I use the word "humble" advisedly. The Hermes 2000 has been, I believe, undeservedly overshadowed by its stablemates, the Hermes 3000 and the Hermes Baby. The 2000 was actually the first Hermes portable typewriter Paillard made, in 1932, followed by the Baby in 1935. But the Baby, which started life as the Featherweight, is one of the most significant machines in portable typewriter history. And the 3000 has been allowed to establish its own reputation, as a favourite with writers such as Larry McMurtry. This has unfortunately left the 2000 languishing in comparative obscurity. But it is a far, far better typewriter than most in its size range. Indeed, the three 2000s I tested today are all among the nicest typewriters I have ever used. So here is my tribute to the "humble" Hermes 2000: Georg Sommeregger image Georg Sommeregger images

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I would imagine this brochure was released by Paillard in 1958, the year that the curvy Hermes 3000 was first introduced, to tout its benefits to potential buyers. We found this with the documentation for a Hermes Media 3, which is basically the 3000 without the red margin indicators. This is actually a one-sheet foldout, and when folded it is half this size lengthwise. So what we are actually seeing here is the front and back page: the front page showing how closely the machine fit into the clamshell-style case, and the back page showing how it is so light it can easily be hoisted up by a wasp-waisted secretary. Hmm. Don't know about that. A couple of pages in the foldout are designed to be read together, as seen above. The brochure is in French, and the machine pictured actually has a keyboard with a Swiss-French layout. This tells us that Hermes is revolutionizing the "large portable" industry by introducing the most complete portable in its 20 years of operations. The colorful arrows tout some of these revolutionary features, including visible margins in front of the paper, an integrated base, and the three-position ribbon switch that prolongs the life of the ribbon. Right in the center, a beautiful picture of the Hermes 3000. Every design element is well-thought out and very deliberate, from the construction of the outer casing (which protects the internal workings from dust) to the length of the carriage return lever (which is also made to fit snugly inside the case when it is closed). In the last image on the left, the case shown is an earlier version that was modeled after the successful design of the Hermes Baby's case: the button on top releases a latch that opens the case. I think this is a rather elegant design (photo here) and I have no idea why they discontinued it! Probably the later version was cheaper to produce... The last couple of pages are not as easy to scan together because it's on opposite sides of the same section, so here we go. More elaboration on the advantages of the 3000, together with an annotated diagram. Finally, this last page shows a diagram of what happens when you type, and also assures buyers that the 3000 facilitates easy maintenance by making it simple to reach the inner workings of the machine just by taking off the carriage (I haven't tried it, though). The Swiss have fed off the reputation of their watch industry for centuries, and so the closing words of this brochure are: "As accurate and reliable as a Swiss chronometer."

Ad for Hermes Typewriter range from the magazine DU, 1948. Unknown designer. Switzerland. Via flickr.

