You would think more people would use typewriters now over a computer, especially with writing novels and etc., as writing on a typewriter just feels right, it's feels soulful in a way.
I went through YOUR comments to comments. I have always loved typewriters. I have a 30s LC Smith Corona in black. I have 10 typewriters in my collection only I didn't buy them, they were gifts. I love the older ones. One of my favorite travelers is the Olivetti Underwood 32. I have the Olivetti 22, too. Either one will do or my Underwood 18. The Olympia SF is light too. I have plastic models but I don't like the 33, 315' Dora, Ventura as much. I have American models too. They're kind of heavy to tote around. My grandkids love my typewriters. At first I let them use the plastic models but I got them on EBay and let them choose. I am a addicted to your videos. Good luck with everything.
That was a beauty! Odd how we are longing for our typewriters once more. I used to love typing out my personal checks to my creditors. Amazing that the typewriter was from 1936. Absolutely gorgeous. Imagine if there were no scuff marks. What did it sell for at auction back in 2014? Imagine what it would go for today.
Lovely little machine you have there, the red color's very nice. I just got a S-C Silent myself for my 1st typewriter, although it's nowhere near the looker this one is. Pretty sure it's a 1950's model 5S series, got a gray body with chrome stripes on either side of the typing lever opening on top, and has green Bakelite keys. More than makes up for the plain styling with how it types, floats like a Cadillac through the sentences Love it intensely!
Evan Meggett - at the time, it was significantly less noisy than the other typewriters on the market and even today the Silent/Sterling design remains one of the least noisy typewriters ever made. It is beaten in that respect most notably by the Noiseless...which is also somewhat of a misnomer, as the Noiseless isn't entirely noiseless either. Gotta love marketing, eh?
A black colored one of these was used by Chritopher Reeve quite extensively in the early 80s movie Death Trap with Michael Caine. Great movie, the typewriter was far from "silent" but the sound was mesmerizing. I can recall it's the exact moment in time when I fell in love with the typewriter sound.
I had no idea vintage type writers had built in vibrators!! not wonder so many girls wanted to work in vintage typing pools lolololol lovely type writer its bloody fabulous
It took me six of your videos to realize typing, "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" is to show that all the keys work as they should. Is it normal to feel like I'm at a four on the idiot scale at the moment?
When I was a kid Real Talk typewriters fascinated the s*** out of me but this was around when Nokia phones and flip phones were starting to come out and I didn't want to feel like I was out of touch
G'day! I have returned to tell you, I have found my beloved typewriter. I got lucky and found her on Craigslist. (Same model and colour as this). Just wanted to let others know, not to despair. Patience will save you money!
+AmirDaScrub badass! Grats on the find! if you notice difficulty feeding the paper, gripping paper, or maintaining even linespacing, then you might want to check the condition of the platen & feed rollers. If your machine is like 99% of the flattop Coronas out there, chances are they are hard as a rock, slicker than deer guts on a door knob, and need to be replaced. Most of the time I recommend JJ Short & Associates for fresh rubber, but for this style of Corona platen you can also contact Steve Dade(he's on the Yahoo TYPEWRITERS group) since he specializes in early Coronas & has developed a technique for redoing these platens & feed rollers which is just as effective as JJ Short's work(though it's not a full-grind finish, the rubber is a bit shiny) and a good hunk cheaper - plus he's a darned fine fellow to chat with. He does platens for Corona flattops, Folding 3, Four, 4, as well as feed rollers for all those...as well as feet for some of those. He also has recently started doing rubber for the Remington Portable 1, 2, 3 & all variants with the same diameter platen. He does good work - I'll see if I can post a video of one he did for me recently, i've been super pleased with the results.
Thanks for the plug, I will look up both these gents. I googled the yahoo group and two came up, can you provide a link? I have an appt with a local repair man here, who has offered to clean it up - it is a bit grungy but nothing appears mechanically ill. Thanks again!
AmirDaScrub for the Yahoo groups, i'd say both of them - steve dade is on both, and both groups have slightly different readerships & types of conversations. If you have a repairman in an actual shop who actually has typewriters on hand, then you have a rare thing indeed & should make sure to give him lots of money :)
This typewriter still has an excellent paint job despite its great age. They really did make products to last back then, when these products were all made in America!
So beautiful, I found one of these on kijiji for $125 recently but in that (also nice) dark green colour, if only I had the funds right now to actually get it before it gets sold.
There seems to be a lot more talk about the Smith-Corona "Super-5" typewrites than these flat-tops on the internet, which one do you prefer in terms of typing experience? Obviously these flat-tops looks a lot nicer.
