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1977 Olympia (Nakajima) M-R12 Serial # 7117204 1977 Olympia (Nakajima) M-R12 typewriter, Serial # 7117204 James Grooms's 1977 Olympia (Nakajima) M-R12 typewriter. 2025-09-19 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of James Grooms: 1977 Olympia (Nakajima) M-R12 Serial # 7117204 The budget "semi-electric" model of the budget lineup with manual return and no correction key. What year is it? Ads for “with correction” start in 1978. The SN denotes 1977. M-R12 ads only run from 80-81 and often are not pictured and just listed as an option to the full electric.

The Nakajima electrics were offered in numerous model name variations. They did a good job of making them look like the earlier SKE models, which were still manufactured in Germany. What year did the first Nak models come out? Along the way, the keyboard and switch functions varied with codes on the back as follows: no code and simply "Report Electric", CE-R12 (correction), E-12, (no correction), X-L12 (some may have 15 in carriage? ), and M-R12 (manual return), Regina Electric C (EU model) so far. The Olympiette SEP (carriage shifted with manual return) has the drive on the right side and uses a flat belt vs an o ring.

This was a hard cleanup. The gooey belt was a pia. I replaced the belt with a roughly 5 in OD x 1/8 in generic o-ring. This is what almost always ends these machines. How many went to the landfill? It works well and other than the belt, is pretty robust in my opinion. These Nakajima-made models were also Sears Scholars and a number of others. They are super easy to get apart and clean. So throw a $2 O-ring on it and type!!!

1977 Olympia (Nakajima) M-R12 #7117204

Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
Created: 09-18-2025 at 05:01PM
Last Edit: 09-19-2025 at 07:30AM

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The budget "semi-electric" model of the budget lineup with manual return and no correction key. What year is it? Ads for “with correction” start in 1978. The SN denotes 1977. M-R12 ads only run from 80-81 and often are not pictured and just listed as an option to the full electric.

The Nakajima electrics were offered in numerous model name variations. They did a good job of making them look like the earlier SKE models, which were still manufactured in Germany. What year did the first Nak models come out? Along the way, the keyboard and switch functions varied with codes on the back as follows: no code and simply "Report Electric", CE-R12 (correction), E-12, (no correction), X-L12 (some may have 15 in carriage? ), and M-R12 (manual return), Regina Electric C (EU model) so far. The Olympiette SEP (carriage shifted with manual return) has the drive on the right side and uses a flat belt vs an o ring.

This was a hard cleanup. The gooey belt was a pia. I replaced the belt with a roughly 5 in OD x 1/8 in generic o-ring. This is what almost always ends these machines. How many went to the landfill? It works well and other than the belt, is pretty robust in my opinion. These Nakajima-made models were also Sears Scholars and a number of others. They are super easy to get apart and clean. So throw a $2 O-ring on it and type!!!

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Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)

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Typewriters are the perfect blend of using one's technical skills, history and functional purpose. My goal is type tested machines. My interests are not isolated to anyone area. For example, I am a big fan of Smith Corona electrics, mid century electrics and all things Royal.


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