Giuseppe Prezioso and Joseph Barkdoll were two great typewriter designers whose careers straddled the 1939-45 war and reached on into the 1960s: Prezioso working for E.Paillard in Yverdon, Switzerland, and Barkdoll for Smith-Corona in Groton, New York. It’s a delicious thought to ponder them getting together to merge two their most significant post-war projects: Prezioso electrifying the carriage of his Hermes Ambassador, Barkdoll electrifying the keyboard of his Smith-Corona 5 Series. In 1957 Barkdoll adapted his 5 Series portable typewriter so that the typebars were electrically powered. Smith-Corona promoted the 5TE as the world’s first electric portable typewriter. It is certainly one of the best typing machines I have ever used. At least 14 years earlier, in 1943, Prezioso had been working on a power-driven carriage for the Hermes standard-size typewriter. An induction or asynchronous motor was developed to be fitted to the Hermes Ambassador, which Prezioso designed in 1948. Georg Sommeregger Collection I have just in the past week introduced myself to the full array of 56 devices on this utterly amazing typewriter, which, like the 5TE, is a truly magnificent typing machine. Among its devices are: 1. Typebar dejammer. 2. Optional motor for carriage return and line spacing. 3. Two ribbon vibrators, one for use by a normal ribbon and one for a carbon ribbon. The adjustment from normal to carbon ribbon is done with the colour selector. 4. Magic margins. 5. Switches to flick back card holder shields from the platen. 6. Stencil supports. 7. Handle for speed introduction of paper. 8. The tallest paper support structure you’ve ever seen! 9. Removable platen. 10. Copy or notebook holder. I have taken the liberty of using a diagram of the Ambassador's features scanned in by Georg Sommeregger, because the one in my manual is too heavily marked to be scanned. The list is from my manual, so I hope the numbers are compatible. Like most other Typospherians, I resist electric typewriters and try to limit the standard-sized machines in my collection (for very obvious space reasons). There must always be exceptions to the rules, however, and the experience of using my two Ambassadors made it well worth breaking away from standard practise. Both of my Ambassadors were made in 1963. The one with the motor and the full bank of decimal tabulation keys has the serial number 937715 and the one without the motor has the serial number 938766. (In my researches on the Ambassador, I came across an image from Elizabeth Herreid [littleflowerpetals] of her later model Hermes Ambassador on flickr, posted more than three years ago now. In the comments, Mike Clemens made some extremely interesting observations about using a very large standard typewriter such as this vis-à-vis a portable. His comparisons are well worth reading.) I should point out that the Ambassador weighs 45 pounds (without the motor) and the base is 14½ inches wide (20 inches including the carriage lever, 19½ inches from knob to knob), 17 inches in depth and 9½ inches high (15½ inches taking in the massive structure of the paper holder). This is one BIG typewriter. *Regardless of how great I found these two Ambassadors, THEY HAVE TO GO! I simply cannot keep two typewriters of this size. So anyone out there who wants one (or both) and is prepared to pay for shipping, let me know and one or either of the machines is yours for free. Charles Gu at myTypewriter.com lists a later model for $995. He says of the machine: “This is the one manual typewriter designed to make crisp, distinguished work of any and all jobs a manual could be asked to perform. It has the most complete features that lend themselves to easy, fast and accurate operation in its class. Designed for the office with a heavy typing load, the Hermes Ambassador is the beyond-the-call-of duty-typewriter. Note: In addition to the regular ink ribbon, this machine also accepts carbon ribbon, which is discontinued.” Georg Sommeregger Collection I should explain how I came to have two Ambassadors. Well, in the case of the first one, the non-electric, I have absolutely no idea where it came from – or when it came into my possession, or from whom. All I know is that it was for some years in my large storage unit at Fyshwick, jutting out from an “aisle” that was supposed to let me get to the back of the unit. Every time I went to get a typewriter from the back, I had to hurdle this monster. I just kept saying to myself, “One day I’ll summons the energy to clear this aisle, and lift that giant and give it a test type.” Not so long ago, I started looking at Prezioso patents. Although I had seen the 1948 one for the Ambassador before, I hadn’t previously noted that at the back of it was a power socket. “Oh, oh,” I thought, when I finally did spot it. “That Ambassador I have in storage has no power cord.” I hadn’t even bothered to look at the back of it, to see if it had the same power socket. As it turns out it doesn’t, it’s a manual. Having given this matter no further thought, or mentally listing it as an urgent task, on Tuesday the Ambassador popped back into my mind. This was a huge day, which included a school typewriter presentation and a visit from Scott Kernaghan. Scott was interested in a later model plastic French-made Hermes 3000, and as I dug around looking for one for him, I noted I still hadn’t “got” to the Ambassador, now back in my house from storage but still buried beneath other machines. “Must get to that machine one of these days,” I yet again muttered. Lo and behold, that same night I got a call from a woman looking for “a good home” for a typewriter. Her mother-in-law, aged 91, had just died. The old lady had used the typewriter right up until the time of her death. It was a Hermes Ambassador. Two thoughts immediately entered my head: 1, How could a lady of 91 handle an Ambassador? 2. Damn, I already own an Ambassador, a seriously neglected one at that. What would I do with another? Nonetheless I agreed to pick up the Ambassador the next morning. It was on a front doorstep, with an IBM plastic cover over it. The first thing I noticed when I took off the cover and lifted the Ambassador was that it had a power cord. Not one with both male and female ends, but one that ran in under the typewriter. “Now that’s VERY interesting,” I thought. I took it home, immediately plugged it in, heard no sound, saw no on-off switch, and looked around for a “return” key. That’s when I saw the large keytop with the lightning bolt symbol on it. “This must be it.” I hit it. Then I just about jumped right out of my skin. “Come and have a look at this,” I yelled to son Danny. He, too, was flabbergasted. Thus began an odyssey of more than 48 hours of utterly fascinating discovery about the attributes of my two Hermes Ambassadors, including filming them for this post. It was interrupted by the olive green Oliver portable arriving and some rugby. My, oh my – what incredibly intriguing things typewriters can be. So much to write about, so little time. So much more to find out. Anyway, back to Prezioso, who in Switzerland led the way in powering up the back end of a typewriter while in the United States Barkdoll was still thinking of powering up the front end. It can be seen from this 1943 US patent application for a line spacing device that Prezioso had by then already incorporated the arm used for the motor adaption in the Ambassador. Prezioso’s original 1948 design for the Ambassador shows a machine that was in fact made as the Hermes Regent, with the switches for the Perspex card holder shields on top of the ribbon cover, but without the decimal tabulation keys and the copy holder in front. In June last year, Richard Polt looked at the Regent on his Writing Ball blog. The mysterious Hermes Regent from Richard Polt's blog Writing Ball Prezioso had help in this work, notably from Jacques de Raemy with the magnetic motor and from Enzo Asoli and Eric Bacher with some of the other devices on the Ambassador. Through these contributions, the Ambassador developed into a multi-purpose typewriter. In a manual for the Hermes 3000, a PDF of which Richard Polt has kindly made available online here, the manufacturers plug other Hermes models and say of the Ambassador, “The office typewriter of great efficiency: automatic introduction of the paper, note-book holder, intermediate paper table, electric carriage return and line spacing (also available without motor).” With motor Without motor With motor arm Without motor arm The Ambassador’s design allowed for the asynchronous motor to be fitted into the back section – and without that addition the Ambassador is fully manual. Also, notably, the Ambassador has two ribbon vibrators and by simply turning the colour selector it can be switched from carbon ribbon typing to normal cotton or nylon ribbon typing. Among my favourite features are the knobs which push the Perspex card holder shields back from the platen, especially for cleaning purposes (Oh, if only all typewriters fitted with Perspex card holders had this device – particularly those on which the typist has used liquid paper). With decimal tabulation keys Without decimal tabulation keys Scott Kernaghan has pointed out that my typing style is a fast two-fingered method, and given this, the button which readily disengages typeslugs jammed at the printing point is an absolute gem of an invention. Among other things it is called a “dejammer” and an “unstick” button. Other Typospherians have sung the praises of the Ambassador. In late 2010, Tom Furrier (Cambridge Typewriter Co, Life in a Typewriter Shop) apparently refurbished one for Matt (Adventures in Typewriterdom). Matt loved the machine, and variously described it as “Godzilla”, a “wildebeest”, the typewriter equivalent of a Boeing 747 and the Titanic. Matt said with the Ambassador’s typing touch it would “wipe the floor” with the Olympia SG1 – it’s in “another Universe”, a “Hermes 3000 on steroids, and then some”. Matt called the Ambassador “the smoothest typewriter ever built” and the one with “the most features”. I would not challenge any of Matt’s assertions. I don’t think he is exaggerating in the least. Adwoa Bagalini spotted one of these for sale in its native country, in Geneva, and described it as a “flawless mechanical beast”, a “marvel to behold” and “brobdingnagian” (Brobdingnag is a fictional land in Jonathan Swift's satirical novel Gulliver's Travels occupied by giants.). Others have called the Ambassador “gigantic”, “huge”, “gargantuan” and a “behemoth” with the “smoothest carriage return”. One claim is that the Ambassador is “the best typewriter ever made” and one response was “I could almost like an electric if it’s that effortless”. All of these seem fair comments. As Richard Polt pointed out in a comment on Matt’s post, a number of body styles for the Ambassador can be seen on Martin Elster’s site plustytpe.de here. These machines are from the vast collection of the late Tilman Elster, Martin’s father. On the European Typewriter Project put together by Tilman Elster and Will Davis, the Ambassador is described as a “Highly advanced office machine introduced in 1948 with a number of novel features. The flat front is intended to hold copy for the typist, and function keys are arranged conveniently in a new pattern.” Three years ago Dan Norton-Middaugh also acquired one of these monsters and on the online typewriter forum at Yahoo pointed out it has “some features I've never seen before … First, this is a manual office machine, but it sports two ribbons – a standard fabric ribbon, and a thin film ribbon (like the later model IBM typebar machines). I've never even heard of a manual with a film ribbon! Second, the platen pops out by pulling on two tabs, one on each platen knob. I've run across some platens that were easily removed, but this removes the platen without the knobs, so you could just pop it out and send it off to be recovered without doing anything else. Third, the clear card holders retract by twisting little knobs set [positioned] up by the cloth ribbon reels. Every other system I've seen just uses springs (if anything). The whole thing is remarkably over-engineered, and quite beautiful for it! “It has a paper injector that you can set to pull the paper in from two to 32 lines; the back space button is huge (3/4" by 1&1/8" - the same size as the tab key); the carriage assembly is held on by two 9mm nuts; it weighs about 32lbs; and it's silky smooth to type on.” In July this year Ryan Adney at Magic Margin showed a non-electric Ambassador stripped of its outer casing, revealing a breathtaking inner design – one with all the hallmarks of Prezioso’s genius with typewriter framework. Martin A.Rice Jr at the Johnstown Type-Writer Conservatory amusingly describes the Ambassador as “the monstrous, the mythical, the fabled Hermes Ambassador, 45lbs of Swiss engineered steel … If you can only have one type-writer (because your wife won't let you have more), make it a Hermes (or, file for divorce)! FOOTNOTE: For those who may be interested in such information, the Australian importer and distributor of the Hermes Ambassador was Dataprint, which had branches in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Albury and Perth. The company went out of business in 1973. It seems Dataprint was licensed to fit the motor to the Ambassador, and to service the machines. Here are some YouTube demonstrations of the Ambassador's features from Scott: Size comparisons: Remington 16 Remington International Adler Universal 20 (also MUST GO!) Olivetti Lettera 82 (same as last model Hermes Baby) Underwood 3