Tiny question, big answer! Here goes. The 5 series is a lot easier to find in working order than the flat-top series, but if you had an example of each you'd be surprised at how similar they are. There was a REMARKABLE amount of parts-compatibility & design similarity throughout the run of the Floating Shift models, and they retained their very unique touch & rhythm throughout the entire history of the line; the later machines are more like their ancestors from 40 years prior than one would expect, and those early machines have a fluid fit & finish which seem to be ahead of their time. It's pretty crazy. The flipside of this is that typing experience depends mostly on the particular machine, since the use & maintenance history of each individual typewriter plays a HUGE part in how it performs; a heavily-used & well cared for Floating Shift machine will be a fast, fluid, loose and easy typer no matter which design era it's from, whereas a dirty, gummy & barely used example will be stodgy and slow, heavy to the touch. I personally prefer the 2 series(the first iteration of the 'speedline' body style) since that series is easiest to find with a right-handed backspacer(which i am addicted to having) though this does make it harder to find keyboards with the ? above the / instead of above the comma, which didn't really become standard until the 1950's or so. Call me picky ;)
Ha! Despite the surprising percentage of my videos which have been shot with my cat in my lap, I'm afraid that's just my crappy old beat up phone making the noise. One of these days I might get a real video camera, but I'd rather spend my money on more typewriters :)
Silent my arse ! :D If i wanted something this loud i would rather have a princess 200 or 300. At the least i would be typing faster on it. Hermes baby and the Gromas are butter soft ... T____T
While I don't want to give the impression of championing Smith Corona portables as being superior, I feel obligated to say that the overwhelming majority of SC machines I've had all type easier & faster than any Princess or Groma I've ever used; machines certainly differ from specimen to specimen, but I've had a hefty helping of excellent examples of all of those manufacturers, and I assure you a well tuned & restored flat-top Corona offers one of the smoothest typing experiences there is to be had. So long as the platen isn't rock-hard & the interior felt isn't degraded, the noise level is actually quite low; the Silent isn't any more silent than a Noiseless is noiseless, but it's a helluva lot less likely to wake up the baby than any Kolibri, Neckerman, model T, Rocket, 300, Omega or Maritsa :)
TypewriterJustice you have your point there :) but although i'm an amateur to all this, it's still hard to believe this makes less noise than a Kolibri. i mean common, Kolibri have a distinct sound altogether, what i describe as a soft jargon :D but coming from a writer's point of view , we don't need the fastest typewriter as speed is the least of out problems, but one that is easy on your knuckles is much appreciated. After all the last thing one wants is to resent a typewriter after a few hours. IF you don't mind, can you suggest me something ? I work mainly is screenwriting and short stories, still trying to find my inner writer. I travel a lot so so far i haven't considered a desk top one. MY need so far has been the ultra portable ones. Thinking of getting a Hermes baby this month as my first, second planning to wait for a good Lettera 22, that's pure design :) love it than intend to wait for a beautiful kolibri. I think a good Kolibri will be my ultimate travelling companion for i have seen what they are capable of when in excellent condition. I travel a lot mainly on motorbikes and cars. Then still if i feel the need for a good desktop workhorse with ultimate feels and ease... then so be it i shall get a desk top one too. So what would you suggest. :)
+LucifeL MartelL Well, since you're already leaning towards the Baby & the Lettera 22, it becomes an issue of your typing style. If you are a 2-finger typist, then either of those machines will work fine(assuming they're cleaned, repaired & tuned - the Hermes will almost certainly need the platen replaced, and both models will more often than not need the feed rollers to at least be cleaned & adjusted, if not replaced, before they'll load & advance paper properly) That said, if you are a touch-method typist, then I strongly advise you to instead get either a Lettera 32 or an Adler/Triumph Tippa(the curvy one - I don't like either of the angular models for extended use or travel). Both of those machines will have a light & fast action at the keys, are ultra-compact, and are quiet enough time use almost anywhere, plus the Lettera 32 will very likely still have a decent platen. The Lettera 32 is my go-to travel typer and has been for years; in addition to being a full-featured machine (tabulator, bichrome ribbon action, silent return, 3 position indexing, the works) they're incredibly common & therefore are relatively cheap; replacement parts are easy to come by. Hope this helps!
I'm looking to buy a typewriter for a present and really like the style of this one. Any similar recommendations or sales of ones like this you could direct me to? Thanks
Well it is quieter than my grandma's (she passed away 5 years ago, sorry I ruined the comment for you). Got it out a few days ago. It was nice to type with.
That's a nice typewriter. I bought a smith corona at a garage sale for $14 and it works fine. I was wondering if the cent (¢) sign could be change to a carot (^) sign like on most keyboards and how expensive it would be. The carot sign is used to indicate a super script.
some SC Floating Shift non-english key layouts have that symbol in that same position, so you would be able to swap the whole typebar out fairly easily; otherwise you would have to desolder the old slug then resolder the new one in place which is a bit more involved, depending on who you’re talking to. in short, it CAN be done & doesn’t have to break the bank…just don’t be in a hurry :)
Actually, I think it's already starting. The majority of people who buy my typewriters want to USE them - and they are mostly young people, 20-35 years old. As technology gets more disposable and less private, the appeal of a typewriter grows stronger; these machines are incredibly inspiring, very personal, and they can stand the test of time in a way our computers and phones never will...all of which is very comforting these days, and very rare. Check out 'The Typewriter Revolution' by Richard Polt, very good book which talks a lot about this phenomenon.
Just bought myself one of these today. I just need to take up drinking again, take up chain-smoking again, take up living cheap in poorly neon-lit run down highway motels where you bend over and peer out the shutters by separating them with your index and middle-finger again. None of that old life made sense. Not without my Corona Silent.
Mr. Justice, I have the SC "Standard" version of this portable from '35. It is in fine mechanical shape, but needs a thorough cleaning and de-gunking. Are there resources for do's and don'ts out there? Correct oil(s), best key cleaners, etc.? Thanks!
i wish there were an easy answer, but there isn’t. i use a ridiculously wide variety of chemicals and techniques to approach an even wider spectrum of challenges, and my judgment of which to use when is largely based in careful observation of the individual machine before me & years of painful trial/error experimentation with its predecessors. so, with that said…what CAN i say? well, first off, you don’t need to remove the carriage to clean a typewriter 🤣 it’s sad that i need to say that, but it happens a lot. don’t do it. on that same note, for intensive chemical cleaning you DO need to remove all painted surfaces, all rubber components, and in many situations the drawband in order to prevent damage. less intense chemicals = less intense disassembly, but also less effective results…but i’m getting ahead of myself. less is more. start with compressed air & brushwork - think ‘canned keyboard duster’ and ‘cheap watercolor brushes’ then identify problem mechanisms. is the escapement binding? are the carriage rails slow? is the typebar pivot segment actually fouled with old lube(which is likely) or is it full of dust/cat hair/eraser shavings/boogers?(also very likely) Hit those areas with lacquer thinner/mineral spirits/naptha/PGA/degreasers per what the gunk you see will respond to, and work the mechanisms loose before cleansing & relubricating(which is an art in & of itself LOL - when on a budget & in doubt, just use a cheap oil delivering contact cleaner) chances are you can get 80% of the way to where you to want to be with only 20% of the chemicals you thought you were going to have to use. and no: brake cleaner/carb cleaner/WD40/and Dawn typically aren’t on the menu. the best place to begin your research is going to be site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html which has an absolute wealth of information; not all of it is well informed, but the majority of it is at least well intended & rarely strays too far from being workable; if a tip seems a bit too good to be true, it probably is. Go slow, read deep, and if you really care about this PARTICULAR machine, try out your cleaning techniques on one you don’t care so much about…or a dozen that you don’t care about at all. this isn’t a race…it’s a restoration. take pictures, keep notes, put screws back where they go AS YOU GO, and if you get in over your head hit me up on IG or holler at your local shop - there is a list of them at site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html i’ve said it a thousand times, but it definitely still applies: the two most important tools for any job are patience & careful observation :) go nuts!
