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
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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.
It´s an early Super Speed, and for sure it looks great, but I wouldn´t say it´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 I´d say it´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" I´ve got the s/n right. That suffix is definitely puzzling...
Even if it´s not my favourite typewriter to work with, it´s a great piece of engineering which could´ve been beyond-great, but it stopped at great.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
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.
