 mark. In 1958, the name changed to CONSUL and great numbers of machines were built and offered for export. This was the beginning of high times for ZB and its typewriter business. This early and rare example is serial number ZP20215. |
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| CONSUL PORTABLE Tilman Elster collection This machine with serial ZP68824 is the earliest variant of Consul we can display at the moment, although in design it is no different from the Zeta in important respects. The larger Consul portables were basket-shifted from inception, a very early example in Europe. |
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| PRESIDENT Will Davis collection Deliberately named for the US market. Serial number ZP-111888, built about 1958. No tabulator is fitted to this machine, but it is fitted to the two above. |
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| CONSUL PORTABLE Will Davis collection Serial ZP-121555. |
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| CONSUL PORTABLE Tilman Elster collection Serial number ZP147502. Note the chrome logo on the front, as opposed to some machines which have a decal in this position. Decals are normally found used for export machines in this period. |
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| CONSUL PORTABLE Will Davis collection This variant differs from those above in a number of ways. It is fitted with a different ribbon cover, has a front-set tabulator, and has smooth enamel paint instead of crinkle. In some places, this machine is referred to as the Consul 1511, and in others the Consul De Luxe. The instructions for ZP-121155 show this machine, indicating it was in production by at least 1958. This machine is serial number ZP-157225 and was built in 1959. |
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| CONSUL PORTABLE Same model as above, in tan instead of sea-foam green. Serial number ZP-164862, also built 1959. This machine was owned by my sister-in-law's grandfather, who is of Czech origin. It is thought to have been purchased in the USA; it has the US keyboard/character layout. It appears that a model split occurred in production; the first two portables shown on this page have the "old" body with added features. These features then are applied to the body seen at left; the old body was then used for simpler models as seen below. |
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| CONSUL SILENT Will Davis collection This machine is an oddity. It is serial number ZP-185678, but uses the "old" body style, although finished in smooth enamel paint. There is nothing special about the machine mechanically to warrant the application of the "Silent" name (which is on the small label below the Consul emblem.) Thought to date to roughly 1960. |
| ADMIRAL Tilman Elster collection Yet another machine in the early body, with decal on front aimed at export. Serial number ZP-201218. As mentioned, this machine in the old body has no tabulator, and lacks other features of the 1511 / De Luxe models. |
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| MARION Tilman Elster collection Consul 224 sold under the name "Marion" in Europe. Serial 5224131138. Note the new body style, new blocky keys. First four digits of serial are year (1965) and model number. |
| CONSUL 221 Tilman Elster collection These machines are fine operational units, comparable with those built anywhere. Highly refined compared to the earliest Zeta / Consul portables. Manufactured about 1968. |
| CONSUL 222 Tilman Elster collection This machine is from the late period of production, when it becomes difficult to ascertain just when certain models were built. It is probably from 1979, judging by its serial number. In 1977, Zbrojovka Brno's typewriter production was sold, in a move toward national privatization, to a concern called RVHP. This firm continued production until 1988 when it shut down. However, in 1992, a new firm known as REMAGG SrO was launched to resurrect the line, which it did -- but it ended typewriter production in 1998. |
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| CONSUL PORTABLE Will Davis collection In about 1959, Zbrojovka Brno began production of small, travelling machines. These are variously referred to as either Model 31 or Model 1531 depending upon source material. This example is a very early one, with serial 031133364. Note the use of white keys for shift, shift lock, margin release, and back space, along with the chrome "Consul" emblem. These are hallmarks of late 1950's / early 1960's units. |
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| CONSUL 232 Tilman Elster collection The 232 replaced the earlier version without changing anything significant. Very many are found in various attractive two-tone paint schemes. |
| BRIGITTE Tilman Elster collection The Consul 232 with name variant and German keyboard. |
| CONSUL 233 Tilman Elster collection The 233 appeared with a new body style, and the block-style keytops, in the early 1960's. |
| BALDWIN Will Davis collection Consul 233 name-variant, with US keyboard. |
| CONSUL 231.2 Tilman Elster collection By the end of the 1960's, newer body styles had appeared and sub-models began to be delineated by decimal numbering. The logo has also changed to a more modern style. |