Typewriters for Writers 

I sold an Underwood Typewriter over the weekend to a Vietnam Vet. His goal is to write his memories of his experience in the war before he forgets. It was a very emotional sale.

Thanks Joe. Twenty minutes after watching this video I went for a bicycle ride in my neighborhood. I spotted a typewriter case amongst other household goods out by the curb in front of a house. The case was a sea foam green color. I opened the case to find a, you guessed it, a Hermes 3000. I knocked on the front door of the house to confirm this was a freebie. Indeed it was. I asked the owner if I could leave it by his front door and I'd be back post haste to retrieve it with my car. All the while trying to remain calm and casually indifferent. The serial number places it as a 1960 machine. I am going through it to ring it out. The carriage seems to have issues but there are no signs of damage so it could be my ignorance of this machine and who knows how many years of dormancy. The case had the original owner's manual and two original brushes in it. I found the key to the case INSIDE the typewriter along with a jumbo paper clip. The machine is dirty with patina of a well-used machine machine but with some TLC (and maybe some expert help) I'll have it back on the road. Also I found two pieces of a rubber grommet inside. Don't know where they came from. Do these machine suffer from the same grommet issue as the Olympia SM-3s?

Great vid! I remember starting college and not having enough $ to get a computer and a printer to write my essays for class... So instead I bought a used and really cheap manual typewriter in Salvation Army ($25). It was Royal Quiet Deluxe in all black with chrome keys and a nice carrying case. I took it home, cleaned it from dust, oiled it, bought a new ink ribbon and typed all my college essays on it. Still have it!

I am a writer and I have an Olympia Splendid 33, which I really enjoy but I'd love to own a SM one day. I only own 2 typewriters but I only use my Olympia because I feel it is well-built and smooth to use. While I write mostly digitally on my laptop, I use my typewriter whenever I want to work on a creative idea that needs a deep flow or deep focus. In this way, I can write from my creative voice, without it being filtered and hampered by self-criticism. I really enjoy your videos Joe, thank you for sharing your passion.

Joe, this is an absolutely outstanding overview of the typewriter landscape....whether or not the original questioner takes advantage of this information, there are untold thousands who will for years to come....

I think another good option for a writer is the sm9, or the sg3. Those are machines that do not cause problems and also those from the 70s are usually available at a low price. great video Joe! greetings from Argentina!

Nicely done Joe. As I've noted many times in the past, as far as writing tools go I have found the earlier Olympia SM9 models to be the best machine for me overall. But it was only through the experience of owning and trying many more brands/models (from ultraportables to standards) that I came to fully appreciate the SM9 as compared to the rest. I realize that I've been very fortunate to have experienced the large variety of typewriters that I have. But we all like different things and those who do get to experience many different typewriters are sure to develop their own favorites as far as writing tools go. For those who aren't so fortunate, your video(s) provide some great guidance.

Excellent lecture on typewriters and the fun of typing. A very enjoyable tour. Thank you. I had an Imperial ( present from a girlfriend ). Alas, the relationship foundered, but the Imperial clattered on.

Most excellent 👌 video! Great lighting and camera angles. Thanks so much for taking the time and work to make such a good video.

My daughter asked how many typewriters I have and I had to go and count them. It was *only* 7 but that's when I knew I had an issue. It's all Joe's fault. Remington 17 KMC would be my recommendation from my collection for serious writing. Feels good.

I have an Olympia SG3 as my large desktop machine. I never use it, though, as despite all the wonderful things I have heard about it, it simply isn't as nice to use I as expected it would be. The most satisfying machine to use, as far a "feel" goes, would probably be my Adler Tippa. It is just so unbelievably light and crisp. It's not quite a robust, though, and seems more prone to needing little adjustments and maintenance. I've got an Olympia Traveller de Luxe that I really never planned on owning simply because I think they are ugly as sin... but I have to admit that the thing "just works" no matter how much it is neglected. I've got a Smith Corona Galaxie Twelve that took a bit to adjust to (it's the first American typewriter I have ever owned) but once I was used to the layout, I came to realize that it is just an unbelievable workhorse. Easy to type on. Crisp, clear, straight typing. Rugged and tough. If I needed a machine to take with me on a trip and I needed to know the machine would work no matter what, it would probably be that Galaxie Twelve. My favorite machine, though, when I balance build quality, styling, and usability, is my Olympia Splendid 33. It did the impossible and dethroned my 1943 Imperial Good Companion as "favorite". The honeymoon phase just never seems to end with the Splendid 33.

