A long while back, Thomas Fuertig e-mailed me and informed me that he'd found an extremely rare typewriter.  It was a member of the Harris-Rex family, and was unusual for a number of reasons.  He asked that I keep it under my hat until the restoration was completed -- and now, in April 2008 he has unveiled this machine for the first time, and we see it here for the first time anywhere.     WILL DAVIS - THOMAS FUERTIG - TILMAN ELSTER
National Typewriter No. 10 -nickel plated-   serial 52126

Thomas Fuertig collection

Our first view (and I bet Tom will be surprised that I still have it) is one that he sent when he first found the machine.  I show it here for two reasons; first, this is an important machine for collectors due to its rarity, and second to show you what a fabulous job Tom did in restoring the original look of the machine.

Collectors familiar with the Harris-Rex line will already be agog at this machine; those who are not may require some description in order to fully understand just how amazing this machine actually is -- and to understand why it seems to bring up more questions than it answers.  We will begin with the model number of the machine first since it's easiest to explain.
At right:  REX VISIBLE No. 10 s/n 50852

Tilman Elster collection

The Rex Visible underwent several minor changes, or upgrades during its life while remaining essentially the same machine.  The normal model, the No. 4 (carried over from the Harris Visible No. 4) changed during its life mainly through the provision of a front mounted, lever type ribbon selector to replace the side-button style first used when Rex took over.  However, at some later time a new No. 10 Rex Visible was added to the line; this machine had the later style ribbon selector, but added two character keys to the keyboard and thus typed four more characters.  These machines are very rare; only two Rex Visible No. 10 machines are known to exist (Thomas Fuertig owns the other one.)
Rex was trying, obviously to add some competitive value to its machine by developing a more conventional ribbon selector control and by making a model that typed two more characters.  Obviously, not too many of these were sold even though Rex tried for a while; the two known Rex Visible No. 10 machines are about a thousand serial numbers apart.  In that sense, then, this newly-found, third No. 10 variant is highly unusual.
National Typewriter No. 5  serial 22036   Will Davis collection

As for the "National" name, some further explanation is needed.  Apparently, in late 1916 Rex Typewriter Company began manufacturing a portable typewriter known initially as the National Typewriter.  The first model was the No. 2.  From this time until the end of Rex and the startup of Demountable, the portable was made continuously in slightly changing form.  More confusing is the fact that the portables appeared both with the National name, and later on with the name "Portex" as a contracted combination of the word "portable" and the name "Rex."  It has been, and continues to be our assumption that for whatever reason (see the articles on these machines for full details) even though the machine was being made at the Rex plant, it was marketed through two different channels -- namely, through a distribution network under the name "National" and also under the Rex network, although the Rex concern appears not to have handled the machine until later (perhaps after sellout by American Can.)
Until this time, exactly one other standard typewriter of this overall lineage had been seen with the name NATIONAL applied, and that machine only has this name on the front -- not on the paper table or front frame.  However, Thomas Fuertig's machine is completely labeled as a "National."  Let's go ahead and take a look at the machine in question, post-restoration.
Again we see the National No. 10, this time in Tom's distinctive photo setting (immediately recognizable to frequent visitors of either my site or the European Typewriter Project site.)

Note immediately that the front frame is labeled in large decal "National Typewriter" just the same as the portable above -- it seems that the branding later on included both words.  Note the matching name on the front, and on the paper table and also notice the decorative gold beading.  This is not present on the paper table, and this goes along with Rex machines of the time which don't have it there either.  For those who pay attention to smaller details, note the later style large platen knobs and also note the lever-type ribbon selector on the front.
With these photos we can see that the machine is in spectacular condition on all sides and even below.  The large crossmember seen here in the "under" view is the main mounting for the lower action unit, and it sure looks as if it just left the factory.  Tom notes that the only parts of the machine painted are the upper mountings for the four rubber feet.  Note the usual "Patents Pending" decal on the back, used for all Harris-Rex variant machines even though the patents were granted from the outset!
National Typewriter No. 5  serial 20718 

Tilman Elster collection

Here we see a No. 5 National portable, with nickel plated body.  This is made all the more interesting given the discovery of the nickel plated, standard National Typewriter No. 10 by Tom.

Although it might be obvious, it should be stated that no other standard (office size) typewriters made by Harris, Rex or Demountable are known to exist with nickel plating.  (In fact there are plain few nickel plated standard machines of any kind, whatsoever.)  The National No. 10 is thus unique in that respect.  We should keep in mind though that while all of these things tie together (Model No. 10 previously known to exist; National brand name associated previously with Rex; nickel plating known to exist on at least one other different National machine) we still don't know how or why standard machines got the National brand name, or how they were distributed.
The label you see at right is on the nickel-plated National Typewriter No. 10.  It is obviously French; moreover, the machine was discovered in France.  Did these National standard machines, however few there were, receive this name for export?  The National portables are found on both sides of the ocean, but the only National standard machines known have been found in Europe.  It's just one possibility and adds another interesting combo to the already bewildering universe of combinations associated with these companies.
The nickel-plated No. 10 does give us one, agonizing clue.  Note carefully the front frame; it says that the machine was manufactured by Rex Typewriter Company, Fond du Lac, Wis., USA.  Now, this places the manufacture of this machine either before or after the era during which American Can Company controlled Rex -- because during that period the machines do not have this decal at all.  Instead, during that era they're labeled "Sold and Guaranteed by American Can Company, Chicago Ill. USA." 

If we take our assumptions further, we might note that only toward the end of production of the portables did the nickel plating appear; does this mean that we can assign this No. 10 to the era after American Can sold out, and before Rex became "Rex Typewriter Corporation?"  This seems a safe enough assumption, and even given the associated companies' propensity to ignore the use of significant ordering in serial numbering the assumption does work well with my theory about overall Harris-Rex-Demountable serial numbering blocks (given here).  Whatever the case (and we may never know, for every time we're sure we have another puzzle piece we find out the puzzle's bigger than we thought) the finding of this nickeled National No. 10 by Thomas Fuertig gives us both new and interesting questions and, if nothing more, a spectacular machine to look at.
National Typewriter No. 10 / serial 52126
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Photos donated with permission as noted individually.  Information provided by authors as noted; assumptions and analysis by Will Davis.