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Home » Smith Corona » Tabulator » 1954 #4AR 19674
1954 Smith Corona Tabulator Serial # 4AR 19674 1954 Smith Corona Tabulator typewriter, Serial # 4AR 19674 Brad Sarno's 1954 Smith Corona Tabulator typewriter. 2018-10-15 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Brad Sarno: 1954 Smith Corona Tabulator Serial # 4AR 19674 Walking through an antique store the other day, I saw a guy wanting to buy this small tweed case for a guitar amplifier project. But he didn't want the typewriter inside and asked for a deal. I happened to be right there. The price tag was $10, and since I overheard the conversation, I jumped in and said I'd pay $5 for the typewriter and then he'd only need to pay $5 for the cool tweed case. So there I was with my $5 mystery typer. It was clearly a "Sterling" or "Tabulator", but nowhere on the machine did it say a model name. This machine was also sold by Sears/Tower as a Challenger.

USA Made, not Canada like some of its time.

It's a good machine, types like the excellent SC portables of its age. It's a little stripped down with no paper bail, just the small roller/clip things, and this one is missing the right one. Maybe I'll find one someday. It types great, works great, and looks pretty cool. Too bad I didn't get the case, but for $5, who's complaining?

10-pitch pica typeface.

Correction: Serial number starts with 4ARxxxxx

Some strange 4A series numbering scheme...

1954 Smith Corona Tabulator #4AR 19674

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brad Sarno (bradsarno)
Created: 09-03-2014 at 07:58AM
Last Edit: 10-15-2018 at 07:09PM


Description:

Walking through an antique store the other day, I saw a guy wanting to buy this small tweed case for a guitar amplifier project. But he didn't want the typewriter inside and asked for a deal. I happened to be right there. The price tag was $10, and since I overheard the conversation, I jumped in and said I'd pay $5 for the typewriter and then he'd only need to pay $5 for the cool tweed case. So there I was with my $5 mystery typer. It was clearly a "Sterling" or "Tabulator", but nowhere on the machine did it say a model name. This machine was also sold by Sears/Tower as a Challenger.

USA Made, not Canada like some of its time.

It's a good machine, types like the excellent SC portables of its age. It's a little stripped down with no paper bail, just the small roller/clip things, and this one is missing the right one. Maybe I'll find one someday. It types great, works great, and looks pretty cool. Too bad I didn't get the case, but for $5, who's complaining?

10-pitch pica typeface.

Correction: Serial number starts with 4ARxxxxx

Some strange 4A series numbering scheme...

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:























Hunter: Brad Sarno (bradsarno)

Brad Sarno's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2728

I've spent my life as a mechanical and electronics tinkerer, bikes, cars, lawnmowers, appliances, cameras, audio gear, guitars, amplifiers, and pedal steel guitars. I was trained as a typist for 2 years back in the late 70's on IBM Selectric II's. At home I recall my mother having an Olympia SM3. More recently we got our daughter a typewriter for Christmas, and that somehow sparked my own personal interest in these fine and interesting machines. Now it's a habit that just won't quit. Daily searches on Craigslist, frequent trips to antique stores & malls, garage sales, etc. It's a fun and healthy addiction.



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