I would imagine this brochure was released by Paillard in 1958, the year that the curvy Hermes 3000 was first introduced, to tout its benefits to potential buyers. We found this with the documentation for a Hermes Media 3, which is basically the 3000 without the red margin indicators. This is actually a one-sheet foldout, and when folded it is half this size lengthwise. So what we are actually seeing here is the front and back page: the front page showing how closely the machine fit into the clamshell-style case, and the back page showing how it is so light it can easily be hoisted up by a wasp-waisted secretary. Hmm. Don't know about that. A couple of pages in the foldout are designed to be read together, as seen above. The brochure is in French, and the machine pictured actually has a keyboard with a Swiss-French layout. This tells us that Hermes is revolutionizing the "large portable" industry by introducing the most complete portable in its 20 years of operations. The colorful arrows tout some of these revolutionary features, including visible margins in front of the paper, an integrated base, and the three-position ribbon switch that prolongs the life of the ribbon. Right in the center, a beautiful picture of the Hermes 3000. Every design element is well-thought out and very deliberate, from the construction of the outer casing (which protects the internal workings from dust) to the length of the carriage return lever (which is also made to fit snugly inside the case when it is closed). In the last image on the left, the case shown is an earlier version that was modeled after the successful design of the Hermes Baby's case: the button on top releases a latch that opens the case. I think this is a rather elegant design (photo here) and I have no idea why they discontinued it! Probably the later version was cheaper to produce... The last couple of pages are not as easy to scan together because it's on opposite sides of the same section, so here we go. More elaboration on the advantages of the 3000, together with an annotated diagram. Finally, this last page shows a diagram of what happens when you type, and also assures buyers that the 3000 facilitates easy maintenance by making it simple to reach the inner workings of the machine just by taking off the carriage (I haven't tried it, though). The Swiss have fed off the reputation of their watch industry for centuries, and so the closing words of this brochure are: "As accurate and reliable as a Swiss chronometer."

