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1959 Olympia SM3 Serial # 1401992 1959 Olympia SM3 typewriter, Serial # 1401992 Julian Zadorozny's 1959 Olympia SM3 typewriter. 2024-10-28 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Julian Zadorozny: 1959 Olympia SM3 Serial # 1401992 An Olympia SM3 is finally in my collection. The typewriter was found for less than one hundred dollars just day scrolling Facebook Marketplace. I drove from the city an hour or so after work towards Sharon, Ontario. The seller wouldn’t hold onto it for me, just in case a better offer was thrown his way.

He was a kind gentleman who waited for me in his garage. His wife died and the SM3 was hers in life. After a few minutes of small talk and a bunny running around behind us, I was able to take possession of this prize and head home.

However, when I tried to type the carriage was sunken deep into the body of the machine. Using the shift key I noticed I could only type in upper case. Thinking that I purchased a lemon I scrolled the internet. I found my answer. The rubber bushings have been known to squish and degrade over time, lowering the frame. Flipping the typewriter upside down I looked at the bottom, and the answer was there with globs of rubber pressed between metal. Home Depot was the help I needed, and with a screwdriver and some willpower, I was able to replace those bushings.

The maroon SM3 was the one I wanted, but this chocolate brown came my way so I snapped it up. The smoothness of the keys with their little springs tucked underneath cup my fingers. The flowing movement of the carriage is a treat, and now cleaned up and oiled this has to be my favourite machine to use. This Olympia has a feel, of its past and now its future. A true mid-century typewriter.

1959 Olympia SM3 #1401992

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Julian Zadorozny (Kuliano1977)
Created: 10-27-2024 at 12:04AM
Last Edit: 10-28-2024 at 04:13AM

Description Hunter 17 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

An Olympia SM3 is finally in my collection. The typewriter was found for less than one hundred dollars just day scrolling Facebook Marketplace. I drove from the city an hour or so after work towards Sharon, Ontario. The seller wouldn’t hold onto it for me, just in case a better offer was thrown his way.

He was a kind gentleman who waited for me in his garage. His wife died and the SM3 was hers in life. After a few minutes of small talk and a bunny running around behind us, I was able to take possession of this prize and head home.

However, when I tried to type the carriage was sunken deep into the body of the machine. Using the shift key I noticed I could only type in upper case. Thinking that I purchased a lemon I scrolled the internet. I found my answer. The rubber bushings have been known to squish and degrade over time, lowering the frame. Flipping the typewriter upside down I looked at the bottom, and the answer was there with globs of rubber pressed between metal. Home Depot was the help I needed, and with a screwdriver and some willpower, I was able to replace those bushings.

The maroon SM3 was the one I wanted, but this chocolate brown came my way so I snapped it up. The smoothness of the keys with their little springs tucked underneath cup my fingers. The flowing movement of the carriage is a treat, and now cleaned up and oiled this has to be my favourite machine to use. This Olympia has a feel, of its past and now its future. A true mid-century typewriter.

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Hunter: Julian Zadorozny (Kuliano1977)

Julian Zadorozny's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 502

I purchased my first typewriter in 2000: Brother Pro-Line 707 built in 1969.
I wrote eight hours a day, seven days a week on that tiny machine. I wrote my first unpublished novel and hundreds of short stories on the Brother.
In 2020 I decided to purchase my second typewriter. At ten and counting, I still use and collect these amazing tools for writing.


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.

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