Joe, this was great, as always. I've watched it several times and can't agree with you more. I am the proud owner of 15 machines that range from a 1938 Royal KHM to a 199x's Brother GX6750 (the same one John Meyer uses in California Typewriter). I am a writer and absolutely love my machines for all my writing drafts until I have to submit electronic copies for the magazines and other publishing sources that won't accept a mailed, typewritten, manuscript. I love your channel and watch it religiously. Keep doing your great creative work and I'll look forward to the next video!

I am what is commonly known in some circles as first. In addition, the fantastic video is appreciated. Thank you.

As mentioned by someone else, an Olympia SM8 or SM9 would be a great option for a writer, and they have a segment/basket shift! (as opposed to the carriage shift from the earlier models). Very comfortable and easy to use for an extended period of time.

Great video! Last week I found a 1969 IBM Selectric in a trash pile behind an office in town.

Thank you so much. Just found this video since I'm looking for a good typewriter...love the IBM Selectric that I used for many years as a legal assistant. After watching this, I think I'd love to own the Underwood 5. Great, informative video.

Joe I've wat he'd many of your photography videos. I had no idea you were a typewriter guy too. This video is perfect timing for me. I will be an occasional writer typing notes to my grandchildren. I think a small portable is just right for me. Maybe a Royal Dart or Futura. Maybe once or twice a month.

Thank you, I watch all your videos, I'm from Russia, I have a "lyubava" typewriter, it's a clone of the German Eric 40, thanks to one of your videos I bought a bluetooth keyboard and type through my phone

Joe,what a great video of examples and history. Most excellent 👍👏

I’m a collector not a writer but I still found this thoroughly interesting. I’ve owned at one time or another all of the models you mentioned with the exception of the Selectric. I love that you started with the Underwood 5 which is so often underestimated because of its more antique appearance. I was surprised your KMM didn’t make the list, but if it was a choice between the Underwood and the Royal I’m glad you chose the Underwood.

At the end, you hit the issue I have come upon with a sledge hammer... It seems that finding a reputable repair shop is a challenge these days! Excellent video! Covers a wide range of machines without any form of high brow snobbery that one machine is better than anything else!

23:30 - I know you are talking about hearing the sound delay may be off putting. But if anyone worry about typing fast, the delay shouldn't effect fast typing. It'll remember what you press even if its still processing the first letter of the word. Depending on the typewriter, you can also type up a document before it begins printing it. Some allows storage on the floppy drive.

I can't thank you enough! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your guidance.

I picked up a Silent from my work the other day. It looks like it was thrown down some stairs and was absolutely abused. I figured it was a good project since I can always call it a lost cause since it was free. Got into it, took a few days of careful cleaning and disassembly. I could still clean a few spots but it’s all working again. All those bent keys, broken and missing screws, slipped springs, all back to normal. I love it. It sat for a bit, but I watched a few of your videos and took the plunge to fix it. Now I have a manual! I love my electrics, but there’s something awesome about manuals.

Wish I had this when I was in the market for a typewriter! That being said, I have to put in a vote for the Hermes Standards! I use my Standard 8 every day and it’s just the best.

Joe I will be playing this in repeat on my typewriter showroom floor. Thanks for all you do sir.

Yet another cracking video with so much good advice!

Thank you. I ordered an SC Silent Super on eBay and fingers crossed will enjoy using it.

What a lovely walk down memory lane and all the beautiful typewriters you displayed and talked about. Forgive me but I have used most everyone of the brands and models you expertly described in your video. I have to say my favorite portable was a small Remington in a case that was from the late 40's or early 50's. My favorite "plug-in" was a daisy wheel before the days that spell check and word processing began to be added to them. Please keep up the great videos as you always offer something to grab my interest and make me smile. Just another office supply junkie looking for the perfect way to write notes and keep memories. Have a great evening from Houston, Texas.

Great video! One of my first machines was a Royal 10. Portables are nice, but these old standards are built like tanks.