Smith Corona Silent year?? Dropped by DHS agent. Pieces falling off the bottom. Issues with type arms and the pins that articulate the movement. I have been writing on this writer for a year with no problems. Any tips or suggestions?
Hey, great videos. I'm looking around for a flat top Corona on the market with floating shift. What do you think is a good price for a working unit in good condition? Also, do you sell units yourself? Thanks again, and as always, great videos!
You flatter me, sir! One of these days i'll buy a decent camera and learn to edit video, and THEN WE SHALL SEE SOME TRULY GREAT VIDEOS, OHHH JUST YOU WAIT. For now, though, it's the old "cell phone stuck to the brim of the hat with a coathanger & duct tape" videos. So, that being said i have a DISCLAIMER: While sometimes the typewriter gods are merciful & you come home with a $20 beauty, that normally only happens at garage sales & thrift stores. Don't rely on it. Instead, we have the interwebs! As such, the following price esitmates are for ePay or Etseewhatididtothattypewriter, so take them with a grain of salt because >all< of those people are crazy. You can normally pick up a decent *mostly* working UNRESTORED flattop Corona online for as low as $75(if the machine is really ugly, the seller is an idiot, and you're really lucky) on up to $175(if the machine is really pretty, the seller knows it, and you just got paid yesterday). Remember, that's UNRESTORED and only *mostly* working - which describes 99.9% of the unrestored machines out there, trust me. But for one that works like it's brand new? The numbers go up, and you might have to wait a bit. But not too long, maybe, because I DO SELL TYPEWRITERS and I actually have two flattops right now that I need to finally do something with. They're both the 1932 'medallion' edition; one is black, and the other is maroon like the one in this vid. Pretty effn snazzy. If you're seriously interested, I'll move them to the front of the line, get them up to speed, and make videos of them before putting them on eBay. Keep in mind, my machines generally end up between $250-550...which is exactly what you SHOULD be paying for a fully restored, fully functional, serviced & cleaned, QUALITY typewriter! I mean, how much did you pay for your computer? Oh, and how soon is it going to be obsolete, just like your last one? Any decent typewriter has ALREADY OUTLIVED MOST FOLK'S GRANDPARENTS & will very easily see >you< into the grave as well, so just slow the heck down if you're already crying & whining that $500 for a typewriter is a lot of money. It's a pretty good deal. Don't want to pay that much? Well, buy a *mostly* working decent machine, and get it restored! Can cost anywhere from $50-250 depending on what your machine needs. See how we can add up to that $550 mark? Yah. It's not hard. But anyway. You might be lucky enough to have a typewriter shop nearby with a shriveled & ancient typewriter gnome puttering around behind the counter until he goes home at 2pm for siesta; if so, then THAT'S THE GUY YOU NEED TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH!!! Try this list of shops to see if there is one in your area site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html (NOTE: please understand that I live in Texas, so when I say "in your area" i actually mean "within 250-300 miles") BUT, to actually answer your question! For a flattop Corona, thou shalt pay no more than $450...and only pay that much if it's fully restored with ALL fresh rubber(platen, feed rollers, paper bail rollers & feet) works perfectly, has a fresh ink ribbon, and is in excellent cosmetic condition. Unless of course, you manage to find an Animals model, in which case all bets(and the gloves) are off. Those suckers are rare. Hope this helps! Let me know if you really, actually, seriously want a flattop - my email is typewriterjustice@gmail.com and I can definitely bring the goods ;)
Well, to be fair, I think it's less noisy compared to most of the typewriters I saw in offices back in the 80's - and this was released in the 30's. So people who bought it back then may have thought that it deserved its name.
I have a "flattop" Four. That as yours does not have a 1 key. There is an open space for a key. Could you tell me what is supposed to be there? Thank you in advance for any advise you might have.
Nothing at all! Your machine does in fact have a 1, it just happens to be the lowercase L - most typewriters are this way. Grats on the flattop Four! those are the rarest Corona you can get (except an Animals model, which is up there with unicorns & honest politicians)
TypewriterJustice Thanks' for your quick reply! My flattop four improved is in very good condition. It is missing the ribbon caps and the "Z" key is missing one of it's link wires so it does not operate. If you have time I have questions. 1) What do you think it might be worth? 2) What is a reasonable repair cost? (I have the proper wire to fix it but can't seem to get my meat hooks into the workings) 3) I believe caps from other models would fit? I purchased this for my Daughter's 15th birthday. I had no idea it was rare nor did the dealer, I am guessing he thought it was just another "four" Again thank you in advance for any advice you have for me.
+Delia Hernandez one of my favorite designs, for sure. I have another 1932 flattop in this same color i've been working on recently, should be super pretty when it's done...if it ever gets done :)
I have a problem with my Unis TBM de luxe. Ribbon vibrator gets stuck in the upper position and I have to put it down manualy. Any similar experiences, ideas?
