1960 Tower Tabulator #5 CT460978T

Status: Sightings
Hunter: Nadia Pinto (WantonSecretary)
Created: 07-06-2025 at 12:46PM
Last Edit: 07-06-2025 at 12:47PM

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Description:

1960 Tower Tabulator (Smith-Corona made). No longer in my collection, so unfortunately, I cannot confirm the typeface (though it was surely either Pica or Elite).
Serial #: 5 CT460978T

This was my first introduction into the world of not only Sears machines, but Smith-Corona as well. It was an eBay find where the price felt right, and I had been curious to collect one given the strength of their reputation. Already in decent condition, I did what I could to fix it up, but then regrettably had to let it go to my local thrift store on short notice due to a long-distance move. Even the photos I took of it were hastily taken last-minute, though I did have time to leave a note in the case pleading any future buyers to take good care of it. Some minor pieces were missing in the area of the platen release, but nothing that should impact its function.

Thankfully, I have another Tabulator in green that survived the move for me to tinker with, as well as other variants of this era of Smith-Corona machines to include Sears and JC Penney. I will say that the tan/brown colorway is not my favorite, but I understand why people collect all the colors of this series because the lovely pastels in particular are so emblematic of the time. I wouldn't be able to resist a soft pink or robin's egg blue if they came my way.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Hunter: Nadia Pinto (WantonSecretary)

Nadia Pinto's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 60

Growing up, one of the joys of yearly visits with my family in Rome plunking the keys of my dear Nonno Italo's mid-century typewriter. Those days are long gone, but my fondness for typewriters and all things nostalgia was deeply instilled in my distant Italian life. And once I got on the typewriter train, I REALLY took off and now I've just stopped counting.

My life has had a lot of change and upheaval in recent years, and nearly all of my machines are in storage awaiting the day when I can finally live in my own space and bring them out again to clean, tinker with, and fix up. I don't think one needs a typewriter to write the next great American novel - they make shopping lists and office work nobler, and something to look forward to.

Still, I think I'm always searching for my nonno's typewriter. I don't know what it was, and I'll probably never lay my hands on it again. But the path through my growing typewriter collection is worthwhile.