Thank you so much for responding so quickly with such a detailed video! Loved your explanation of each type of typewriter- it was super helpful :) Unfortunately, as far as getting (and maintaining) a typewriter is concerned, it's going to be more difficult than I thought because I'm based in India. Typewriter repair shops here are going to be extremely hard to find- and I'm not sure many exist. The charm of manual typewriters like the ones you showed initially is undeniable, but I would like something that is portable, electronic and easy to maintain. Another factor is the sound- I personally don't mind it but it can become an issue if I go somewhere like a library or a cafe where it can bug some people. I will keep looking, though. I'm not planning to get myself one immediately- perhaps within the next two years 🙈 If you could mention a few reliable online platforms where I can purchase well-maintained typewriters, that would be really helpful! Thanks again for your prompt response. :)

Way back in the 60's and 70's, I typed a whole lot! Wrote my Senators, Congressman, Governor, etc. These fools either ignored my letters OR sent me back a form lettter on a totally unrelated topic! And THAT'S when I gave up! But, when I wrote these same guys, ON AN OFFICE LETTERHEAD, indicating that I was, indeed, someone with "pull" in my community? Geeze, they wrote back (or had a staff member write) a very nice, seriously respectful letter. And when I qualified for a "Professional License" in my state? They fell all over themselves to offer "Congratulations" and "Best Wishes"! What a bunch of useless tools 🔧.

Amazing detail, thanks for the knowledge. I'm looking to buy a typewriter for writing purposes too.

Can't beat an Olivetti Lettera 32!

Interesting to see which typewriters I do and don't have in my collection. For years I was happy with the typewriter that hid in my basement. I bought it on a lark when I wasn't even old enough to drink, and it just hid in the basement for the past 20+ years. I even moved it from Pennsylvania to North Dakota. But I brought it out a few years ago and started using it. Use and some cleaning loosened it up. And I discovered the joy of typing on a mechanical typewriter. My ideas just started to flow. It was a Smith-Corona Silent-Super. My next one with a Smith-Corona Classic 12. It was amazing, and I really liked the features on it. Later I got an Olympia SM-7 with math and science characters. My degree is in Physics, so I naturally loved it. Unfortunately, it does lack important characters like quotes, so it gets less use than it should. I picked up an Underwood SX from 1955. Not amazing, but a good machine. And today, I picked up an Underwood 3 to 5 (need to research which). It is going to be an exciting machine once I get it cleaned. It feels really good and I love the view inside it! For now, my favorite is the Smith-Corona Silent-Super, and not just because it's my first. It really feels amazing to type on it! But I really enjoy switching around between machines. Usually one is set up in the living room, and the big typewriter is set up at one end of my kitchen table.

In my younger years of life I owned several typewriters and loved them all. It would be great to own another, however, they are not easy to come by (in the UK, at least). If you are lucky enough to find one in working order it is next to impossible to find the inked ribbons for a specific model - let alone replacement ribbon cassettes. Also, typewriters of any type (sans the ribbon) are mega expensive. Do you have better luck in the US finding these beautiful machines? I wish they were still manufactured here. I’m not a collector - just a person who preferred to use a typewriter. There is something very satisfying about the sound of the keys hitting the paper in this ‘mindful’ way to write.

The sound of typing 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

This advice is very practical. In my years of on-again-off-again typewriter collecting I rarely found a machine that was truly terrible to use, unless the machine didn't work properly in the first place. Finding a well maintained machine is really the key, more so than going with once specific brand, and I think the only way brand really comes in is if one is notable for breaking allot. Some of the best feeling machines I used would be machines that a collector would looks down on, like the Olivetti-Underwood 319. If you have a well maintained typewriter and don't like the way it operates, you just switch it out until you find one that works. The individual feel between brands is all subjective so that's on the end user to figure out. Just make sure it works right before you judge.

The Olympias have a spring counterbalance for the shift, which is adjustable. So you are not pushing the whole weight of the carriage. There are two springs, one either side of the carriage at the back. Every machine I have seen is at the factory default heaviest setting. It makes some difference to increasing the spring tension - making the shift lighter. Note that you don't turn the screw to adjust, you lift it up and twist the nut - which makes more sense when you look at it. If I had to write a book and had to use just one of my machines to do it, which one would I choose? Hmmmm. A very tough question, actually. I think probably my Facit TP2, which has a super smooth return. The SC 5 series is also a totally viable choice, the return is usually a bit grindy though in comparison. The Olympia SM's are too noisy for me (sharp "thwack" that gives you a headache after a few pages) and the old standards are great too but are a bit heavy to type on and glass top keys are not so ergonomic of long sessions. I have three Facit TP1's and none of them are quite as good as my TP2, and that is just the condition of those particular machines, but it goes to show that the exact machine, rather than some generic advice, is important here. You need to feel completely comfortable on it to get a whole book out, and it needs to be reliable in terms of ribbon advance/return and no skipping. Part of why I collect is to find the right machine for the writing I want to do. The Hermes 3000 would do the job too, nicely, but I just find them a little bland in the typeface. If you go electric, may as well go all the way and just do it on a computer, you are half way there already. JMHO.

