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1956 Olympia SF Serial # 5-4295 1956 Olympia SF typewriter, Serial # 5-4295 Paolo Dal Chiele's 1956 Olympia SF typewriter. 2020-12-15 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Paolo Dal Chiele: 1956 Olympia SF Serial # 5-4295 This Olympia SF is interesting because it is from 1956, the first year of production started. According to the data of the Typewriter Database 4862 SF were produced before the end of the year.
Many details of the early SF are specific, numerous modifications being introduced after few months of production, such as the paper support, the platen knobs, the wrinkle paint and the indexes for the margins setting.
Modifications were also made to the chassis and mechanical details, and although this SF seems at first sight identical to a Splendid 33 of the early sixties, in fact it is a significantly different machine.
One of the problems Olympia SF / SF DeLuxe / Splendid ultraportable had is related to the noise reduction foam; being the foam in contact with the chassis and retaining the humidity, it typically cause rusting and oxidation stains.
Due to ageing it is also tends to become brittle, and to turn into dust that covers all the mechanics. This machine was no exception, and as you can see it had to be dismantled to clean it thoroughly. The original foam has been replaced with more suitable felt, may be less effective but less problematic.
In addition to cleaning, oiling and lubrication, it was necessary to correct the alignment of the uppercase and lowercase letters (motion).

1956 Olympia SF #5-4295

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Paolo Dal Chiele (pdcox)
Created: 01-23-2020 at 12:20PM
Last Edit: 12-15-2020 at 03:09AM

Description Hunter 29 Photos 1 Like  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

This Olympia SF is interesting because it is from 1956, the first year of production started. According to the data of the Typewriter Database 4862 SF were produced before the end of the year.
Many details of the early SF are specific, numerous modifications being introduced after few months of production, such as the paper support, the platen knobs, the wrinkle paint and the indexes for the margins setting.
Modifications were also made to the chassis and mechanical details, and although this SF seems at first sight identical to a Splendid 33 of the early sixties, in fact it is a significantly different machine.
One of the problems Olympia SF / SF DeLuxe / Splendid ultraportable had is related to the noise reduction foam; being the foam in contact with the chassis and retaining the humidity, it typically cause rusting and oxidation stains.
Due to ageing it is also tends to become brittle, and to turn into dust that covers all the mechanics. This machine was no exception, and as you can see it had to be dismantled to clean it thoroughly. The original foam has been replaced with more suitable felt, may be less effective but less problematic.
In addition to cleaning, oiling and lubrication, it was necessary to correct the alignment of the uppercase and lowercase letters (motion).

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

The SF as it was...
The SF as it was...

Note the platen knob specific of early production SFs.
Note the platen knob specific of early production SFs.

The serial number
The serial number

Foam dust anywhere...
Foam dust anywhere...


In early model, the SFs had anti-noise foam applied in many locations on body panels and chassis. Those applied to chassis bottom had simply disappeared...
In early model, the SFs had anti-noise foam applied in many locations on body panels and chassis. Those applied to chassis bottom had simply disappeared...

The degraded foam on inner side panel
The degraded foam on inner side panel

The mechanic before the cleaning bath.
The mechanic before the cleaning bath.

The "camel" paper support typical of early production SFs. Note the extensive use of foam made on early SFs, that was applied also on inner rear panel.
The "camel" paper support typical of early production SFs. Note the extensive use of foam made on early SFs, that was applied also on inner rear panel.

The carriage dismantled for detailed cleaning.
The carriage dismantled for detailed cleaning.

The final result.
The final result.


The new felt body panel lining.
The new felt body panel lining.









The margin setting index which one of the details specific of early production SFs.
The margin setting index which one of the details specific of early production SFs.


The bag is in good conditions and required only detailed cleaning. The cover is made by me, and together with the typebars protection that can be seen on the left of the typewriter is very useful to prevent damages during transport.
The bag is in good conditions and required only detailed cleaning. The cover is made by me, and together with the typebars protection that can be seen on the left of the typewriter is very useful to prevent damages during transport.





Motion correction (before and after)
Motion correction (before and after)

Hunter: Paolo Dal Chiele (pdcox)

Paolo Dal Chiele's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2417

Interested in historic motoring and vintage cars, I received a typewriter as a bonus when I bought and old off-road car. The previous owner had found somewhere a typewriter produced for the German army and when he sold me the car he gave me the typewriter too. As I learned later, it was a1961 Olympia SM7 Robust..
Of the typewriters I value more character than perfection, the signs that time has left and the stories - or fragments of stories - of those who used them ...


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

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