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| 1956 Royal Quiet De Luxe AB3152608 |
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| 1966 Olympia SM9 2814461 |
[EDIT] Sure enough, upon careful examination prompted by Ken Coghlan's comment, I discovered this is indeed a repaint. So much for thoughts of rarity and grandeur! There were blue SM8s made, at least, but they had all white keys and knobs and weren't sold in this country.
The inevitable reality is when you get 50 typewriters together, wonderful things like this pair happen!
The inevitable reality is when you get 50 typewriters together, wonderful things like this pair happen!
Sent from my new blues: Olympia SM9 and Royal Quiet De Luxe.
Excellent and beautiful choices! You really struck it blue there (:
ReplyDeleteTo have your choice of colorful typewriters and unique typefaces is rare - and to not actually lose your wallet? AWESOME!!
It's pretty funny how it ended up, because these were the absolute clear ones I had to have and they matched and everything. XD
DeleteOn one hand, I think I'm really, really lucky to get my wallet back. On the other hand, shouldn't it be default for anybody with a grain of conscience to not steal it?
Two really nice typewriters, almost as good as new. As a mechanic I worry a little bit about the soap and water, do you follow up with something to prevent rust? Rust is the dreaded cancer of all things metallic and I would hate to be speeding up the process. Those shaded type faces may look nice and they are but they present problems in other areas of typing.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, it is almost impossible to cut a stencil and if you have to make a carbon copies the result is not the best. This is why Pica and Elite were by far the most popular type faces going around because they were practical.
These shaded typefaces look their best when used with a carbon ribbon.
I wouldn't say almost as good as new--but considering their age and the state I found them in, they cleaned up very nicely.
DeleteStencils probably weren't one of the main things that ordinary people who bought portables made, I think. Seems like more the domain of the office typewriter.
Yeah, I dry them as quickly as I can with the forced air heater, specifically blow remaining water out of the areas I can and oil it when it is still warm. I've been doing it for a few years and never had any adverse effects that I can think of.
Don't worry, my typewriter guy washes typers in a sink and dries them in the cab of his truck (gets really hot in a car in AZ in the summer - just as good as an oven). I use a blow dryer and have never had a problem either. If it's good enough for a 3rd-generation typewriter repairman, it works for me. (:
DeleteJust goes to show, I am not too old to learn
DeleteCongratulations on those fine looking typewriters. I really like the typefaces.
ReplyDeleteI love the SM9, especially the congressional elite. It is a fantastic typeface!
ReplyDeleteI have to wonder, though, if the blue is original. Blue and pink SM7's pop up on the market rather often; but a blue SM9? I've never seen such a beast. If I were to guess, I would say that it's a custom paint job. A very good one, yes, but I really don't think it's the original color of the machine.
I really should do a paint job on one of my SM9's. If I could make it look half as good as that one I'd be in business!
Beautiful machines and great finds. Congrats!
Okay, I have to give it to you for being completely right. I -have- seen a blue SM8 but it -does- have all white keys and knobs. And the telltale sign is how the little blue, white, and red squares indicating the ribbon colour selecting are attached. And I can clearly see they were re-glued on (and the blue square at some point had broken off) comparing it with my SM8. It is a very good repaint, indeed. It makes me feel a little better knowing that Olympia wouldn't have manufactured this with the colour scheme conundrum that this has.
DeleteI was fully prepared to refute your argument that it was repainted (as I located the blue SM8 picture though it's too low-res to prove anything), but there the evidence stared me in the face, haha. If only they'd repainted it a turquoise to match the shift keys it would have looked amazing.
Beautiful specimens, and for $30? That's a massive bargain that I am SO JEALOUS :p
ReplyDeleteLove reading your posts Nick, just have to ketchup with everyone else's too!
It was $80 total for both, so $50 went to the Royal. I saved $20 from the asking price though!
DeleteLots of great things have happened all around, you're sure to have fun doing so :D