That machine is essentially an Olympia Traveller, made by license in Yugoslavia, and while i don't have one of those, i DO have several of the machines which came before the Traveller in that same design family. Check to make sure the vibrator arm isn't bent too far forward or backward(by looking at it from the sides as well as from the top) - it shouldn't touch anything along its path of travel. Check to make sure that the ribbon is actually moving - if your spools aren't spinning, they're going to put tension on the ribbon, causing the vibrator to stay up. Check to make sure the pivot for the vibrator arm, the pivot for the motivator connected to the base of the arm(mounted on/under the assembly for the right-hand ribbon spool), and the central shaft for the right hand spool are all clean & moving easily(you might need to clean them with mineral spirits or lacquer thinner, then relubricate them with a drop of fine light machine oil(or sewing machine oil...NOT with WD40, Rem Oil, or just about anything you can buy at a local big box store). Follow the physics with your eyes, figure out how it's SUPPOSED to work, then you can most likely spot why it isn't :) Failing that, there is a list of typewriter repair shops at site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html - find one within a days drive of you, and buckle up for a road trip! Best of luck, mate
TypewriterJustice thank you very much for such a detailed response. Problem was actually in the middle of the three joints. That joint was making 180 degree angle in the upper position. Not knowing which side to choose to go back, he would stay that way. Soo, I adjusted the little limitator for it to make a few degrees smaller angle and it works nice now. After that I had a few obvious problems of the vibrator touching things so I bent it. I would really like to visit a typewriter shop, but here in Serbia where I live there's none I know or heard about. I'm a rare person trying to restore such machines here, where people seem to have forgotten them. However, I'm having a great time, I admire all that mechanism working together. Very smart.
Matthew Stalcup The ribbons are sold on Ebay. You can buy the black ribbon. Or the black and red ribbon that is in the video. There are colors other than red, also sold, but they are more rare to find.
they weren't actually silent, much as the Remington Noiseless wasn't actually noise-less, but instead this was simple advertising to indicate that their model wasn't quite as loud as their competitors. They added some felt padding inside the body & made sure the rubber feet were thick enough, then called it good...and compared to the cacophony most machines of this era made, it was indeed good enough. Not quite 'silent' but 'silent enough'
TypewriterJustice thank you, I was confused about that. Do you have any leads where I could purchase one? I am interested in adding one of these beauts to my collection. Thanks!
AmirDaScrub unfortunately, the key to finding one is mostly just patience. I check antique malls, thrift stores, garage sales, craigslist and ebay with religious frequency. one trick with craigslist is to use google rather than the built in search on craigslist(google 'corona -smith craigslist' and it will bring up any craigslist ads in the nation, not just your local) Don't give up! it'll come
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![ลองสั่งของจากแอพ temu ถูกจริงหรอ?? ( part : 1/2 ) [โกงไหมครับ ep.89 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RTcZSQTiDZw/mqdefault.jpg)
VERTIGO WARNING!!! Shaking camera. If you have vertigo this video WILL MAKE YOU VOMIT IMMEDIATLY! Beautiful typewriter though.
omg, did i make you vomit?!? PLEASE SAY I MADE YOU VOMIT!!!
@@TypewriterJustice lmaooooo
@@TypewriterJustice, L. O. L.
I don’t think this could induce vertigo
😅
this is such a beauuuutiful type writer!
th-cam.com/video/jzg0if8j4gu/w-d-xo.html 💬⏰🍓🙏😬⏰⏸️ from
You would think more people would use typewriters now over a computer, especially with writing novels and etc., as writing on a typewriter just feels right, it's feels soulful in a way.
Brian Seymour Until you fuck up a word and gotta scrap everything.
KingBurger52 - heaven forbid you fuck up a word on a rough draft manuscript ;)
Brian Seymour agrees
I mean you could just buy an usb keyboard that feels like a typewriter
I love watching TH-cam on my typewriter...
Imagine how many people back in 1936 bought this model and thought it would actually be silent😂 But I love typewriters❤
Gary Johnson - indeed! they were pretty brazen with branding back then. It cracks me up how many people NOW think it should actually be silent :)
TypewriterJustice IMO most silent typewriter
is Remington Noiseless 10. What are your thoughts about it?
Haha i am waiting to hear it type. I was like....I don't see HOW that is going to be silent...maybe it's slightly LESS loud?"
M3NT4L1ST - that may be accurate :) they’re pretty quiet!
Yo
0:52 USB port
Haha no actually it's for the case that the corona wouldn't move to much
Tabassco Productions r/whoosh
Thanks for the video. My grand daughters (6 and 9 yrs) loved it! They think its better than a computer because you get your paper right there! thanks
Back when corona was just a typewriter
I actually want a typewriter even though its old 😮😰😰
Yuri ,the best girl me too.
Yuri I actually like them BECAUSE they are old :)
So beautiful... I live type writers!
Emo Trash Fan - me too, my friend :)
TypewriterJustice I found an old typewriter in my garage and my grandparents let me have it and I'm so happy
I went through YOUR comments to comments. I have always loved typewriters. I have a 30s LC Smith Corona in black. I have 10 typewriters in my collection only I didn't buy them, they were gifts. I love the older ones. One of my favorite travelers is the Olivetti Underwood 32. I have the Olivetti 22, too. Either one will do or my Underwood 18. The Olympia SF is light too. I have plastic models but I don't like the 33, 315' Dora, Ventura as much. I have American models too. They're kind of heavy to tote around. My grandkids love my typewriters. At first I let them use the plastic models but I got them on EBay and let them choose. I am a addicted to your videos. Good luck with everything.
You lucky my friend I just want one. And am looking for the perfect typewriter aka companion
All Smith Coronas are gorgeous!
This sound for me is like heaven, thank you
That was a beauty! Odd how we are longing for our typewriters once more. I used to love typing out my personal checks to my creditors. Amazing that the typewriter was from 1936. Absolutely gorgeous. Imagine if there were no scuff marks. What did it sell for at auction back in 2014? Imagine what it would go for today.