This Hermes 3000 with Arabic keyboard layout was part of our personal collection and now it is for sale.  Belonged to a lady from Scotland who bought from new from Beirut - Lebanon. the agents name is still on its back.  In Excellent Condition. Nearly Not used & not common to find at all as Hermes 3000 did not produce many of the Arabic Keyboard.  Why Buy this Typewriter?  Excellent Performance and already not heavily used.  Professionally Serviced  Clear Typeface Deeply cleaned & Checked Nothing like this Typewriter in the Market Arabic Layout  Colour: Light Green. Cosmetics:  Professionally  Cleaned & Checked - please check pictures of work.  Appreciate zooming the pictures for a better evaluation.  Still Has original supplier label on its back. previous owner got it from new .  Mechanics:  Like all our typewriters, it was professionally checked &  serviced for a perfect typing experience.   Overall, its literally smooth.  plus, Clear Prints.  Case/Bag/Lid: Original Hermes dust cover included. No case for this typewriter.  Ribbon:  New Black/Red Ribbon fitted for direct usage.  Preferably to use one Colour.   Keyboard & Font/Typeface: Arabic Keyboard  Thank you    Arabic Translation ( Summarised ): الترجمة العربية (ملخصة): لماذا شراء هذه الآلة الكاتبة؟ أداء ممتاز تنظيفها بخبرة لا شيء مثل هذه الآلة الكاتبة في السوق نظيفة للغاية الآلة الكاتبة جاهزة للاستخدام. سعداء بالرد على أي سؤال باللغة العربية من خلال البريد الإلكتروني أو الهاتف شكرا لكم جميعا

