I have developed a mild obsession with vintage Swedish typewriters, but information about them is pretty thin on the (digital) ground, especially in comparison with better-known and better-selling makes, and especially in English. This page is an attempt to create a comprehensive index of any and all manuals, blog posts, videos and other materials available online about Haldas, Facits and related/rebranded typewriters (e.g. Addo, Comda, Łucznik, Odhner) made after 1950 or so.
This page is a work in progress. Information is not always complete or accurate.
Contact me if you have a link that ought to be added to this page, or to report an error. Please bear in mind that I’m an enthusiastic amateur with no special expertise or knowledge about these machines: I am unlikely to be able to answer your question about Facit typewriters, and may in fact be looking for that answer myself.
Table of Contents
General
(Most online introductions to Facit in general focus on a specific model in particular; scroll down to the individual model listings to see them.)
Age & Serial Numbers
The Typewriter Database's page on Facit serial numbers helps owners determine the age of their machines.
Company History
Much of which focuses on Facit's mechanical calculator business (and the sudden collapse thereof), compared with which their typewriters were just a side hustle: Facit and the Displacement of Manual Calculators (Chris Sandström, 11 Apr 2013); The Rapid Collapse of the Swedish Mechanical Calculator Industry (Asianometry, 2 Oct 2022).
The Facit Model: Globalism, Localism, Identity (Spector Books, 2019) by design firm Our Polite Society is a book that looks at the company's marketing and design language (see the online version).
The Facit Man was the company's mascot: see The Facit Man (Chris Sandström, 8 Jun 2009) and Facitman History; figurines turn up all the time on eBay.
Fonts & Typefaces
For Facit's typefaces, see these scanned pages from the 1964 NOMDA Blue Book (Ted Munk, 23 Apr 2011) and this scan of an early 1970s document outlining Facit's keyboards and typestyles (The Classic Typewriter Page).
Not every typeface was available on every model; the more esoteric fonts were usually limited to electrics and standards, especially later on. For example, here's how it broke down in the early 1970s:
| TYPEFACE | 1620 | 1730 | 1820 | 1840 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block | 10 | 10 | ||
| Capital Block | 10 | 10 | ||
| Cubic | 10 | 10, 12 | 10, 12 | 10, 12 |
| Esquire | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Favorite | 10, 11 | |||
| Granada | 10, 12 | |||
| Illustria | 10, 12 | |||
| Imperial | 10, 12 | 10, 12 | ||
| Italic | 10 | 10 | ||
| Large | 10 | 10 | ||
| Prestige Script | 12 | 12 | 12 | |
| Standard | 10, 12 | 10, 12 | 10, 12 | 10, 12 |
Meanwhile, Our Polite Society has recreated several Facit typefaces, such as Cubic, Favorite, Placard (aka Bulletin) and Facitype (the font used in Facit's logo) as OpenType fonts; licencing fees start at 75 euros.
Repairs
The frozen Facit problem is a well-known issue where a Facit's escapement mechanism completely seizes up; to learn how to deal with it, see Mystery Solved! The Frozen Facit (Starring Facit 1620) (x over it, 4 Jun 2013), Fun with a Frozen Facit--and a Rattly Space Bar (Tony's Vision, 15 Nov 2013), and Facit--Carriage Removal, and Revival of a Seized Escapement Bearing (dingasty.org, 2 Dec 2018).
Repair manuals are thin on the ground; the Facit 1620, 621 & TP2 Portable Typewriter Repair Adjustment Service Manual (TWDB) covers the TP2 and 1620, which have a lot in common mechanically (the TP1 is quite different).
Replacement parts: The TP2 and 1620 also share feet that tend to be squished and worn by now; we can recommend the 3D-printed replacements available on eBay, having installed them on our machines.
Tutorials: Facit/Halda Platen Removal (dingasty.org, 8 Jun 2019).
Also see individual model listings, below, for issues specific to a single model.
Portable Typewriters
Halda P (1951-1958)
User Manuals: Manual for Halda Portable Owners (The Classic Typewriter Page). Blog Posts: I Adopt a Scandinavian (Richard Polt, 3 Feb 2011); 1952 Halda Portable Typewriter (Robert Messenger, 23 Nov 2021). Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: How Is the 1957 Halda Portable Typewriter? Type and Talk (HotRod Typewriter Co, 10 Nov 2021); Halda vs Facit Typewriters: A Brother from Another Mother (HotRod Typewriter Co, 16 Nov 2021).