2:47 he started typing
Lovely little machine you have there, the red color's very nice.
I just got a S-C Silent myself for my 1st typewriter, although it's nowhere near the looker this one is. Pretty sure it's a 1950's model 5S series, got a gray body with chrome stripes on either side of the typing lever opening on top, and has green Bakelite keys.
More than makes up for the plain styling with how it types, floats like a Cadillac through the sentences Love it intensely!
Very very nice indeed that and a lovely colour too!
For typewriter from 1936 it looks like it just came out of the box. Amazing
Wait how exactly is this silent or even quiet
Evan Meggett - at the time, it was significantly less noisy than the other typewriters on the market and even today the Silent/Sterling design remains one of the least noisy typewriters ever made. It is beaten in that respect most notably by the Noiseless...which is also somewhat of a misnomer, as the Noiseless isn't entirely noiseless either. Gotta love marketing, eh?
the asmr tho
Sounds beautiful to me
You should hear others, certainly not a keyboard and printer
I. want. And. Necessary. Typing. Miss]on
TypewriterJustice it amazes me how people can’t work this out for themselves lol
Well, I hope you're happy. I am now addicted to vintage typewriters. Thank you!
That is such a nice color and a very good looking machine. Work of art.
A black colored one of these was used by Chritopher Reeve quite extensively in the early 80s movie Death Trap with Michael Caine. Great movie, the typewriter was far from "silent" but the sound was mesmerizing. I can recall it's the exact moment in time when I fell in love with the typewriter sound.
Elle est magnifique !
now that's a beauty.
its gorgeous...
Got my first one a few days ago for my birthday.
I had no idea vintage type writers had built in vibrators!! not wonder so many girls wanted to work in vintage typing pools lolololol lovely type writer its bloody fabulous
Corona?
It took me six of your videos to realize typing, "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" is to show that all the keys work as they should. Is it normal to feel like I'm at a four on the idiot scale at the moment?
nice humble brag. most people clicking on this did not figure that out. including myself. yeah, I'll speak for most people on that.
Beautiful typewriter!
This audio sounds like a purring cat is living in my ear.
This is so beautiful! All I want for Christmas is this.
Excellent video. The body resembles a piano.
When I was a kid Real Talk typewriters fascinated the s*** out of me but this was around when Nokia phones and flip phones were starting to come out and I didn't want to feel like I was out of touch
2020 people can relate it!
A beauty it is, indeed.
My black 1937 Corona Standard has the same gold Pasadena Parker Co. Stamp!!!!
G'day! I have returned to tell you, I have found my beloved typewriter. I got lucky and found her on Craigslist. (Same model and colour as this).
Just wanted to let others know, not to despair. Patience will save you money!
+AmirDaScrub badass! Grats on the find! if you notice difficulty feeding the paper, gripping paper, or maintaining even linespacing, then you might want to check the condition of the platen & feed rollers. If your machine is like 99% of the flattop Coronas out there, chances are they are hard as a rock, slicker than deer guts on a door knob, and need to be replaced. Most of the time I recommend JJ Short & Associates for fresh rubber, but for this style of Corona platen you can also contact Steve Dade(he's on the Yahoo TYPEWRITERS group) since he specializes in early Coronas & has developed a technique for redoing these platens & feed rollers which is just as effective as JJ Short's work(though it's not a full-grind finish, the rubber is a bit shiny) and a good hunk cheaper - plus he's a darned fine fellow to chat with. He does platens for Corona flattops, Folding 3, Four, 4, as well as feed rollers for all those...as well as feet for some of those. He also has recently started doing rubber for the Remington Portable 1, 2, 3 & all variants with the same diameter platen. He does good work - I'll see if I can post a video of one he did for me recently, i've been super pleased with the results.
Thanks for the plug, I will look up both these gents. I googled the yahoo group and two came up, can you provide a link? I have an appt with a local repair man here, who has offered to clean it up - it is a bit grungy but nothing appears mechanically ill. Thanks again!
AmirDaScrub for the Yahoo groups, i'd say both of them - steve dade is on both, and both groups have slightly different readerships & types of conversations. If you have a repairman in an actual shop who actually has typewriters on hand, then you have a rare thing indeed & should make sure to give him lots of money :)
This typewriter still has an excellent paint job despite its great age. They really did make products to last back then, when these products were all made in America!
So beautiful, I found one of these on kijiji for $125 recently but in that (also nice) dark green colour, if only I had the funds right now to actually get it before it gets sold.
WONDERFUL MACHINE 👍🏻
ワインレッドの光沢がいいですね👍
私の中で、タイプライターのマイブームが来てまして…機能美に惚れ込んでいます。日本住みですが、やっぱり良いものは良いですね。
There seems to be a lot more talk about the Smith-Corona "Super-5" typewrites than these flat-tops on the internet, which one do you prefer in terms of typing experience? Obviously these flat-tops looks a lot nicer.