After reading a lot of disappointing and inaccurate articles online about the best typewriters for writers & later watching some totally inaccurate & irrelevant videos about what are the top typewriters for a effortless typing experience, I finally decided to build a solid list of the top performing typewriters that novelists, writers and any typewriter enthusiast can rely on for a lot and lot of typing.

Vintage Hermes typewriter ad. Source: DU, Schweizerische Monatsschrift.

Hermes 3000 Typewriter  We have always insisted that Hermes 3000 ( 2000 as well) , Hermes Media 3 and Even the Baby Hermes are Smoothest typewriters to Type on due to the fact they have a rare and special dynamic in their Keys making it Excellent for long hours of Typing with no Pressure on the Fingers. By all Means, Its worth Every Penny.We pride our selves of being one of the few Typewriter experts who can manage working with this Delicate Machine. The Dismantled picture of Hermes 3000 Pictured is Example what we do to each of our Hermes Typewriters. Why Buy this Typewriter? Deeply Cleaned ( Check Pictures of Carriage removed) Professional Restoration  Mechanically perfect  NEW PLATEN fitted. worth £145 separately. All new Rubber layer prepared to high standards.  Uncommon Large Cubic typeface. (10pts/Inch) Colour:Original Sea foam colour.  Material:MetalCosmetics:I would say Very good Condition with marks on its front and sides. please check all pictures. Surface marks sometimes are unavoidable due to age and storage of this typewriter.   Deeply cleaned in every single aspect as we always make sure to clean the Typewriter in the proper way it should be done and not only wipe the dirt as dust. surface marks on the bottom. Mechanics:Like all our Typewriters, It was perfectly Restored.Nothing Stopping you from Heavy typing on the Smoothest Typewriters to Type on ever. NEW & fresh Rubber PLATEN FITTED  Fully tested for a Perfect Typing Experience and for long hours of Smooth Operation. Case/Bag/Lid:Original lid available with minor age signs and marks on its outside. Nicely clipsRibbon:New Black/Red Ribbon Fitted. Keyboard & Font/Typeface:QWERTY KeyboardLarge Cubic typeface. 10pts/Inch as it is common in smaller font size.  10 pts/Inch.  Buy With Confidence. Thank you

Product Title, Premium Gift*! Polished Hermes Baby Working Typewriter, Antique Portable typewriter Chrome Typewriter Working, Birthday Gift for her, Birthday Gifts, Special Gift for her him Writer Hermes Baby Working Typewriter ✅ It is a special typewriter that, it's a hand made polished typewriter. it has finished in a few weeks. So its special from other machine. ✅ We have with polished QWERTY KEYBOARD Hermes, if you want we will send it... ✅ It's in high condition. The cover is metal and the cover and under the typewriter, black color with hammer painting. ✅ Original typewriter tape is also on it. It will also be sent with a new typewriter ribbon attached. ✅ It is not like other typewriters. It is a quality and portable product made in Switzerland. The typewriter key sound is beautiful and the color of the Typewriter keys is gorgeous. ✅ Check out my account for more beautiful typewriters :)

Hermes Baby (typewriters) 1940s with holiday-themed artwork I love the artwork in these ads. You can see a full array of the ads HERE at the flickr site, including some truly huge hi-res versions. My favorite is this one from 1945: 2541x3481 version HERE , and worth it for the details of the…