Facit TP1 (1958-1964)
Known domestically as the Facit Privat; TP1 was the export-market name for the first (1958-1960) and second (1960-1964) series of Privat.
User Manuals: User Manual (The Classic Typewriter Page). Blog Posts: Facit TP1 Portable--The Prince of Typewriters (Robert Messenger, 30 Oct 2011); Facit TP1 Techno Pica (Fountain Pens & Typewriters, 14 Feb 2012); Facit's Facets: The Facit TP1 Typewriter (Richard Polt, 21 Apr 2012); Facit TP1 Pica Cubic (Fountain Pens & Typewriters, 28 Apr 2012); Favorite Typewriter Function Keys Location (Fountain Pens & Typewriters, 14 Oct 2012); Facit TP1 Ribbon Feed Repair (Fountain Pens & Typewriters, 12 Feb 2014); For Love of Inga, the Facit (Type-Writer.org, 12 Sep 2013); Facit--Carriage Removal, and Revival of a Seized Escapement Bearing (dingasty.org, 2 Dec 2018); Facit-nation (Donald Nathan, 13 May 2021). Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: Typewriter Review: 1963 Facit TP1 (Typewriter Minutes, 26 Aug 2017); 1963 Facit TP1 Portable (Alton Gansky, 30 Oct 2017); Facit Privat (TP1) Typewriter Carriage Lock and Release (Nis Kildegaard, 13 Aug 2021); Facit Typewriter TP1 Ribbon Spindle Modification from DIN 2103 to Standard Style Spools (Phoenix Typewriter, 26 Aug 2021); Halda vs. Facit Typewriters: A Brother from Another Mother (HotRod Typewriter Co, 16 Nov 2021); FT015: Facit TP1 (Finger Thinking, 3 Feb 2025).
Facit TP2 (1964-1969)
The TP2 was the name given to the export version of the series 3 Privat. Lots of changes under the hood vs. the TP1.
Brochures, User Manuals and Repair Manuals: Brochure (The Classic Typewriter Page); User Manual (The Classic Typewriter Page); Facit 1620, 621 & TP2 Portable Typewriter Repair Adjustment Service Manual (TWDB). Blog Posts: No Way, It's a Facit TP2 (x over it, 17 Jul 2011); It's Another Facit Pica Cubic! Facit TP2 (Fountain Pens & Typewriters, 20 Feb 2014); More on the Facit TP2 (Fountain Pens & Typewriters, 21 Feb 2014); Facit TP2 Final Adjustment and Substitute Feet (Fountain Pens & Typewriters, 12 Jul 2014). Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: Facit Manual Typewriter Repaired Ribbon Reverse and Drive, Sticky Parts (Phoenix Typewriter, 8 Feb 2021).
Facit 1620 (1969-1977?)
The successor to the TP2, with many mechanical similarities. Also sold as the Addo 621.
User and Repair Manuals: User Manual (The Classic Typewriter Page); Addo: Instructions for Use (The Classic Typewriter Page); Facit 1620, 621 & TP2 Portable Typewriter Repair Adjustment Service Manual (TWDB). Blog Posts: The Facit 1620 Portable Typewriter (Robert Messenger, 13 Aug 2012); 1620 Facit ... Cursive to Start the New Year (Type OH!, 7 Jan 2013); Facit Facts (Type OH!, 8 Jan 2013); Mystery Solved! The Frozen Facit (Starring Facit 1620) (x over it, 4 Jun 2013); Fun with a Frozen Facit--and a Rattly Space Bar (Tony's Vision, 15 Nov 2013); Facit 1620 (Typewriter Review, 11 Apr 2015); Facit 1620 (Joe Van Cleave, 14 Nov 2016); So Kate, How's the New Typewriter? (Kate Heartfield, 16 Sep 2023). Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: Typewriter Video Series--Episode 42: Facit 1620 (Joe Van Cleave, 14 Nov 2016); Maschinenschreiben in näherer Betrachtung (Der tsm-6795, 30 Oct 2017); Facit 1620 Typewriter Escapement Repair (HotRod Typewriter Co, 14 Sep 2021).
