1955 Olympia SM3 #622320
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Kevin Nutt (kmnutt)
Created: 07-30-2025 at 02:57PM
Last Edit: 07-30-2025 at 03:19PM
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Description:
Date of Purchase: 04/07/2025
Place of Purchase: Pottstown, PA
This was a Facebook Marketplace purchase. The seller used an electric Smith-Corona typewriter from the 1970's and wanted to try a manual typewriter. Their main hobby is collecting antique transistor radios, and they came to the conclusion that the electric typewriter was sufficient and they did not want to venture into another hobby area.
I replaced the rubber bushings using the wonderful blog article from Chris Aldrich (see links).
I still have work to do on cleaning the type slugs, but I really love the feel of typing on this machine.
The case has the name "Bernard L. Gladieux, Jr." scratched on the inner lid. I'd love to get more history on the typewriter and this person's link to it.
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
- Manual
- Olympia SM3 Galleries
- Chris Aldrich: Olympia SM3 Aggregated Resources and Playlist
- Phoenix Typewriter: Olympia SM3 Repaired Reconditioned
- Phoenix Typewriter: Tighten Main Spring Draw Band
Photos:
Hunter: Kevin Nutt (kmnutt)
Kevin Nutt's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 349
With nearly three decades in information technology and over twenty years specializing in cybersecurity, I bring a unique perspective to typewriter collecting that bridges the digital and mechanical worlds. As the son of a farmer-turned-chemical engineer, I inherited both my father's hands-on problem-solving mindset and his deep curiosity about how things work.
Growing up under his guidance, I learned to build, repair, and tinker. This experience gave me a lasting appreciation for mechanical ingenuity and ultimately led me to typewriters. I'm fascinated by their intricate mechanisms and rich history, and by the role these remarkable machines played in transforming human communication long before the digital era.
When not working on typewriters, I love working with my hands on various projects: building custom mechanical keyboards, creating miniatures, building furniture, or other hands-on creative work that captures my attention.
Based in Central Pennsylvania less than 10 miles from the famous Olivetti-Underwood Factory in Harrisburg, PA, I've found the region to be a fruitful source of vintage machines - and so my collection keeps growing.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olympia SM3 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olympia Serial Number page and the Olympia SM3 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