Tiny question, big answer! Here goes. The 5 series is a lot easier to find in working order than the flat-top series, but if you had an example of each you'd be surprised at how similar they are. There was a REMARKABLE amount of parts-compatibility & design similarity throughout the run of the Floating Shift models, and they retained their very unique touch & rhythm throughout the entire history of the line; the later machines are more like their ancestors from 40 years prior than one would expect, and those early machines have a fluid fit & finish which seem to be ahead of their time. It's pretty crazy. The flipside of this is that typing experience depends mostly on the particular machine, since the use & maintenance history of each individual typewriter plays a HUGE part in how it performs; a heavily-used & well cared for Floating Shift machine will be a fast, fluid, loose and easy typer no matter which design era it's from, whereas a dirty, gummy & barely used example will be stodgy and slow, heavy to the touch. I personally prefer the 2 series(the first iteration of the 'speedline' body style) since that series is easiest to find with a right-handed backspacer(which i am addicted to having) though this does make it harder to find keyboards with the ? above the / instead of above the comma, which didn't really become standard until the 1950's or so. Call me picky ;)
My cousin is into old stuff and he had a typewriter he probably sold it since he sells stuff on eBay
sounds like there was a cat purring near you when you recorded this
Ha! Despite the surprising percentage of my videos which have been shot with my cat in my lap, I'm afraid that's just my crappy old beat up phone making the noise. One of these days I might get a real video camera, but I'd rather spend my money on more typewriters :)
Silent my arse ! :D If i wanted something this loud i would rather have a princess 200 or 300. At the least i would be typing faster on it. Hermes baby and the Gromas are butter soft ... T____T
While I don't want to give the impression of championing Smith Corona portables as being superior, I feel obligated to say that the overwhelming majority of SC machines I've had all type easier & faster than any Princess or Groma I've ever used; machines certainly differ from specimen to specimen, but I've had a hefty helping of excellent examples of all of those manufacturers, and I assure you a well tuned & restored flat-top Corona offers one of the smoothest typing experiences there is to be had. So long as the platen isn't rock-hard & the interior felt isn't degraded, the noise level is actually quite low; the Silent isn't any more silent than a Noiseless is noiseless, but it's a helluva lot less likely to wake up the baby than any Kolibri, Neckerman, model T, Rocket, 300, Omega or Maritsa :)
TypewriterJustice you have your point there :) but although i'm an amateur to all this, it's still hard to believe this makes less noise than a Kolibri. i mean common, Kolibri have a distinct sound altogether, what i describe as a soft jargon :D but coming from a writer's point of view , we don't need the fastest typewriter as speed is the least of out problems, but one that is easy on your knuckles is much appreciated. After all the last thing one wants is to resent a typewriter after a few hours.
IF you don't mind, can you suggest me something ? I work mainly is screenwriting and short stories, still trying to find my inner writer. I travel a lot so so far i haven't considered a desk top one. MY need so far has been the ultra portable ones. Thinking of getting a Hermes baby this month as my first, second planning to wait for a good Lettera 22, that's pure design :) love it than intend to wait for a beautiful kolibri. I think a good Kolibri will be my ultimate travelling companion for i have seen what they are capable of when in excellent condition. I travel a lot mainly on motorbikes and cars. Then still if i feel the need for a good desktop workhorse with ultimate feels and ease... then so be it i shall get a desk top one too. So what would you suggest. :)
+LucifeL MartelL Well, since you're already leaning towards the Baby & the Lettera 22, it becomes an issue of your typing style. If you are a 2-finger typist, then either of those machines will work fine(assuming they're cleaned, repaired & tuned - the Hermes will almost certainly need the platen replaced, and both models will more often than not need the feed rollers to at least be cleaned & adjusted, if not replaced, before they'll load & advance paper properly) That said, if you are a touch-method typist, then I strongly advise you to instead get either a Lettera 32 or an Adler/Triumph Tippa(the curvy one - I don't like either of the angular models for extended use or travel). Both of those machines will have a light & fast action at the keys, are ultra-compact, and are quiet enough time use almost anywhere, plus the Lettera 32 will very likely still have a decent platen. The Lettera 32 is my go-to travel typer and has been for years; in addition to being a full-featured machine (tabulator, bichrome ribbon action, silent return, 3 position indexing, the works) they're incredibly common & therefore are relatively cheap; replacement parts are easy to come by. Hope this helps!
This is the same model and finish of the typewriter used by the great abstract expressionist Clyfford Still.
Such a pretty color...
what a beauty!
He starts typing at 2:47. Your welcome.
I would want a typewriter sooo badly lol instead of a computer or phone
they certainly offer a whole different experience :)
Wooo iam in lOVE, beautifull machine
I'm looking to buy a typewriter for a present and really like the style of this one. Any similar recommendations or sales of ones like this you could direct me to? Thanks
I have one I'm selling if you're interested.
Very nice.
Well it is quieter than my grandma's (she passed away 5 years ago, sorry I ruined the comment for you). Got it out a few days ago. It was nice to type with.
Looks awesome
That maroon finish is a knockout.
很喜欢这种复古的东西。
“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Uses every letter of the alphabet in the sentence
Silent?
Lara Anderson - that's its model name: 'Silent' as in, "this typewriter is a Smith-Corona Silent"
probably named so because it was the quietest model at the time
@@TypewriterJustice more like"Smith-'corona'virus' 😂😂
That's a nice typewriter. I bought a smith corona at a garage sale for $14 and it works fine. I was wondering if the cent (¢) sign could be change to a carot (^) sign like on most keyboards and how expensive it would be. The carot sign is used to indicate a super script.
some SC Floating Shift non-english key layouts have that symbol in that same position, so you would be able to swap the whole typebar out fairly easily; otherwise you would have to desolder the old slug then resolder the new one in place which is a bit more involved, depending on who you’re talking to. in short, it CAN be done & doesn’t have to break the bank…just don’t be in a hurry :)
great vid!
Amazing machine! Looks great! Do you sell them?
Got to get me one of those 😃
Where do you get parts for all these old typewriters? Where do you find them? Most of your videos they seem so clean for being so old. Incredible
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow!
How long will it be before we have a typewriter rebirth thing. Has to happen sooner or later that many people will be buying these things again.
Actually, I think it's already starting. The majority of people who buy my typewriters want to USE them - and they are mostly young people, 20-35 years old. As technology gets more disposable and less private, the appeal of a typewriter grows stronger; these machines are incredibly inspiring, very personal, and they can stand the test of time in a way our computers and phones never will...all of which is very comforting these days, and very rare. Check out 'The Typewriter Revolution' by Richard Polt, very good book which talks a lot about this phenomenon.
Just bought myself one of these today. I just need to take up drinking again, take up chain-smoking again, take up living cheap in poorly neon-lit run down highway motels where you bend over and peer out the shutters by separating them with your index and middle-finger again. None of that old life made sense. Not without my Corona Silent.
your videos are so cool !