I sold a lot of stuff in January! That was partly because I experimented with auctions, the results of which were mixed at best. I still prefer to list using Buy it Now (fixed price), though auctio…

Hermes 3000 Typewriter  We have always insisted that Hermes 3000 ( 2000 as well) , Hermes Media 3 and Even the Baby Hermes are Smoothest typewriters to Type on due to the fact they have a rare and special dynamic in their Keys making it Excellent for long hours of Typing with no Pressure on the Fingers. By all Means, Its worth Every Penny.We pride our selves of being one of the few Typewriter experts who can manage working with this Delicate Machine. The Dismantled picture of Hermes 3000 Pictured is Example what we do to each of our Hermes Typewriters. Why Buy this Typewriter? Deeply Cleaned ( Check Pictures of Carriage removed) Professional Restoration  Mechanically perfect  NEW PLATEN fitted. worth £145 separately. All new Rubber layer prepared to high standards.  Uncommon Large Cubic typeface. (10pts/Inch) Colour:Original Sea foam colour.  Material:MetalCosmetics:I would say Very good Condition with marks on its front and sides. please check all pictures. Surface marks sometimes are unavoidable due to age and storage of this typewriter.   Deeply cleaned in every single aspect as we always make sure to clean the Typewriter in the proper way it should be done and not only wipe the dirt as dust. surface marks on the bottom. Mechanics:Like all our Typewriters, It was perfectly Restored.Nothing Stopping you from Heavy typing on the Smoothest Typewriters to Type on ever. NEW & fresh Rubber PLATEN FITTED  Fully tested for a Perfect Typing Experience and for long hours of Smooth Operation. Case/Bag/Lid:Original lid available with minor age signs and marks on its outside. Nicely clipsRibbon:New Black/Red Ribbon Fitted. Keyboard & Font/Typeface:QWERTY KeyboardLarge Cubic typeface. 10pts/Inch as it is common in smaller font size.  10 pts/Inch.  Buy With Confidence. Thank you

What a rare find!!! The world's best portable manual typewriter is here and is in EXCELLENT condition. Includes original case, instruction booklet, key, and tools/brushes. Not only does this look amazing in its pearly seafoam green, but it in perfect working order! The Hermes 3000 is known for it's Swiss engineering. It is sturdy, reliable, and prized by collectors, antiques dealers and writers alike. Types in cursive! Has original green typing ribbon included. There are some of these gems floating around, but very few actually still work. No signs of wear on the typewriter or extras. The case has some cosmetic wear, and thankfully did its job in protecting the typewriter inside! The key and lock work, too!

The Dismantled picture of Hermes 3000 Pictured is Example what we do to each of our Hermes Typewriters. That is the later version of the famous Hermes 3000 but with the plastic frame,  Same typing feel but different frame design. Cosmetics  Very good  Condition as not many of these survived. Minor yellowing to the space bar, knobs and base, Marks on the back. Deeply cleaned in every single aspect as we always make sure to clean the Typewriter in the proper way it should be done.. Mechanics: Like all our Typewriters, It was perfectly Restored. Nothing Stopping you from Heavy typing on the Smoothest Typewriters to Type on ever. Fully tested for a Perfect Typing Experience and for long hours of Smooth Operation. Platen is not new but will do the Job.  Case/Bag/Lid:Original lid that is in  very good good condition and mark son its outside. Normally Clips Ribbon:New Black& Red  Ribbon Fitted. Keyboard & Font/Typeface:QWERTY Keyboard   Elite  13 pts /Inch Buy With Confidence. Thank you

From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Brad Sarno: 1961 Hermes Rocket | A very nice $20 local score. This 1961 is in...

Een van mijn favoriete items in de nieuwe webshop is wel de Vintage Hermes Baby Typmachine. De naam Baby omdat dit de kleinste is van de Hermes collectie. Bluebirds in the Backyard is verliefd op Baby Hermes omdat deze uitgevoerd is in zachtgroen! Alle facts rondom deze beauty vind je in The Bluebirds Shop. Fotogeniek is de typmachine ook. Geniet van de foto's! :) With love, Claire

From designer typewriters to mass-produced plimsolls ... François Kollar got his break photographing luxury goods, before trading in fashion for the factory line