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Home » Olympia » SM3 » 1957 #1261814
1957 Olympia SM3 Serial # 1261814 1957 Olympia SM3 typewriter, Serial # 1261814 Stephen Hanafin's 1957 Olympia SM3 typewriter. 2021-12-29 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Stephen Hanafin: 1957 Olympia SM3 Serial # 1261814 This pink SM3 seems to be a bit of an oddball. I think it is probably a foreign-market model reimported to the US. It has the 4-dot margin release key, whereas most US models I have seen just have M-R on that key. It lacks the 'De Luxe' plate in the basket. It has really wide forks for the ribbon, relying on tension to trigger the reverse rather than the narrow ones that catch an eyelet to trigger the ribbon reverse on most US models. Keyboard layout is standard US QWERTY, though. It is stamped on multiple interior places with (diiffering) dates in late 1957. The paint is somewhat trashed also, with not-very-well-matched touch-up paint everywhere, but it still types well. Typeface appears to be Olympia's 'Large Pica', which you can spot by the style of the uppercase Q.

Sold to a good home on 2021-12-27

1957 Olympia SM3 #1261814

Status: Sightings
Hunter: Stephen Hanafin (st3ph3n)
Created: 03-03-2021 at 03:47PM
Last Edit: 12-29-2021 at 03:12PM


Description:

This pink SM3 seems to be a bit of an oddball. I think it is probably a foreign-market model reimported to the US. It has the 4-dot margin release key, whereas most US models I have seen just have M-R on that key. It lacks the 'De Luxe' plate in the basket. It has really wide forks for the ribbon, relying on tension to trigger the reverse rather than the narrow ones that catch an eyelet to trigger the ribbon reverse on most US models. Keyboard layout is standard US QWERTY, though. It is stamped on multiple interior places with (diiffering) dates in late 1957. The paint is somewhat trashed also, with not-very-well-matched touch-up paint everywhere, but it still types well. Typeface appears to be Olympia's 'Large Pica', which you can spot by the style of the uppercase Q.

Sold to a good home on 2021-12-27

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

The very aerodynamic looking original case.
The very aerodynamic looking original case.



This rear ID plate is different to most US models I've seen too - no mention of their New York distributor, but an address in Munich instead.
This rear ID plate is different to most US models I've seen too - no mention of their New York distributor, but an address in Munich instead.

I'm a big fan of the pop-up paper rest. Lovely machined surface.
I'm a big fan of the pop-up paper rest. Lovely machined surface.

The 4-dot margin release key
The 4-dot margin release key

Slugs
Slugs

The wide ribbon forks, which let eyelets run right through them to get stuck in the ribbon vibrator. I need to trim them off any new ribbons I use with this typewriter.
The wide ribbon forks, which let eyelets run right through them to get stuck in the ribbon vibrator. I need to trim them off any new ribbons I use with this typewriter.

Hunter: Stephen Hanafin (st3ph3n)

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Status: Typewriter Hunter
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I have learned that I'm a fan mostly of mid-century european portables



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.