'the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy daoog'
Mr. Justice,
I have the SC "Standard" version of this portable from '35. It is in fine mechanical shape, but needs a thorough cleaning and de-gunking. Are there resources for do's and don'ts out there? Correct oil(s), best key cleaners, etc.? Thanks!
i wish there were an easy answer, but there isn’t. i use a ridiculously wide variety of chemicals and techniques to approach an even wider spectrum of challenges, and my judgment of which to use when is largely based in careful observation of the individual machine before me & years of painful trial/error experimentation with its predecessors.
so, with that said…what CAN i say? well, first off, you don’t need to remove the carriage to clean a typewriter 🤣 it’s sad that i need to say that, but it happens a lot. don’t do it. on that same note, for intensive chemical cleaning you DO need to remove all painted surfaces, all rubber components, and in many situations the drawband in order to prevent damage. less intense chemicals = less intense disassembly, but also less effective results…but i’m getting ahead of myself.
less is more. start with compressed air & brushwork - think ‘canned keyboard duster’ and ‘cheap watercolor brushes’
then identify problem mechanisms. is the escapement binding? are the carriage rails slow? is the typebar pivot segment actually fouled with old lube(which is likely) or is it full of dust/cat hair/eraser shavings/boogers?(also very likely) Hit those areas with lacquer thinner/mineral spirits/naptha/PGA/degreasers per what the gunk you see will respond to, and work the mechanisms loose before cleansing & relubricating(which is an art in & of itself LOL - when on a budget & in doubt, just use a cheap oil delivering contact cleaner)
chances are you can get 80% of the way to where you to want to be with only 20% of the chemicals you thought you were going to have to use. and no: brake cleaner/carb cleaner/WD40/and Dawn typically aren’t on the menu.
the best place to begin your research is going to be site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-restoration.html which has an absolute wealth of information; not all of it is well informed, but the majority of it is at least well intended & rarely strays too far from being workable; if a tip seems a bit too good to be true, it probably is. Go slow, read deep, and if you really care about this PARTICULAR machine, try out your cleaning techniques on one you don’t care so much about…or a dozen that you don’t care about at all. this isn’t a race…it’s a restoration.
take pictures, keep notes, put screws back where they go AS YOU GO, and if you get in over your head hit me up on IG or holler at your local shop - there is a list of them at site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html
i’ve said it a thousand times, but it definitely still applies: the two most important tools for any job are patience & careful observation :)
go nuts!
Beautiful typewriter of winered color ... It looks like a female model.
I just want to hear and see what you type.
Typewriters are good!
Smith Corona Silent year?? Dropped by DHS agent. Pieces falling off the bottom. Issues with type arms and the pins that articulate the movement. I have been writing on this writer for a year with no problems. Any tips or suggestions?
I have one of those, but it's not silent at all and I can't find the usb port.
Nice ❤
How did you actually get that 1936 typewriter not rusty? My 1973 typewriter is already rusted a lot but still functional
Hey, great videos. I'm looking around for a flat top Corona on the market with floating shift. What do you think is a good price for a working unit in good condition? Also, do you sell units yourself? Thanks again, and as always, great videos!
You flatter me, sir! One of these days i'll buy a decent camera and learn to edit video, and THEN WE SHALL SEE SOME TRULY GREAT VIDEOS, OHHH JUST YOU WAIT. For now, though, it's the old "cell phone stuck to the brim of the hat with a coathanger & duct tape" videos.
So, that being said i have a DISCLAIMER: While sometimes the typewriter gods are merciful & you come home with a $20 beauty, that normally only happens at garage sales & thrift stores. Don't rely on it. Instead, we have the interwebs! As such, the following price esitmates are for ePay or Etseewhatididtothattypewriter, so take them with a grain of salt because >all< of those people are crazy.
You can normally pick up a decent *mostly* working UNRESTORED flattop Corona online for as low as $75(if the machine is really ugly, the seller is an idiot, and you're really lucky) on up to $175(if the machine is really pretty, the seller knows it, and you just got paid yesterday). Remember, that's UNRESTORED and only *mostly* working - which describes 99.9% of the unrestored machines out there, trust me.
But for one that works like it's brand new? The numbers go up, and you might have to wait a bit. But not too long, maybe, because I DO SELL TYPEWRITERS and I actually have two flattops right now that I need to finally do something with. They're both the 1932 'medallion' edition; one is black, and the other is maroon like the one in this vid. Pretty effn snazzy. If you're seriously interested, I'll move them to the front of the line, get them up to speed, and make videos of them before putting them on eBay. Keep in mind, my machines generally end up between $250-550...which is exactly what you SHOULD be paying for a fully restored, fully functional, serviced & cleaned, QUALITY typewriter! I mean, how much did you pay for your computer? Oh, and how soon is it going to be obsolete, just like your last one? Any decent typewriter has ALREADY OUTLIVED MOST FOLK'S GRANDPARENTS & will very easily see >you< into the grave as well, so just slow the heck down if you're already crying & whining that $500 for a typewriter is a lot of money. It's a pretty good deal.
Don't want to pay that much? Well, buy a *mostly* working decent machine, and get it restored! Can cost anywhere from $50-250 depending on what your machine needs. See how we can add up to that $550 mark? Yah. It's not hard. But anyway. You might be lucky enough to have a typewriter shop nearby with a shriveled & ancient typewriter gnome puttering around behind the counter until he goes home at 2pm for siesta; if so, then THAT'S THE GUY YOU NEED TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH!!! Try this list of shops to see if there is one in your area site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html (NOTE: please understand that I live in Texas, so when I say "in your area" i actually mean "within 250-300 miles")
BUT, to actually answer your question! For a flattop Corona, thou shalt pay no more than $450...and only pay that much if it's fully restored with ALL fresh rubber(platen, feed rollers, paper bail rollers & feet) works perfectly, has a fresh ink ribbon, and is in excellent cosmetic condition. Unless of course, you manage to find an Animals model, in which case all bets(and the gloves) are off. Those suckers are rare.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you really, actually, seriously want a flattop - my email is typewriterjustice@gmail.com and I can definitely bring the goods ;)
Well, to be fair, I think it's less noisy compared to most of the typewriters I saw in offices back in the 80's - and this was released in the 30's. So people who bought it back then may have thought that it deserved its name.
