A splendid example of industrial archaeology applied to office life, this mechanical hand-cranked pencil sharpener, model "Iduna", was manufactured in Germany by IDEA-Maschinenfabrik of Leipzig, a company specializing in the production of professional office machines and equipment.
The Iduna mod. 2 fits perfectly into the modern technical genre, combining a solid aesthetic with precision mechanics designed to withstand the intensive use of the large design studios of the time.
The license plate with the acronym DRP is clearly visible on the body of the car (Deutsches Reichs-Patent) and patent number 341369 which place its production between the 1920s and the early 1930s.
The piece is presented in extraordinarily conservative conditions. The original glossy black lacquer (the typical "japanization" finish of the time) has retained its brilliance, showing only slight and consistent signs of age. The red "Iduna" graphics shield, featuring the iconic pencil-clutching hand, is intact, sharp, and free of cleaning-related chafing abrasions.
The machine retains all its contemporary elements, including the adjustment registers, the locking lever, the internal cylindrical cutter and the crank equipped with its original shaped wooden knob. The condition is excellent: structurally intact with original patina of the time, original and working mechanics. We pulsed it, tested it, and simply placed it on a wooden and fabric base.
The machine parts are as follows:
1 - Chuck opening/closing lever
2 - Lever to hold the pencil snug against the sharpener
3 - Sharpen rotation crank
4 - Spindle tilt lock lever
5 - Mandino
6 - Brass plate with tilt for tip type
Then on the back there is the drawer to collect the chips.
For operation you need to: (a) open the spindle (b) insert the pencil by placing it next to the sharpener (c) close the spindle by releasing the lever (d) rotate the crank pushing the lever towards the machine body
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SILVER Seller in Milano, Italia
