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1957 Smith Corona Electric Portable Serial # 5TE 140010 1957 Smith Corona Electric Portable typewriter, Serial # 5TE 140010 Stephen Hanafin's 1957 Smith Corona Electric Portable typewriter. 2021-12-08 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Stephen Hanafin: 1957 Smith Corona Electric Portable Serial # 5TE 140010 * Sold 2021-05-03 *

I bought this 1958 5TE locally via Facebook marketplace for $20. It came with the Smith Corona Holiday case, and even had the key, but the machine itself was both filthy and nonfunctional. Every single typebar was stuck, and the belts would not move. I was able to get the belts freed up by just giving them some manual help to get moving, but I had to flush the segment with lacquer thinner multiple times to get the typebars free. They now all work, although the A typebar tends to stick, so it probably could use another round or two of segment flushing. I think something is wrong with the carriage rack too, as it doesn't always move just one space when you press the spacebar, and the positions it skips seem pretty consistent. You can see it in my typeface specimen. I think I'm about ready to let this one go, I have gotten tired of cleaning it up.

1957 Smith Corona Electric Portable #5TE 140010

Status: Sightings
Hunter: Stephen Hanafin (st3ph3n)
Created: 04-29-2021 at 01:06PM
Last Edit: 12-08-2021 at 09:34PM

Description Hunter 9 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

* Sold 2021-05-03 *

I bought this 1958 5TE locally via Facebook marketplace for $20. It came with the Smith Corona Holiday case, and even had the key, but the machine itself was both filthy and nonfunctional. Every single typebar was stuck, and the belts would not move. I was able to get the belts freed up by just giving them some manual help to get moving, but I had to flush the segment with lacquer thinner multiple times to get the typebars free. They now all work, although the A typebar tends to stick, so it probably could use another round or two of segment flushing. I think something is wrong with the carriage rack too, as it doesn't always move just one space when you press the spacebar, and the positions it skips seem pretty consistent. You can see it in my typeface specimen. I think I'm about ready to let this one go, I have gotten tired of cleaning it up.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Slightly broken 'Electric' badge. On some of these this is red. The big white thing is an old owner's name label.
Slightly broken 'Electric' badge. On some of these this is red. The big white thing is an old owner's name label.

This wheel is the main power switch. It is white in the off position, and red (danger!) in the on position.
This wheel is the main power switch. It is white in the off position, and red (danger!) in the on position.


Slightly scratched up and dirty rear panel. This flips down for access to the margin rail and tabulator pins.
Slightly scratched up and dirty rear panel. This flips down for access to the margin rail and tabulator pins.


Pica typeslugs
Pica typeslugs

Top down keyboard view. Keyset tabulator. The wheel on the top right is the power switch. The one on the top left controls how hard the typebars hit your pages, more useful for multiple carbon copies.
Top down keyboard view. Keyset tabulator. The wheel on the top right is the power switch. The one on the top left controls how hard the typebars hit your pages, more useful for multiple carbon copies.

Serial number, which is under the right hand ribbon spool.
Serial number, which is under the right hand ribbon spool.

I was surprised that this sound deadening material was still intact after 63 years.
I was surprised that this sound deadening material was still intact after 63 years.

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 Smith Corona Electric Portable on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Smith Corona Serial Number page and the Smith Corona Electric Portable By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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