When silent dosen't mean silent at all.
Thank you for the videos. I would suggest better videography; the video is just too shaky to enjoy. Thank you.
How to connect to Bluetooth
When I was growing up, we had an Underwood typewriter. I accidentally broke off the carriage-return lever.
if someone in your family still has it, you should fix it :) i’d be happy to help
I have a "flattop" Four. That as yours does not have a 1 key. There is an open space for a key. Could you tell me what is supposed to be there? Thank you in advance for any advise you might have.
Nothing at all! Your machine does in fact have a 1, it just happens to be the lowercase L - most typewriters are this way. Grats on the flattop Four! those are the rarest Corona you can get (except an Animals model, which is up there with unicorns & honest politicians)
TypewriterJustice Thanks' for your quick reply! My flattop four improved is in very good condition. It is missing the ribbon caps and the "Z" key is missing one of it's link wires so it does not operate. If you have time I have questions. 1) What do you think it might be worth? 2) What is a reasonable repair cost? (I have the proper wire to fix it but can't seem to get my meat hooks into the workings) 3) I believe caps from other models would fit? I purchased this for my Daughter's 15th birthday. I had no idea it was rare nor did the dealer, I am guessing he thought it was just another "four" Again thank you in advance for any advice you have for me.
How I would *love* to find that one.
Maquina maravilhosa, ao trabalhar pode-se colocar um pires e uma xícara de café sobre ela... Thanks
its beutiful
I have a very shit attention span and i would love to use this.
Beaut!
+Delia Hernandez one of my favorite designs, for sure. I have another 1932 flattop in this same color i've been working on recently, should be super pretty when it's done...if it ever gets done :)
I have a problem with my Unis TBM de luxe. Ribbon vibrator gets stuck in the upper position and I have to put it down manualy. Any similar experiences, ideas?
That machine is essentially an Olympia Traveller, made by license in Yugoslavia, and while i don't have one of those, i DO have several of the machines which came before the Traveller in that same design family. Check to make sure the vibrator arm isn't bent too far forward or backward(by looking at it from the sides as well as from the top) - it shouldn't touch anything along its path of travel. Check to make sure that the ribbon is actually moving - if your spools aren't spinning, they're going to put tension on the ribbon, causing the vibrator to stay up. Check to make sure the pivot for the vibrator arm, the pivot for the motivator connected to the base of the arm(mounted on/under the assembly for the right-hand ribbon spool), and the central shaft for the right hand spool are all clean & moving easily(you might need to clean them with mineral spirits or lacquer thinner, then relubricate them with a drop of fine light machine oil(or sewing machine oil...NOT with WD40, Rem Oil, or just about anything you can buy at a local big box store). Follow the physics with your eyes, figure out how it's SUPPOSED to work, then you can most likely spot why it isn't :) Failing that, there is a list of typewriter repair shops at site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html - find one within a days drive of you, and buckle up for a road trip! Best of luck, mate
TypewriterJustice thank you very much for such a detailed response. Problem was actually in the middle of the three joints. That joint was making 180 degree angle in the upper position. Not knowing which side to choose to go back, he would stay that way. Soo, I adjusted the little limitator for it to make a few degrees smaller angle and it works nice now. After that I had a few obvious problems of the vibrator touching things so I bent it. I would really like to visit a typewriter shop, but here in Serbia where I live there's none I know or heard about. I'm a rare person trying to restore such machines here, where people seem to have forgotten them. However, I'm having a great time, I admire all that mechanism working together. Very smart.
keep up the good work! Perhaps YOU can become the typewriter repair shop in Serbia! Best wishes from Dallas, Texas
TypewriterJustice maybe, thank you, best wishes!
NiCe
When it is not share but rather grey, is it a ribbon problem or its the machine itself
Did you sell this machine?
Matthew Stalcup - yep, a couple years ago. i'll be listing a more machines for sale before this holiday season, so keep your eyes peeled!
TypewriterJustice do you remember what it sold for?
TypewriterJustice I just found one in very good shape and was wondering the value. Also how do I buy your ribbons?
Matthew Stalcup The ribbons are sold on Ebay. You can buy the black ribbon. Or the black and red ribbon that is in the video. There are colors other than red, also sold, but they are more rare to find.
I actually have one of these !!!!!!!
Where's the backspace button?
Samn Sevrep - it's on the upper right side of the keyboard
Why are these called silent? Is there no margin bell?
they weren't actually silent, much as the Remington Noiseless wasn't actually noise-less, but instead this was simple advertising to indicate that their model wasn't quite as loud as their competitors. They added some felt padding inside the body & made sure the rubber feet were thick enough, then called it good...and compared to the cacophony most machines of this era made, it was indeed good enough. Not quite 'silent' but 'silent enough'
and yes, there is a bell! it's just not very loud, go figure
TypewriterJustice thank you, I was confused about that. Do you have any leads where I could purchase one? I am interested in adding one of these beauts to my collection. Thanks!
AmirDaScrub unfortunately, the key to finding one is mostly just patience. I check antique malls, thrift stores, garage sales, craigslist and ebay with religious frequency. one trick with craigslist is to use google rather than the built in search on craigslist(google 'corona -smith craigslist' and it will bring up any craigslist ads in the nation, not just your local) Don't give up! it'll come
What is that hole At the back of the typewriter
How much? I'm looking for typewriter.
This proves time travel existes !
i want a typewriter that makes BOING noises