The Journal•Model guide
The Hermes 3000
The sea-foam green, the crinkle-textured shell, and a famously soft touch. The Swiss portable collectors still hunt for.
The Baby’s big sister
Launched by Paillard in the late 1950s, the Hermes 3000 is a full-size portable: heavier and wider than the Baby, with a rigid case. It is recognised instantly by its sea-green body and crinkle paint, which became a signature.
It brings what the Baby lacks: a tabulator, finer adjustments, a longer carriage. This is a desk machine, not a backpack one.
Why it is so sought after
Its reputation rests on one thing: the softness of the strike. The mechanism is damped, the key goes down without a jolt, and you can write for hours without fatigue. Many owners rank it among the finest portables ever made, and the market reflects that.
It is a machine to keep, not a stopgap. Properly serviced, it has several decades left in it.
What to look at
The crinkle paint marks little but scratches; a healthy example keeps an even tone. Check the smoothness of the carriage return and the state of the platen, which hardens over the years.
As with every Hermes, the keyboard layout depends on the original market. We state it on each listing.
What we check in the workshop
- Full cleaning of the segment and typebars, degreasing of the pivots.
- Adjustment of the typing action, line spacing and tabulator.
- Carriage, return and margins checked.
- Condition of the platen and paper feed rollers.
- New ribbon, then a full test page.
The right ribbon
Every machine leaves with a new ribbon fitted. When the time comes to change it, we stock ribbons that fit this model — ordinary spools will not always do.
Hermes 3000 typewriters available now
3 examples currently restored and ready to type. Each one is unique.