I dig that green front on your Underwood 5!

I don't write much any more, but I used to get a lot of mileage from an Olivetti Lettera 35 - medium size portable with soild build, common, fairly cheap still - at least in the UK. I got a Lettera 22 after than and really like it, though it's a different experience. Good for short fiction though, and has a long list of reputable users if you start looking at who wrote on what! Another Lettera model I got was the 32, which I did *not* like at first - hated the teal colour, thought it looked boxy, the keys were a weird square shape, the space bar was very thin - and yet, it's somehow a great little machine to type on. It's also the case that Olympias here in the UK are cheaper and more common than the SC 5 series or Royals. The SM series are lovely things.

I am not a collector, but I am a writer.... of my daily journals and musings about life. From my Dad (1915 - 2005), I inherited his 1926 Royal Standard #10 which he used for decades..... and the Adler J5 portable manual that I bought him new in 1975 for his 60th birthday. Unfortunately, the 1926 Royal.... although everything works.... needs a good cleaning and some tweaking and I don't know of anyone in or close to North Carolina who could fix it properly. It is too heavy for me to pack and ship. The Adler J5 works perfectly, but I wanted an older typewriter with glass keys. So I bought two. A 1947 Smith Corona Silent which is really nice and..... ta da..... my absolute favorite..... a 1948 two-toned Royal Quiet Deluxe. Bingo. I love love love my 1948 Royal Quiet Deluxe and use it every single day !!!! I debated between a Quiet Deluxe and a KMM. I'm sure that the KMM would have been equally wonderful.....

For anyone interested in the daisy wheel typewriters but are worried about the slight delay after each key stroke, I've found that the delay varies drastically between models and brands. For instance, my brother ax trails so far behind that I completely lose my rhythm listening to it clack over me. On the other hand, my Sharp PA 3100 is so snappy that I don't notice any delay whatsoever, unless I purposely mash keys like a mad man and force it to play catch up. Great video. I hope this helps.

Excellent!

I bought a Smith Corona Galaxie II for $20 from a small thrift store in the middle of nowhere and restored her for 110. I love her like the daughter I’ll probably never have. I love typewriters.

Most enjoyable video, Joe, thanks. However, I think you should have mentioned the difference between Pica and Elite on the manual models which, for writers such as myself, is of great importance with regards to line length and page word count.

A writer needs an electric typewriter. Unless you want to deal with permanent blisters ...

I am in a similar mindset to Stan, looking to break away from the digital with my writing. I recently bought my first typewriter, an Olympia SM9. I probably paid too much for it, but something about it really spoke to me. One of my first cars was a '96 BMW 3 series, my favorite pens are Lamys... something about German engineering just really does it for me. But perhaps it will turn out that I don't enjoy the typing feel, in which case I may need to get an Underwood and fix it up into that gorgeous turquoise color. That machine looks incredible.

I’m a multi-pubbed author and I write my rough drafts on a 1963 Olympia SM5.

as a writer who writes a lot, i can only recommend using a typewriter with a ink ribbon, the carbon ribbons that can be corrected just don't last long enough

I've got a 1926 Underwood No. 5, and when I'm not using it, I put it on a fireplace mantel - looks real good as a display piece and is realistically functional too. I'd say for me, I get the most enjoyment out of a standard. The historical significance of a machine from 1926 that's still in operation hits a little differently when you're writing out a draft, or even a simple letter. It's as if you're time travelling to another era. The internal parts being more exposed in the box-framed Underwoods is truly a telling sign of the prohibition era in which it was made. You also have to think back to the 1920s where typical standard typewriters generally sold for around $120 on average, which is over $1700 today, so it was a big deal. Other typewriters for some reason just don't hit the same for me as the Underwood does - maybe a Royal, but I'm not too big a fan of enclosed ones.

I own an Optima Elite 3 and a KMart branded Brother JP-1 and although the Optima is superior mechanically and aesthetically I always enjoy typing on the Brother more, it's clunkier but it just has the air of an unpretentious workhorse about it and JP-1 variants are as common/cheap as crabgrass. Thanks for shouting out ekectronic daisy wheel machines too, I have a bunch of these from both Brother and Smith Corona and they don't get enough love as writing tools imo. The ubiquitous Smith Corona 5A (a zillion variants) is cheap and plentiful and often as close as your local thrift store. I think theyre quite satisfying to type on; look for one of the larger models though with the nicer paper bail and left edge guide.

