Yep, any plain-Jane Olympia SM3 or SM4 that you find today has a better chance of being in good working order and of being ready for decades more service than almost any other typewriter. One of my first finds was a well-maintained SM3. I had the platen refurbished, and it’s basically indistinguishable from new, were there such a thing. I rarely use it. I guess pleasant and reliable is as boring in typewriters as it is in romantic partners. I admit it. I type around.
To continue in that vein, I can’t resist quoting a bit from my book: “You may have to date lots of models before you settle on a long-term partner. I also have to warn you that you may find yourself wanting more than one. How about a hefty one for your office desk, a medium one for your den, and a little one to strap on the back of your Harley? (Watch out, though—they breed and multiply.)”
Beautiful typeface! I don’t recall seeing that on an Olympia before. I need to check the TWDB. It will be difficult to resist more SM3 and SM4 variants. I started with one and now have 2 SM3 and I think 4 different SM4 typewriters. Those are the only Olympia models I really like. Adjust the shift for a light shift and they work as good or better than any, especially an H3k. My best SM4 has the worst platen. Hard and small cracks. One day they will all make a journey to JJ Short.
If I remember correctly, the typeface is called senatorial. It reminds me of Hermes’ techno. I wonder who came up with the type face first.
I like the early SMs, too. My fingers feel a little cramped on the SM7, and the SM9’s keys don’t offer enough resistance for my typing style. Still, all reliable machines. I’m still to cheap to invest in a new platen. One of these idea. My Royal 10 will receive first treatment.
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The Untimely Typewriter:Daily Writings Against the Tides of Distraction 
Yep, any plain-Jane Olympia SM3 or SM4 that you find today has a better chance of being in good working order and of being ready for decades more service than almost any other typewriter. One of my first finds was a well-maintained SM3. I had the platen refurbished, and it’s basically indistinguishable from new, were there such a thing. I rarely use it. I guess pleasant and reliable is as boring in typewriters as it is in romantic partners. I admit it. I type around.
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Ha. Following that analogy, polygamy seems to be all the rage in the typosphere.
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To continue in that vein, I can’t resist quoting a bit from my book: “You may have to date lots of models before you settle on a long-term partner. I also have to warn you that you may find yourself wanting more than one. How about a hefty one for your office desk, a medium one for your den, and a little one to strap on the back of your Harley? (Watch out, though—they breed and multiply.)”
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Tribbles and Gremlins, every one of them!
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Beautiful typeface! I don’t recall seeing that on an Olympia before. I need to check the TWDB. It will be difficult to resist more SM3 and SM4 variants. I started with one and now have 2 SM3 and I think 4 different SM4 typewriters. Those are the only Olympia models I really like. Adjust the shift for a light shift and they work as good or better than any, especially an H3k. My best SM4 has the worst platen. Hard and small cracks. One day they will all make a journey to JJ Short.
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Seems like every other SG1 I see has that typeface, but it’s less common on the SM series.
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Hm. I’ve never seen it on the few SG1s I’ve seen. It was blind luck finding this typeface on the SM4. I bought it through ShopGoodWill.
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If I remember correctly, the typeface is called senatorial. It reminds me of Hermes’ techno. I wonder who came up with the type face first.
I like the early SMs, too. My fingers feel a little cramped on the SM7, and the SM9’s keys don’t offer enough resistance for my typing style. Still, all reliable machines. I’m still to cheap to invest in a new platen. One of these idea. My Royal 10 will receive first treatment.
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