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Thursday, October 7, 2010

An ostentatious newcomer

20 comments:

  1. So when are you, Oddjob and Pussy Galore going to hit Fort Knox again? :D

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  2. Ooooh... very nice. Definitely serendipitous that you were able to "trade in" the SM-9 for this gilded beauty. The height of luxury... even more interesting because I had no idea they made these. I've seen the gold-plated Royal and the gold-plated Princess 300, but this is new.

    Speaking of Olympias, we are on the same page because I was planning to install the carbon ribbon in my recently-acquired-and-subsequently-neglected SM-3. The typeface is identical to this one.

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  3. Well it looks like it cost a million bucks! Looks like some real luxury there. You can pretend your Don Corleone, at least I would!!! I love it!

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  4. Where did you find that gold plated QDL? I hear those are VERY rare, and also, this Olympia is EXTREMELY rare!! Chances are, this was a custom job. I've only seen one other example of this typewriter:

    http://mrtypewriter.tripod.com/goldolympiasm3.htm

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  5. Thanks for the link to Mr. Typewriter's site, Matt -- I knew I'd seen the gold trim on an Olympia SOMEWHERE before.

    My gold Royal (http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/royalgold.jpg) was on eBay. They aren't all that rare; they turn up on eBay once every few months, I think.

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  6. that's beautiful. how do you tell A 3 from a 4?

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  7. The SM4 has key-set tab stops (the "set" and "clear" buttons on either side of the spacebar). The SM3 has sliding tab stops that you set on the back of the typewriter.

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  8. Again, an impressive typewriter! I'll have to try carbon ribbons in my Olympias. Is that a stock IBM ribbon?

    I fear you are correct with regards to the ill intent of the teaming masses of budget typewriters. The Royal Signet caught a glance of the screen and started typing uncontrollably in its unpretentious upper case.

    Perhaps Marie could escape on her Dressage horse. Or maybe hide in the massive stable/training center.

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    1. The ribbon is new old stock, non-correctible carbon ribbon for the Selectric I (=model 71). You can find it pretty often on eBay.

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  9. Wow, lovely. Just got an sm4 myself.
    It seems to take a few pumps of the backspace key for it to work though - not sure if this is normal. Back space seems to act differently generally than on other typewriters I have. Not sure how the tabulator works, but probably won't use it much anyway. Do you press the + a few times across a line length to set as many tabs as you want? it doesn't quite seem to jump to them fully.

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    1. That backspace isn't normal; it needs fixing (and I don't know how).

      Yes, the + will set tab stops wherever you want, and - will clear them. There is a lever on the right end of the carriage that clears all stops at once.

      Sounds like your tabulator also needs work -- maybe just some cleaning.

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    2. I was wondering what that lever was for!
      Time to get the torch out again I guess ;)
      The Backspace works only after a few presses, maybe needs a new spring, unless i am missing one. There is a long one under the left side I can see, but there doesn't seem to a spring on the right side under the platen, but that seems to be normal - no hooks to attach one anyway.

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  10. Im looking for a Olympic Progress master,,i have been unsucsesfull finding a model number for this typewriter, how can i publis a photo of it

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    1. I think you mean Olympia Progress. Progress is the model name (there isn't a number). Serial number and date information is available here. You can send me a photo if you like at polt@xavier.edu.

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  11. I just picked up one of these in green off of CL. $60. It's gorgeous. Now including yours I know of two gold plated SM3s.

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    1. Congrats! What a great find. I've never seen a green one; I've seen one or two other than ones like mine.

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  12. I wish there was a way to post a picture to show you. But it's handsome. I can't find much info on theme other than they seem to be a factory option. But they must be pretty rare no? Any idea how much it could be worth? Not that I'd sell a beauty like this. For all I know it's one of a kind.

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  13. I just purchased one for $10 at a thrift shop. I just knew I shouldn't leave it sitting there. Any idea of the value of one of these?

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