1958 Smith Corona Electric Portable #5TE 149945
Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
Created: 03-18-2025 at 02:58PM
Last Edit: 03-18-2025 at 06:58PM
Find on Ebay #AD
Find on Etsy #AD
Description:
The most unforgiving of colors to get clean. This one had seen some use and some questionable service practices, but came out pretty nice even with the bumps and bruises. It gives a nice even impression, but not until it is set to around 7. It will not hit hard enough on O-rings even though the variable pulley seems to be in the same spot, so it is running on a fair pair of V-belts with a bit of a thump.
The earliest red badge SN on TWDB.
Pica no. 1
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
- Gallery
- Early one
- Another 58
- Late one
- 12 in 'office' model
- Manual
- Life Ad
- History.............
- Guru
- Action
- Life again
- Pica no 1
Photos:
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
James Grooms's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 12202
As with many, the bug is back there somewhere due to an Underwood No. 5. My grandparents had a No 5. My parents had a yellow Royal Safari that I used to index card everything, including a beer can collection. Collection syndrome clue! A casual interest in typewriters started with a garage sale 3 bank simply because it said Underwood on it. Typewriters were found here and there , but I wasn't actively looking for them. The long dormant collecting tic was activated when my neighbors left a Remington Quiet Riter on the curb when they moved.
Typewriters are the perfect blend of using one's technical skills, history and functional purpose. My goal is type tested machines. My interests are not isolated to anyone area. For example, I am a big fan of Smith Corona electrics, mid century electrics and all things Royal.
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.
