1967 Sears Citation #S6V 105119
Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
Created: 04-01-2024 at 04:29AM
Last Edit: 04-01-2024 at 05:25AM
Description:
The 6 series S-C Galaxie mechanism with some different features and slipped into an aluminum base with a plastic mid section and ribbon cover. The sliding forward and up Galaxie cover is ditched and a huge improvement in functionality. As with the other department store offerings from S-C, this one is underrated in the style over substance era. The ads show yet again the collapse of the manual typewriter market and why the 5 series were the last truly great S-C manual portables.
This example, like most, had turned yellow from UV exposure. The cover had some initials carved into it. I figured this would be a custom job or pull the #2 script typebars out. However, three H2O2 treatments on the body parts and one on the keys/controls and she looks pretty good. The carving was wet sanded down and filled with modeler's putty. This needs another application after my overzealous final buff of the plastic. Nevertheless, it is hardly noticeable unless you're looking for it. The aluminum housing and platen received the 'resonance canceling' tricks so it is now a Sears Silent Citation. With an escapement tune it'll be a 'Super' (SSSC) as well.
"The font you see produced by this typewriter (a reskinned Galaxie sold by Sears between 1967 and 1970) is called Pica Italic No. 2. Unlike some other Smith-Corona cursive fonts (Artistic Script, for example), Pica Italic does not use extra vertical real estate, goes onto the page six lines to the inch, and can be used with a bicolor black and red ribbon." Nis K.
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
Photos:
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
James Grooms's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 7692
As with many, the bug is back there somewhere due to an Underwood No. 5. My grandfather was on a small town school board and used one for this. My parents had a yellow Royal Safari that I used to index card everything, including a beer can collection. Collection syndrome clue! The long dormant tic was activated when my neighbors left a Remington Quiet Riter on the curb when they moved in circa 2010, Yes a believe it or not story is next, when a Hermes 3000 comes home with the girlfriend from work for free. Yes, free! From there the addiction is full steam. And yes, I now have a No. 5. Typewriters are the perfect blend of using one's technical skills, history and functional purpose.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Sears Citation on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Sears Serial Number page and the Sears Citation By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.