1963 Olympia Socialite #95-810982
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Matthew L Christie (Pinehill)
Created: 09-02-2022 at 10:46AM
Last Edit: 05-08-2025 at 06:35PM
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Description:
This machine came in fairly dirty -- but better than expected for a typewriter that's 62 years old. It's a joy to type on -- you can truly "touch-type" on this Socialite. Giving it the "Lap-Test" it type well on ones lap also. This will stay as part of my "Portable" section of my collection. I replaced the sound insulation as it had that "foam" insulation that some ROYAL Futura 800s have and it crumpled to dust. While I was at that, I also added insulation to the Ribbon Cover Plate. All-in-all, a very nice machine.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Matthew L Christie (Pinehill)
Matthew L Christie's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 539
Worked for the Eastman Kodak Company in 16mm & 35mm Motion Picture Film Finishing Production. Finished my career with 7 years in Kodak Photo-chemicals Production. Layoffs came and in 2010 I went to Keller International (Barber Chairs) where I honed my skills on the workings of import barber chairs. As of the end of 2021, I'm Semi-Retired and working 20 hrs per week at Keller International. Now I have time to work on all the typewriters I purchased in 2018/2019.
I received my first typewriter - a Royal (Silver-Seiko) SIGNET as a birthday gift for my 11th birthday on December 20, 1970. That typewriter got a lot of use (school papers, short stories, a try at a Novel) right up until 1982. Then was back into its snap-on case and stored away until 2018.
I was watching the last episode of "The Bates Motel" where the Handy-Man they had was down in the basement typing away on a typewriter. Something clicked. I went up and pulled my old SIGNET out and started using it. Then I remembered we had a family typewriter back in the early 1960. All I could remember is that out had green keys. Went on Ebay and purchased a 1950's Royal QDL -- that was so nice I went and purchased a 1941 Royal QDL -- and I was hooked on buying typewriters ... Royals, Smith-Coronas, Olympias, Adlers, 3 Underwood & 1 Remington ... All these will keep me busy for the next few years. I like the year 1935 - 1975 -- with the 1960's being my favorite. (Now I just got to get them all up on the TWDB!)
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olympia Socialite on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olympia Serial Number page and the Olympia Socialite By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
