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Home » Smith Corona » Electra 12 » 1959 #5LE112133
1959 Smith Corona Electra 12 Serial # 5LE112133 1959 Smith Corona Electra 12 typewriter, Serial # 5LE112133 Tas Kyprianou's 1959 Smith Corona Electra 12 typewriter. 2023-03-07 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Tas Kyprianou: 1959 Smith Corona Electra 12 Serial # 5LE112133 Whilst the segment was gummed up with carbon ribbon shreds, the motor and belts seemed to be in good order. All this needed was a little cleanup to make it 'supersonic' once again. On returning home I noticed that the 'o' slug was loose on the typebar. The solder had cracked, but with a little printed matter help from none other than Mr Munk himself I was able to fix the crack and am now the happy owner of a stunningly beautiful, both to type on and look at, machine. The ribbon installed is carbon and I have no intention of changing it yet. The imprint is so precise and crisp. The motor gently purrs along like a tiny little Harley Davidson (potato potato) and the keys are incredibly tactile. I would however recommend using the No 4 setting (under the space bar) - anything less and a butterfly landing on the keys would almost be able to type. Understandably, much more to go wrong with these but I like to live in the 'now' and right now this is one hell of a typewriter.

1959 Smith Corona Electra 12 #5LE112133

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Tas Kyprianou (Tas)
Created: 03-07-2023 at 09:23AM
Last Edit: 03-07-2023 at 02:02PM

Description Hunter 41 Photos 4 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

Whilst the segment was gummed up with carbon ribbon shreds, the motor and belts seemed to be in good order. All this needed was a little cleanup to make it 'supersonic' once again. On returning home I noticed that the 'o' slug was loose on the typebar. The solder had cracked, but with a little printed matter help from none other than Mr Munk himself I was able to fix the crack and am now the happy owner of a stunningly beautiful, both to type on and look at, machine. The ribbon installed is carbon and I have no intention of changing it yet. The imprint is so precise and crisp. The motor gently purrs along like a tiny little Harley Davidson (potato potato) and the keys are incredibly tactile. I would however recommend using the No 4 setting (under the space bar) - anything less and a butterfly landing on the keys would almost be able to type. Understandably, much more to go wrong with these but I like to live in the 'now' and right now this is one hell of a typewriter.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:









Freshly picked up.
Freshly picked up.






Dead man's switch. Kills power when the ribbon cover is lifted.
Dead man's switch. Kills power when the ribbon cover is lifted.

Keeping this for posterity. Looks safe enough.
Keeping this for posterity. Looks safe enough.


Power cut off.
Power cut off.


Imprint weight selector - 1 is perfect. 9 will punch holes through most paper thicknesses.
Imprint weight selector - 1 is perfect. 9 will punch holes through most paper thicknesses.



Tab set & clear.
Tab set & clear.



This was a clue. Barely used.
This was a clue. Barely used.

Paper support.
Paper support.


SO much rubber on the feet!
SO much rubber on the feet!











Typed and scanned prior to re-soldering the loose O slug. CARBON ribbon - Elite Druck
Typed and scanned prior to re-soldering the loose O slug. CARBON ribbon - Elite Druck

Typed and scanned prior to re-soldering the loose O slug. NYLON ribbon - Elite Druck
Typed and scanned prior to re-soldering the loose O slug. NYLON ribbon - Elite Druck

Hunter: Tas Kyprianou (Tas)

Tas Kyprianou's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 4284

UK member with Greek Cypriot heritage, living in London.
Relatively new to the hobby - My first machine was an Everest Mod 90 that I bought after watching a Violet Evergarden anime in December 2021.
My collection now consists of a nice, round, 40 machines . . . and any new addition will be on a strict "one in - one out" basis.

My absolute favourite remains (just) my 1939 Royal KMM. For me, it's both the prettiest and the "warmest" to type on. It has "Majik" (with a nod to Sandy1)
I count my blessings that I am lucky enough to have amassed such a beautiful bunch.


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Smith Corona Electra 12 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Smith Corona Serial Number page and the Smith Corona Electra 12 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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