4 Jul 2013

Olympia: 3 Blocks From Its Origin

1970 Olympia SM9 3931918





The script logo can be found hiding on the back. I wonder how it would look switched with the front one.

Amazingly, this has stayed in downtown Tacoma all of its life. It was sold a few blocks from where I live!



Sent marvelously from my new Olympia SM9

Notagain, I'm sure you've come across a typewriter from Allied Business Machines.

11 comments:

  1. Previously I'd have looked down on anything this modern but - apart from the decal - it looks like it has Olympia lifeblood flowing through its veins. The side view is particularly well designed and unmistakably SM.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you ever have plans to get an SM9 and can't test it beforehand, I'd recommend one of these more. I used to have an older style SM9 but this fills that void and then quite a lot more.

      Delete
  2. Nice SM! I do like this style too, but I only have found one in the wild. Ended up donating it to the CTP because it had no case with it. I think that's the one that Ryan painted first mint green and more recently watermelon pink. The fact that it's stayed in constant rotation in the classroom stable for 2 years testifies mightily to this model's durability - the usually very reliable and highly regarded Smith-Coronas tend to vanish into the "to be fixed" pile pretty quickly under the constant stress of the CTP workload. :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. oh, and very sad about your Signature 511 - I hope you made the seller refund your money. Are you sure it can't be resurrected? the 511 is one dandy machine to have around. (:

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a bit of work, but they said they are adding the money to their Paypal to refund me.

      The actual typing part works fine, it advances and everything. But there is so much damage to the sides of the carriage that bits literally were popping out. It's not worth it considering the overall condition, I'll wait to find one in the earlier style and make sure it gets to me safe!

      Delete
  4. Modern Pica, If I'm not mistaken. Or something similar. Very executive-ish. Right Proper looking. One of my favorites.

    ALG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seeing as Modern Elite and Modern Pica are the same for different sizes, when it's 11cpi I always call it elite.

      Delete
  5. Oops. You got me there! I accidentally skipped the bit where you did specify that it was ll cpi. It is smaller than Senatorial, so 2.1 mm?

    ALG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never heard anybody other than you measure them in millimetres, so I can't really say. XD I prefer to measure how many are in an inch just because it's easier. It's the same as the continental elite that's on so many SM9s.

      Delete
  6. Really liking your photography work on these posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I think I'm getting better and at this point my camera is the limiting factor. I'd be wise to invest in a better one soon.

      Delete