I just acquired a Smith Corona Seventy. I replaced the ribbon thinking that was problem, but I believe the "ribbon vibrator" isn't working. Or, at least, it isn't rising up to meet the ribbon. Anyone have a fix for this?
Hi. You stated in your section on the later model Erikas... "There exist the following models that I have not seen any examples or information about, but exist in the serial number listing: 158, 128. (If you have any information, please let me know)"
Well, I have recently purchased an Erika 158, with serial number 6902193, making it manufactured in 1982. I bought it from the original owner, who purchased it in Christchurch, New Zealand, used in university a few years, and has kept it in its case in a cool dry closet since then. It is in like-new condition and is working beautifully. A new ribbon, a touch of oil here and there, and a few days of hard exercise, and it's humming along effortlessly. Please let me know how to send you photographs, and I'll be glad to do so. If a photo of the manual cover or anything else to do with the manual would be helpful, let me know that also.
The 158 had to have been the top of the line model, as it has everything one would have in a full size office typewriter - full # keys 1-0, full tabulator, four position ribbon colour setting, touch control, half-space space bar, a repeating space bar, settings for single/1.5/double space carriage return and a free-wheeling platen roller when the platen knobs are pushed to the right. It is a very nice typewriter.
Thanks for your work on making all this information public!
Hello X, I am trying to find out more information about my (what I believe to be) Olympia SM3. It is the burgandy/cream variation with Serial #677820. I'm guessing 1955. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hello Jim Simmons, wow fantastic news & information I was loosing hope trying to research myself if or where at all were all the other 158s in the entire world !! In a quite interesting turn of events I have an Erika mod 158 complete with original quality certificate serial number 6 902 162 !! I also live in NZ born & bred in Hamilton where I still live today, coincidently I have the original warranty card from Twinlock McDougall Ltd stating this particular 158 typewriter was purchased on 22/11/83 in Hamilton from Thomson & ward, unfortunately I've no idea as to its life over the past 37years or so but as a volunteer at a local Salvation Army family opportunity shop I happened upon it in a box of donated goods, the sturdy black hard case in great condition & Erika 158 herself in fine well kept order. I would love to bring her back into service so any advice would be gladly taken on board...... I still dont believe it, not only have I found a fellow 158 owner & not withstanding the fact of same country but our fine lady Erikas were most likely lovingly made hours apart on the very same assembly line, by the very same proven specialists, on the very same day of the very same year! My email is cliffyjh1973@gmail.com & mobile 0272781279. Thanks again Jim & thankyou xoverit.blogspot.com for all the wonderfully enlightening, informative & engaging plethora of not only personal but important relevant catalogued knowledge. Kind Regards Clifford Hockenhull
I’m in need of information and it seems you are the only online resource for information I’ve reacently picked up a speedwriter and I’m looking for answers to a couple of questions. First, what is the lever on the front right with the - and +? And secondly, what is the key with the two arrows below the backspace? Any help would be appreciated.
I have an Olympia Gold plated typewriter, elite type, ca 1960. My parents bought it as a High School graduation present in 1960. It is in beautiful shape, despite having gotten me through a 1964 degree in English at UC Berkeley and my husband through Law school at UC Davis School of law in 1972. What more can you tell me about this. It still has its case and the cleaning brushes that came with it. Thank you.
Hello. I picked up what I think is an sm2? I’m not too sure. It’s serial number is 126020 It’s Matt black with silver trim. And clips in to an amazing wooden box. I’d upload pictures but there doesn’t seem to a be a way. I was wondering am I correct with an sm2? 1951? I’m looking through database serial numbers and can’t find it to be honest Cheers
I have (I think) a 1936 Olympia Simplex typewriter #0116893. Do you have information about it. I'm also a factory trained Olympia servicing person and have been servicing Olympia and a lot of other makes for over 50 years. I also have every SM model of Olympia. Enjoyed your information.
Hey Darwin, I have (what I believe to be) an Olympia SM3. It's the burgandy/cream variant with Serial #677820. I believe it may be a 1955 variant...but I'm not sure. Any illumination on your part would be greatly appreciated. (I could forward you photos if need be) Thank you!