The Lucznik Predom 1300 Series was a licenced clone manufactured in Poland: Facit vs Lucznik (Forgotten Technology, 26 Mar 2019); Predom Lucznik Typewriter (Facit 1620 Copy) 1970s (Bill Rachmad, 10 Apr 2021).
Ultraportables
The Facit 1601 appears to be a rebadged Silver-Reed made in Japan; the Facit 1610 looks a lot like a rebadged Bulgarian-made Maritsa 30, or something similar. I have next to no information on either machine apart from what's on TWDB.
Standard Typewriters
Halda Star (1953-1957)
Blog Posts: Halda Star Typewriter (Richard Polt, 13 Nov 2017). Videos: Halda Star Customer Walk Around (HotRod Typewriter Co, 23 Jun 2025).
Facit T1 (1957-1960)
Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: Facit T1 (T2) Desktop Typewriter (SchyllerWade, 2 May 2019).
Facit T2 (1960-1972)
Early models share the T1's dejamming key and tab key next to the space bar; later models lose the dejammer and move the tab keys to the top of the keyboard.
User Manuals: User Manual (The Classic Typewriter Page). Blog Posts: Facit T2 Standard Typewriter (Robert Messenger, 21 May 2014); Fascinating Facit (Dactylographe, 19 Apr 2020). Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: Releasing the carriage of a Facit T2 typewriter (Nis Kildegaard, 23 Dec 2021).
Facit 1730 (1972-1977)
The successor to the T2. Also sold as the Addo 732.
User Manuals: Addo: Instructions for Use (The Classic Typewriter Page). Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: Restoration of an old rusty Typewriter (FACIT) from 1$ to 1000$ (My Restorations, 31 Jan 2025).
Facit 1740 (1978-1980s)
Later models (at least) were made in Brazil.
Blog Posts: Dan Johnson on his 1984 Facit 1740 (TWDB, 18 Jun 2014); 2018 Starts with a NOS Facit 1740 (Type OH!, 12 Jan 2018). Photo Galleries: TWDB.
Electric Typewriters
At this point the only online material about the Facit ET3 and 1820 electric typewriters I've been able to find comes from the Der tsm-6795 YouTube channel. The channel's videos are in either German or Russian.
Facit ET3 (1960-1967)
Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: Facit ET3: erste Ergebnisse bei der Arbeit (Der tsm-6795, 20 Feb 2018); Facit ET3 Typewriter Schreibmaschine (Der tsm-6795, 22 Feb 2018); Typewriter Facit ET3 Schreibmaschine (Der tsm-6795, 21 Mar 2020); Backspace mechanism FACIT ET3 typewriter Schreibmaschine (Der tsm-6795, 21 Mar 2020); Facit ET3 Typewriter Schreibmaschine (Der tsm-6795, 1 Apr 2020); Facit ET3—Part 2 (Der tsm-6795, 1 Apr 2020).
Facit 1820 (1969-1971?)
Also sold as the Addo 822.
User Manuals: Addo: Instructions for Use (The Classic Typewriter Page). Photo Galleries: TWDB. Videos: Facit 1820 Schreibmaschine typewriter pishushchaya mashina (Der tsm-6795, 24 Nov 2017); Pishushchaya mashina FACIT 1820: ob'yasnenie samoy mashiny (Der tsm-6795, 25 Nov 2017); Pishushchaya mashina FACIT 1820: o mekhanike Tchast' 1 (Der tsm-6795, 25 Nov 2017); Pishushchaya mashina FACIT 1820: o mekhanike. Tchast' 2. Niz. (Der tsm-6795, 25 Nov 2017); Facit 1820 Schreibmaschine
Facit 1840 (1972-1977)
Also sold as the Addo 841. More compact than its predecessors.
User Manuals: Addo: Instructions for Use (The Classic Typewriter Page). Photo Galleries: TWDB.
Facit 1845 (1978)
Appears to be a successor model to the 1840 that lasted a single model year.
Photo Galleries: TWDB.
Facit 1850 (1976-1978)
A "golf-ball" electric typewriter like the IBM Selectric.
Blog Posts: Life of a Typewriter Technician (Installment 7—Training on the Facit 1850) (Robert Messenger, 25 Nov 2021).