1959 Smith Corona Galaxie #6T 241324X
Status: My Collection
Hunter: David Karoly (David7849)
Created: 03-24-2025 at 10:46AM
Last Edit: 04-21-2025 at 10:04AM
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Description:
In the course of keeping a lookout for a half space machine this appeared nearby for a low price, so I picked it up. It seems to be an update to the Silent Super in a 6 series body.
Ribbon Cover UPDATE 04/15/2025: The typewriter is completely reassembled now. Successfully repaired the right rear attachment point of the plastic keyboard surround, installed it and got the ribbon cover installed. It was not too difficult as I imagined it would be. The key is to dive the front arms with wheels down under the plastic thing then work it back and forth so that the left side, which hits the carriage at first, eventually is able to come down to the top of the base body. Position the cover so that the front is about in the middle of the plastic on the side, there is some give there, then push in then down until the wheels engage the base bottom. The rear wheels are easier because it can be seen what is happening then there are guard rails which are positioned and 2 screws each side to tighten.
UPDATE 03/31/2025:
First, I did not know there are 2 versions of the 6 series sliding cover, the first which could actually slide under the carriage return lever (this one) and the second which is the probably more common articulating cover. Second, the plastic keyboard surround is different too, it has 2 screws at the rear corners which hold it in place and in front just the molded plastic which fits into the metal body. If this first generation is encountered it is recommended to leave the covers on, it is difficult to get the ribbon cover off and I imagine it is extremely difficult to get it on with the plastic thing in the way, that may be how it got broken. Try to service the machine with the covers on, this one could've been serviced that way but owners before me apparently did it and broke the plastic at the connection point. Therefore, the plastic did not sit down flush causing interference with the tab set key and the ribbon color selector did not work at all. Everything works now.
It only needed about an hour's worth of flushing to clear up the stickiness. Now it types very nicely, it is a joy to use, really. I'm using it with the broken plastic thing off, I don't mind because I care more about the use than the looks of it. I dubbed it SKELOTYPEWRITER. The far right typebar (+/=) was bent about in the middle, straightened it and I thought it would still be troublesome but it now it works perfectly. Q was stubborn, particularly uppercase Q but in High it worked so that indicated that it wasn't binding. The lower (front) segment was flushed then the pivot at the base of the typebar under the segment was flushed several times, that was it, now it works perfectly. Overall I like it but the feel is different from the Remingtons so I'm slower on it.
This machine has an unusual paper bail. It is an inverted u-channel with 6 little rollers on a thin wire rod and 6 pieces with a flat spot to hold it in there. The pieces with flat spot have shrunk so the rollers fall out. The plan is to epoxy the 6 things in with a dot of epoxy. I’ve used it without the rollers in there and it works fine but since I have the part I want to reinstall it. UPDATE: Lined up the 6 retainers with the marks inside the u-channel, made sure the rolls were clear then epoxied the retainers in there with one dot of epoxy each. It works and it no longer falls out.
This machine has a true carriage lock which I have not seen on a Smith Corona before. It locks off center to the right so that the lever can be disengaged from locked. The carriage does not push to the right to disengage like most.
As found:
Dirty (cleaned)
Gummy, segments need to be flushed. (Segments flushed, selected pivots flushed)
Tab set key takes a very hard press but it works. (Resolved by removing broken plastic part)
Plastic left carriage release lever is loose.
Ribbon color selector does not change the setting, it types in black only, need to investigate. (Resolved by removing broken plastic part)
Came with a set of metal spools. Ribbon has some life left in it. (Installed new ribbon on universal spools)
Acquired on 03/23/2025: $25
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: David Karoly (David7849)
David Karoly's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 457
I started with 2 Monroe calculating machines then in January 2023 I used my Christmas money to buy a 1936 L.C. Smith and Corona, Corona Standard portable. Since then have acquired more typewriters. Also have 2 Engineers Transits (surveying instruments), a K+E Foresters staff compass, and 4 slide rules. Typewriters as a hobby has been more affordable than antique surveying instruments anre and they are easier to obtain.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Smith Corona Galaxie on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Smith Corona Serial Number page and the Smith Corona Galaxie By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
