Other Models

Triumph Norm 6
Serial # 447256
1944

Triumph-Werke Nürnberg introduced its line of portables in 1928 with three models: the Durabel, Norm, and Perfekt. The Norm lacked the Perfekt's tabulator, while the entry-level Durabel further lacked a ribbon color selector, paper guide, and additional paper guides behind the platen.

1939 ad touting Triumph's trifecta of products

Triumph is probably better known for its motorcycles. During WWII, the company produced tens of thousands of motorcyles for the German army at the same factory in Nuremberg where it also built bicycles and typewriters. After May, 1941, it became nearly impossible in Germany to purchase a typewriter without a special ration coupon. As the government became increasingly paranoid about subversives and seditionists, it tightly restricted who could own a typewriter. In July, 1942, all German Jews were ordered to turn in their typewriters, along with other items such as furs and bicycles. By the end of 1942, Triumph ceased production of typewriters for the civilian market altogether. Triumph continued to make typewriters in limited numbers for goverment offices.

In 1943, allied bombs destroyed the factory's pipe warehouse and the company archives in the administrative building. In April, 1945, as the fall of Germany at the hands of Allied forces drew near, all businesses were ordered closed. A "scorched earth" strategy began to prevent anything of use from falling into the hands of Americans. Roads and bridges were blown up. Factories were ordered to destroy their equipment. At Triumph, a small group of employees led by Paul Reil were tasked with the destruction of all tools and manufacturing equipment. Instead, they carried out a bold covert operation to save their factory. Important machinery parts were boxed, labeled, and hidden. Nazi officials were instead given boxes of old parts, which were taken away in trucks. Then they stayed to protect the factory from being ransacked. For days, the group huddled in the otherwise abandoned factory as shells from both German and Allied guns rained upon the buildings, making periodic forays beyond the factory walls to forage for food for themselves as well as the numerous forced-labor prisoners who lived on-site. On April 20, American troops arrived. The group's stash of guns was confiscated, and the employees generally placed under house arrest within the factory (the forced laborers were set free, though). However, seeing the value of a semi-operational factory that could fabricate parts, the Americans were more or less good to the workers and had them restart areas of the factory to help keep American military equipment supplied.

In May, 1945, about 220 workers relaunched production, making wheelbarrows and trolleys at first, then gradually resuming production of bicycles and typewriters.