Hi! I am trying to identify my grandmother's typewriter which seems to have gotten lost in between moves. My mother volunteers for a non-profit fleamarket so that's where it inadvertently might have ended up. To make things worse, it was a script typewriter of which's rareness I have only recently learned... I would be extremely grateful if you could help me take the first step of getting this (kind of) typewriter back. I have a cutout of a picture of it that I'd be happy to send to you should you be willing to help with this. It would be most appreciated! Cheers
PS: the email button on top goes to nowhere for me
Hi. Fantastic blog! I'm a concrete poet and work with typewriters. Looking for some info on typefaces. In particular, I'm wondering if any models use a backslash. Every model I've ever seen has forward slashes. Hoping you've encountered one. Please get in touch. revolutionwinter(at)gmail.com
My wife and I are downsizing. Between us, we have many portable typewriters so we are interested in connecting with typewriter collectors. We live in the Chicago suburbs and can ship. My email address is and my wife Helen Gbala's email is . Especially if you know groups or clubs of typewriter fans, please contact us.
hi! i would love to talk with you about what you have. email me at bradford(AT)unisonvoice(DOT)com, or text me at four four oh - seven seven three - nine eight eight eight :)
(this thing eliminates emails and phone numbers if it sees the formatting)
Hello, I've found my grandfather's Optima typewriter (I'm 64 years old). Worked on it and cleaned a lot to make it work again, needs more work also. Now I am willing to learn how old is it. On your website a serial number is mentioned that I could not find any. Only in front there is a big 1 in a circle and under it writes 00216. If this does not mean anything what can I do more. Could you please help me? Babur Koç
Good day! I bought an Erika model 50, and looking for some details about this typewriter. Do you have more information about this specific model that you can share please?
It has come to my attention that you have once made an extensive video-blog on YouTube regarding the Erikas? Namely the Model M? Is there any chance that I would be able to watch it anywhere online? :)
Hi, do you still have your Halda P typewriter? I have one in Olive currently and have seen yours in green and wonder if it is for sale? Please contact me if this is an option. Great page and information by the way.. I found you on Youtube when you were typing on your Halda. Many thanks, Simon
Hello! I just noticed that the typewriter in the rainbow-colored blocks at the top of your site is a typewriter that I have right here: https://typewriterdatabase.com/198x-erika-115.16403.typewriter
I just acquired a Smith Corona Seventy.
ReplyDeleteI replaced the ribbon thinking that was problem, but I believe the "ribbon vibrator" isn't working.
Or, at least, it isn't rising up to meet the ribbon.
Anyone have a fix for this?
Hi.
ReplyDeleteYou stated in your section on the later model Erikas...
"There exist the following models that I have not seen any examples or information about, but exist in the serial number listing: 158, 128. (If you have any information, please let me know)"
Well, I have recently purchased an Erika 158, with serial number 6902193, making it manufactured in 1982. I bought it from the original owner, who purchased it in Christchurch, New Zealand, used in university a few years, and has kept it in its case in a cool dry closet since then. It is in like-new condition and is working beautifully. A new ribbon, a touch of oil here and there, and a few days of hard exercise, and it's humming along effortlessly. Please let me know how to send you photographs, and I'll be glad to do so. If a photo of the manual cover or anything else to do with the manual would be helpful, let me know that also.
The 158 had to have been the top of the line model, as it has everything one would have in a full size office typewriter - full # keys 1-0, full tabulator, four position ribbon colour setting, touch control, half-space space bar, a repeating space bar, settings for single/1.5/double space carriage return and a free-wheeling platen roller when the platen knobs are pushed to the right. It is a very nice typewriter.
Thanks for your work on making all this information public!
cheers,
Jim Simmons
Thanks for the information! If you want to send any images, just email them to the address on this page.
DeleteHello X,
DeleteI am trying to find out more information about my (what I believe to be) Olympia SM3. It is the burgandy/cream variation with Serial #677820. I'm guessing 1955.
Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Hello Jim Simmons, wow fantastic news & information I was loosing hope trying to research myself if or where at all were all the other 158s in the entire world !!
DeleteIn a quite interesting turn of events I have an Erika mod 158 complete with original quality certificate serial number 6 902 162 !!
I also live in NZ born & bred in Hamilton where I still live today, coincidently I have the original warranty card from Twinlock McDougall Ltd stating this particular 158 typewriter was purchased on 22/11/83 in Hamilton from Thomson & ward, unfortunately I've no idea as to its life over the past 37years or so but as a volunteer at a local Salvation Army family opportunity shop I happened upon it in a box of donated goods, the sturdy black hard case in great condition & Erika 158 herself in fine well kept order.
I would love to bring her back into service so any advice would be gladly taken
on board...... I still dont believe it, not only have I found a fellow 158 owner & not withstanding the fact of same country but our fine lady Erikas were most likely lovingly made hours apart on the very same assembly line, by the very same proven specialists, on the very same day of the very same year!
