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Home » L.C. Smith » Super Speed » 1938 #1424353 B11C
1938 L.C. Smith Super Speed Serial # 1424353 B11C 1938 L.C. Smith Super Speed typewriter, Serial # 1424353 B11C Javier Vazquez del Olmo's 1938 L.C. Smith Super Speed typewriter. 2016-07-04 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Javier Vazquez del Olmo: 1938 L.C. Smith Super Speed Serial # 1424353 B11C This machine has been keeping a low profile for several months until I finally had it repaired.

The bad part is that it was in far worse condition than expected. At first I only thought there was something funny around the ribbon spools, but after thorough inspection it turned out the evil had extended to the escapement and beyond. The cure? expensive repairs, but as always it pays out.

ItĀ“s an early Super Speed, and for sure it looks great, but I wouldnĀ“t say itĀ“s one of the best typewriters of that time. I find this typewriter unnecesarily complex (Pascual agrees with me) and despite being called Super Speed IĀ“d say itĀ“s only Regular-Speed. The touch is quite weird, and I think that could be because of the equally weird fully analog touch control system (see photos).

Another issue: I "think" IĀ“ve got the s/n right. That suffix is definitely puzzling...

Even if itĀ“s not my favourite typewriter to work with, itĀ“s a great piece of engineering which couldĀ“ve been beyond-great, but it stopped at great.

1938 L.C. Smith Super Speed #1424353 B11C

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)
Created: 07-04-2016 at 07:21AM
Last Edit: 07-04-2016 at 07:28AM


Description:

This machine has been keeping a low profile for several months until I finally had it repaired.

The bad part is that it was in far worse condition than expected. At first I only thought there was something funny around the ribbon spools, but after thorough inspection it turned out the evil had extended to the escapement and beyond. The cure? expensive repairs, but as always it pays out.

ItĀ“s an early Super Speed, and for sure it looks great, but I wouldnĀ“t say itĀ“s one of the best typewriters of that time. I find this typewriter unnecesarily complex (Pascual agrees with me) and despite being called Super Speed IĀ“d say itĀ“s only Regular-Speed. The touch is quite weird, and I think that could be because of the equally weird fully analog touch control system (see photos).

Another issue: I "think" IĀ“ve got the s/n right. That suffix is definitely puzzling...

Even if itĀ“s not my favourite typewriter to work with, itĀ“s a great piece of engineering which couldĀ“ve been beyond-great, but it stopped at great.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

I have a bit of trouble with that serial suffix...
I have a bit of trouble with that serial suffix...







Fully analog touch control! Everything between 0 and 6 is available!
Fully analog touch control! Everything between 0 and 6 is available!

More mechanical weirdness: This segment gives me the creeps.
More mechanical weirdness: This segment gives me the creeps.



Somehow a ribbon spool managed to survive up until today.
Somehow a ribbon spool managed to survive up until today.


Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)

Javier Vazquez del Olmo's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 6476

The first typewriter I saw was my grandpa´s Olivetti Linea 98 at the office. It was just a curio for me. Then I was given a Nakajima, which I didn´t use and my grandfather took it from me because it was easier to handle than the bulky Linea 98. Now I own that typewriter, and I started a little collection in Valladolid, Spain. The Nakajima, which is "my" typewriter only returned home in 2017, almost 20 years later, when he wanted a better typewriter.

A collection that started small grew into something bigger, a nuisace for my family and a great source of satisfaction for me.



RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the L.C. Smith Super Speed on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the L.C. Smith Serial Number page and the L.C. Smith Super Speed By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.