1961 Olympia SM7 #1899057
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Tansal Arnas (Tansal)
Created: 08-04-2019 at 09:01PM
Last Edit: 08-04-2019 at 09:04PM
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Description:
Purchased from eBay on 24 July 2019. This was my eighth antique manual typewriter. This is the fourth of four machines I sought out specifically for its unique typeface. I had tried out a Techno Pica Hermes 3000 at Gramercy Typewriter Co. in NYC, and I prefer the elite version of this typeface offered by Olympia. (Apologies, my finger accidentally reached for the 1 where the = key was instead of the lowercase L that serves as a 1 on this machine, hence the weirdness in the No. 71. Also, it's actually 11 cpi, not 10. I'll have to retype this sometime.)
Typeface Specimen:
Hunter: Tansal Arnas (Tansal)
Tansal Arnas's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 63
I grew up in the generation that transitioned from analog to digital, so I had childhood experience using manual and electric typewriters before moving onto computers. In 2013, I started researching ultraportable antique manual typewriters. In 2016, I bought my first one, a Hermes Baby Featherweight. I loved the portability but learned that it's not very suited to long periods of writing. I intensified my research into medium-sized portables. In 2019, I purchased two exceptional typewriters, a Hermes 3000 and an Olympia SM3. I also excavated my grandfather's SM2 and had it professionally restored. Then the floodgates opened, and I chased down several more Hermes and Olympia typewriters, each with a different body and typeface. Eventually, I branched out to other brands, bringing my current total to 23 typewriters. I use them for journaling, letters, notes, and creative writing. I've tried other models, but my favorite makes continue to be Hermes and Olympia, particularly their models from the '50s and '60s. I’ve slowed down my pace of procurement, but I still keep my eyes open for good finds in the wild, and I also accept rescues from friends and acquaintances.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olympia SM7 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olympia Serial Number page and the Olympia SM7 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
