Hermes Media 3 Typewriter with New Platen, Azerty Layout, 1961, Made in Switzerland

-Hermes Media 3 typewriter
-Original hard carrying case (the sturdier, better-built early version)
-New bi-color ribbon installed (used only for testing)
-New felt lining
-New platen (brand new rubber)
-Detailed “How to Use” and Care Notes — covering ribbon replacement, cleaning tips, and maintenance to keep your machine typing smoothly for years

This Hermes Media 3 was produced in Switzerland around 1961–62, part of the early series renowned for its superior construction and solid hard case — noticeably higher in quality than the later editions. With its French AZERTY keyboard, it remains one of the finest examples of mid-century Swiss precision engineering. Compared to the more famous Hermes 3000, it’s a "simplified sibling" — built with the same exceptional quality, but without the tabulation function or touch control system. In every other respect, it shares the same body, mechanics, and typing feel as the 3000. What I love most about the Media 3 is its purity of form and function — all the precision and smoothness of a classic Hermes, distilled into a more minimal, writer-focused machine.

This machine has an AZERTY (French) layout, including keys for "è", "é", "ç", "à", "ù" and two accent marks — diaeresis (¨) and circumflex (^). You can type accented characters such as ü and â. Please check the keyboard photos for additional special symbols.
**Custom keyboard layouts are available upon request; please inquire for pricing and lead time.

Hermes Pica features clean, well-balanced letterforms and exceptional readability. Crisp and versatile, it produces clear, professional-looking text that is equally suited to letters, journals, and everyday writing.

New Platen:
This machine is fitted with a new platen made with brand-new rubber (not refurbished), offering an excellent balance of print clarity and typing comfort. While Hermes machines are renowned for their precision, their original platens often become extremely hard over decades of use; a new platen significantly improves print quality, reduces impact noise, and restores a smoother, more controlled typing feel. This is a specialized upgrade that typically costs €150 on its own, making it a valuable improvement to the machine.

Condition:
This machine is in good cosmetic condition, showing some scratch marks on the surface. Please review the listing photos carefully. All keys, margins, and ribbon functions operate properly. Detailed cleaning and adjustments have been performed to ensure a smooth and responsive typing experience. The felt lining and platen are brand new. The carrying case is fully functional, with marks consistent with age. A new ribbon has been installed, and fresh ribbons can be purchased separately.

Processing: usually ships within 1–2 business days

Estimated delivery:
Europe: 1–7 business days
US/Canada: 2-4 business days
Rest of world: 3–10 business days

Unless stated otherwise, customs and import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

Noticeable defects are shown in the listing images. Please note that this is a vintage item, and minor signs of age or use may remain despite careful inspection.