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1955 Smith Corona Silent Super Serial # 5T 382798X 1955 Smith Corona Silent Super typewriter, Serial # 5T 382798X Types McGilicuddy's 1955 Smith Corona Silent Super typewriter. 2024-10-03 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Types McGilicuddy: 1955 Smith Corona Silent Super Serial # 5T 382798X This machine was a 100% "rescue" that has earned its way to become my #1 go-to "Draft Monster."
Prior to online purchase, I wavered because of its aesthetic condition. To their credit, the seller posted many detailed photos, which showed clearly that this typewriter had been used extensively for a very long time. Specifically, the primary user was quite obviously a heavy smoker, as the entire machine, inside and out, was coated with layers of tar smoke and the internal mechanisms were clogged with (cigar?) ash.
Normally, anything in that condition would prompt me to move along to the next item. In this case, however, I was struck by the Cinderella Effect. In spite of its heavily grimy appearance, the machine itself showed no signs of denting, broken parts, etc. And the fact that it had been used heavily... well, that meant that it certainly worked over a long period of time.
Against my better judgment, I bought it and hoped for the best. It arrived in the most durable case I've ever seen. You know those videos of monster trucks pulverizing puny cars? This typewriter case would laugh at that monster truck. And even if it managed to breach the case, good luck with the solid metal chassis of the typewriter itself.
Back to the tobacco issue -- it was much worse up close than the photos indicated. After doing a bit of research, I blew out as much of the ash debris as possible, and then gave the entire chassis an overnight soak in a mild solvent bath. After some minor scrubbing to dissolve the veil of tar, the machine looked (and smelled) brand new.
Determined at that point to actually invest time -- and money, if necessary -- I had the typewriter professionally tuned up, which corrected multiple minor issues. The only lasting glitch is an irregular tendency to skip a space now and again. At first, that irked me, but I grew to appreciate it as a sort of remedy against my perfectionist inclinations -- "It's no big deal. This is just a draft. All drafts are crap, by definition. Give it up, and focus on getting the ideas out of your head and onto the page."

1955 Smith Corona Silent Super #5T 382798X

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Types McGilicuddy (TypesMcGilicuddy)
Created: 10-01-2024 at 11:21AM
Last Edit: 10-03-2024 at 05:13PM

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Description:

This machine was a 100% "rescue" that has earned its way to become my #1 go-to "Draft Monster."
Prior to online purchase, I wavered because of its aesthetic condition. To their credit, the seller posted many detailed photos, which showed clearly that this typewriter had been used extensively for a very long time. Specifically, the primary user was quite obviously a heavy smoker, as the entire machine, inside and out, was coated with layers of tar smoke and the internal mechanisms were clogged with (cigar?) ash.
Normally, anything in that condition would prompt me to move along to the next item. In this case, however, I was struck by the Cinderella Effect. In spite of its heavily grimy appearance, the machine itself showed no signs of denting, broken parts, etc. And the fact that it had been used heavily... well, that meant that it certainly worked over a long period of time.
Against my better judgment, I bought it and hoped for the best. It arrived in the most durable case I've ever seen. You know those videos of monster trucks pulverizing puny cars? This typewriter case would laugh at that monster truck. And even if it managed to breach the case, good luck with the solid metal chassis of the typewriter itself.
Back to the tobacco issue -- it was much worse up close than the photos indicated. After doing a bit of research, I blew out as much of the ash debris as possible, and then gave the entire chassis an overnight soak in a mild solvent bath. After some minor scrubbing to dissolve the veil of tar, the machine looked (and smelled) brand new.
Determined at that point to actually invest time -- and money, if necessary -- I had the typewriter professionally tuned up, which corrected multiple minor issues. The only lasting glitch is an irregular tendency to skip a space now and again. At first, that irked me, but I grew to appreciate it as a sort of remedy against my perfectionist inclinations -- "It's no big deal. This is just a draft. All drafts are crap, by definition. Give it up, and focus on getting the ideas out of your head and onto the page."

Typeface Specimen:

Hunter: Types McGilicuddy (TypesMcGilicuddy)

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Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 35

An old soul in an even older body. Lifelong writer who started on a typewriter, forgot that they existed when computers came on the scene, and then rediscovered their utility (and blessed simplicity!) as a Weapon of Mass Creation. Have owned 10+ but am now limiting myself to 5 machines at a time, and committing to actually using them on a daily, weekly, or (at worst) monthly basis.


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