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198x Canon S-15 Serial # H12014957 198x Canon S-15 typewriter, Serial # H12014957 Howard Bishop's 198x Canon S-15 typewriter. 2025-08-26 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Howard Bishop: 198x Canon S-15 Serial # H12014957 Found this, untested and without a power supply or manual, at a thrift store for $5. It did have a DB-9 port, so I bought it.
Fortunately, they also had a complete S-16, so I took a picture of its power supply to prevent any polarity or voltage related smoke. It’s 8.4 V and the center pin is GROUND not +. Again, the shield is +, and this is backwards from most things you’ll see.

I first used a solar panel connected to a small power/charging module, using a 1.2 amp-hour 12v sealed lead acid battery to keep things stable, and ran that to a buck converter set to 8.1v output. After triple checking the polarity with a multi-meter, connected everything and switched the power on. Then I made sure the lid was fully closed and did it again. Then I plugged the battery back in to the distribution box. Then I replaced the fuse, as I’d shorted it out while swapping the + & - on the connector to get the polarity right. Eventually, things clicked and an LED came on, followed a few seconds later by the capacitor(s) getting charged and the cartridge then moved into position.

The case comes off with 4 screws total, and the platen comes free with two levers. I appreciate that once you’ve opened the lid, all the movable parts are bright green and they all move fairly logically. This is true for platen, cartridge, daisywheel, and correction tape.
The machine can be run on an internal battery, originally a NiCd, which I’d presume was 8.4V. There is a second connector in the battery bay for this, and when the external power is provided, the internal connector shows 0.2v, which is likely for keeping the original NiCd batteries topped.

Archive . org has a copy of Canon’s instruction manual, “Serial Interface 30” for the parallel to serial converter, and this all looks straightforward – “Code M” will get you into the communication setup (baud, bits, CR vs CR/LF, etc.).

198x Canon S-15 #H12014957

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Howard Bishop (FractionallyVacant)
Created: 08-26-2025 at 07:14AM
Last Edit: 08-26-2025 at 09:54AM

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Description:

Found this, untested and without a power supply or manual, at a thrift store for $5. It did have a DB-9 port, so I bought it.
Fortunately, they also had a complete S-16, so I took a picture of its power supply to prevent any polarity or voltage related smoke. It’s 8.4 V and the center pin is GROUND not +. Again, the shield is +, and this is backwards from most things you’ll see.

I first used a solar panel connected to a small power/charging module, using a 1.2 amp-hour 12v sealed lead acid battery to keep things stable, and ran that to a buck converter set to 8.1v output. After triple checking the polarity with a multi-meter, connected everything and switched the power on. Then I made sure the lid was fully closed and did it again. Then I plugged the battery back in to the distribution box. Then I replaced the fuse, as I’d shorted it out while swapping the + & - on the connector to get the polarity right. Eventually, things clicked and an LED came on, followed a few seconds later by the capacitor(s) getting charged and the cartridge then moved into position.

The case comes off with 4 screws total, and the platen comes free with two levers. I appreciate that once you’ve opened the lid, all the movable parts are bright green and they all move fairly logically. This is true for platen, cartridge, daisywheel, and correction tape.
The machine can be run on an internal battery, originally a NiCd, which I’d presume was 8.4V. There is a second connector in the battery bay for this, and when the external power is provided, the internal connector shows 0.2v, which is likely for keeping the original NiCd batteries topped.

Archive . org has a copy of Canon’s instruction manual, “Serial Interface 30” for the parallel to serial converter, and this all looks straightforward – “Code M” will get you into the communication setup (baud, bits, CR vs CR/LF, etc.).

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Serial port settings. Enter via Code-M, then backspace through options, it will loop back to the first one eventually. Press the carraige return key when done.
Serial port settings. Enter via Code-M, then backspace through options, it will loop back to the first one eventually. Press the carraige return key when done.

Under the cover. User levers are green. Keyboard I, II, III switch is bottom right
Under the cover. User levers are green. Keyboard I, II, III switch is bottom right

Keyboard Left. Slider gives you normal text (bottom), underscore, bold, or bold+underscore
Keyboard Left. Slider gives you normal text (bottom), underscore, bold, or bold+underscore

Keyboard Right
Keyboard Right

Lid Off. Note the two switches on the right that are normally hidden under the lid. One is KB I, II, II, the other I haven’t quite figured out yet.
Lid Off. Note the two switches on the right that are normally hidden under the lid. One is KB I, II, II, the other I haven’t quite figured out yet.


Hunter: Howard Bishop (FractionallyVacant)

Howard Bishop's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 19

Typed high school papers on Dad’s 1950’s Smith Corona manual. Bought an electric SCM for college, and had an SCM wedge for a few years after that. Gave those away as we moved through life.
A few years ago we inherited a Royal 10 from an aunt and after cleaning it up, discovered what a good machine it really is. Was curious how old it was, and that led here.


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Canon S-15 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Canon Serial Number page and the Canon S-15 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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