My email is cliffyjh1973@gmail.com & mobile 0272781279.
Thanks again Jim & thankyou xoverit.blogspot.com for all the wonderfully enlightening, informative & engaging plethora of not only personal but important relevant catalogued knowledge.
Kind Regards
Clifford Hockenhull
I’m in need of information and it seems you are the only online resource for information I’ve reacently picked up a speedwriter and I’m looking for answers to a couple of questions. First, what is the lever on the front right with the - and +? And secondly, what is the key with the two arrows below the backspace? Any help would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI have an Olympia Gold plated typewriter, elite type, ca 1960. My parents bought it as a High School graduation present in 1960. It is in beautiful shape, despite having gotten me through a 1964 degree in English at UC Berkeley and my husband through Law school at UC Davis School of law in 1972. What more can you tell me about this. It still has its case and the cleaning brushes that came with it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHello. I picked up what I think is an sm2? I’m not too sure.
ReplyDeleteIt’s serial number is 126020
It’s Matt black with silver trim. And clips in to an amazing wooden box. I’d upload pictures but there doesn’t seem to a be a way.
I was wondering am I correct with an sm2? 1951?
I’m looking through database serial numbers and can’t find it to be honest
Cheers
I have (I think) a 1936 Olympia Simplex typewriter #0116893. Do you have information about it. I'm also a factory trained Olympia servicing person and have been servicing Olympia and a lot of other makes for over 50 years. I also have every SM model of Olympia. Enjoyed your information.
ReplyDeleteHey Darwin,
DeleteI have (what I believe to be) an Olympia SM3. It's the burgandy/cream variant with Serial #677820. I believe it may be a 1955 variant...but I'm not sure. Any illumination on your part would be greatly appreciated. (I could forward you photos if need be)
Thank you!
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI am trying to identify my grandmother's typewriter which seems to have gotten lost in between moves. My mother volunteers for a non-profit fleamarket so that's where it inadvertently might have ended up.
To make things worse, it was a script typewriter of which's rareness I have only recently learned...
I would be extremely grateful if you could help me take the first step of getting this (kind of) typewriter back. I have a cutout of a picture of it that I'd be happy to send to you should you be willing to help with this. It would be most appreciated!
Cheers
PS: the email button on top goes to nowhere for me
Hi. Fantastic blog! I'm a concrete poet and work with typewriters. Looking for some info on typefaces. In particular, I'm wondering if any models use a backslash. Every model I've ever seen has forward slashes. Hoping you've encountered one. Please get in touch.
ReplyDeleterevolutionwinter(at)gmail.com
My wife and I are downsizing. Between us, we have many portable typewriters so we are interested in connecting with typewriter collectors. We live in the Chicago suburbs and can ship. My email address is and my wife Helen Gbala's email is . Especially if you know groups or clubs of typewriter fans, please contact us.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deletehi! i would love to talk with you about what you have. email me at bradford(AT)unisonvoice(DOT)com, or text me at four four oh - seven seven three - nine eight eight eight :)
Delete(this thing eliminates emails and phone numbers if it sees the formatting)
Hello, I've found my grandfather's Optima typewriter (I'm 64 years old). Worked on it and cleaned a lot to make it work again, needs more work also. Now I am willing to learn how old is it. On your website a serial number is mentioned that I could not find any. Only in front there is a big 1 in a circle and under it writes 00216. If this does not mean anything what can I do more. Could you please help me? Babur Koç
ReplyDeleteGood Morning. Could you tell me what the logo on the back of machine number one 00148 means at Groma Kolibri?
ReplyDeleteGood day!
ReplyDeleteI bought an Erika model 50, and looking for some details about this typewriter. Do you have more information about this specific model that you can share please?
Thank you and best regards
Hello X over It!
ReplyDeleteIt has come to my attention that you have once made an extensive video-blog on YouTube regarding the Erikas? Namely the Model M?
Is there any chance that I would be able to watch it anywhere online? :)
Kind regards
Samson
If you would rather answer by email, I can be reached here:
Deletethomsen.samson@gmail.com
Have a good day. 👍 😊
Hi, do you still have your Halda P typewriter? I have one in Olive currently and have seen yours in green and wonder if it is for sale? Please contact me if this is an option. Great page and information by the way.. I found you on Youtube when you were typing on your Halda.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks,
Simon
Hello! I just noticed that the typewriter in the rainbow-colored blocks at the top of your site is a typewriter that I have right here: https://typewriterdatabase.com/198x-erika-115.16403.typewriter
ReplyDeleteJust thought that was cool. Cheers!