And good day to u and thanks for all the tipewriter tips ✨️🌞

Thanks for all your videos Joe. I have been considering an OLYMPIA SM3 for my first typewriter in many many years. Finding a good source in the UK is difficult, but your videos are certainly helping. Do your have any sourcing tips or UK contacts you can share?

I love to write on my '46 Royal QDL, but also have a soft spot for my '46 Remington Deluxe Model 5. I know it might not be the very best for writers being a carriage shift, but something about it just feels good to me. I find myself missing it when I put it away.

I have been missing the typewriter 40 years ago. A disadvantage of the typewriter is that it has only one typeface. Otherwise, everything else is right about that good-old machine. I learned typewriting on an antique Oliver black typewriter. Guess what? I liked it. I appreciated typewriting that I typed my own homework assignment sheets, and wanted to use typewriter more than a ball-point pen except to write my signature. The IBM Selectric was my first favorite typewriter. Its keys were very comfortable and they enhanced my accuracy. I have one at home, but have not used it since the late 1990s decade.

Really nice video, thanks

Great video. Surprised that you didn't recommend the Royal KMM, as they are fantastic to write on for extended periods, and are easy to find and cheap.

Im 34. Im using an Olympia Traveller. It was a gift from my aunt, its my first typewriter and I love it. Maybe in the future I would like to buy a full metal machine, no plastic. Im in love with mine.

Thanks for the great video! I have another question about typewriters for writers (I am currently using a Hermes Baby). I am looking for the most optimal typewriters in terms of light typing - as I suffer from occasional carpal tunnel/inflammations of sorts. Basically, I'm looking for a typewriter that needs as little pressure put in typing as possible.

I don't really consider myself a "serious" writer (I'm trying to be so much less serious than I used to be), but I do consider myself definitely in the "writer" camp of typewriting rather than "collector" camp. I'm pretty much allergic to typewriter collecting, I could never imagine having anything more than three. My Royal Empress (which as far as I'm concerned is just a KMM in a fancy dress) is my buddy for life. It would be very hard to convince me to use anything else. So easy to service and lube and built like a tank. I've never seen a manual with a more powerful mechanism either; even a light touch gives a great print. KMMs are like Toyotas, they might not be fancy, they might not be sexy, but give em basic maintenance and they'll run forever.

I have a Brother daisy wheel type but it did not come with one. And the ones I have found online are rather expensive 😢

Very informative vid, first time coming across your channel. :) Question for you, though - for someone like me who has a high WPM ( not bragging, I swear), I find myself struggling to adjust to my Brother Charger 11, so I wonder if I am better suited for something like the electric Singer (for example) since it doens't really require 'heavy' typing?

Hello sir Can you post a video on a comparison between portable manual typewriter and standard big desktop typewriter

What are your thoughts on the Adler J5 as typewriters for moderate-to-heavy use? I'm not quite the novelist type of typist, but I type personal essays/letters on a frequent basis.

Where do you get the tape that has the ink on it. ??

Yeah some of these models are not really easy to come by outside of the USA. Here in Europe the Olympia and Triumph / Adler, as well as the east german Erika models, are a lot easier to come by and often pretty cheap too. I kinda feel like wanting to try a Smith Corona SCM at one point but they really tend to be a lot more expensive than other models.

Please remember that just because a typewriter is listed as "working" doesn't mean it is actually usable. There are several important things to look for when buying a typewriter. You would be well advised to look up videos on buying used typewriters and refurbishing them, not because you'll have to, but because it will teach you things to watch for. I'm told that the skipping on Royals is most commonly the result of you not following through on your stroke and you getting essentially "key bounce". So typing technique is important, particularly the desktop models like the HH/E/P Be careful of the daisy wheels. They occasionally break, especially as the plastic ages. ONE broken letter makes the whole thing useless. The type balls also didn't really catch on either because of problems unique to them. The traditional lever and type bar just works all day long and that's why it survived.

The metal cases for Smith Corona, yeah that's a Samsonite Case. Enjoy and you're welcome ❤ I'm a published author, among other things, I want to collect typewriters, but I don't want a huge collection, and this is due to some reasons and space for storing isn't one of them. To me typewriters are a kind of Pen you write with, and we all have either one favorite pen, or a favorite kind or kinds of pens, but I enjoy being able to get a different feeling with pens and typewriters, they write different from one another and the have different moods and personalities, just like the stories we write. I also like the fact that having a typewriter is like having a piece of History, and the past lives and stories of others instilled within each machine. I know performance is probably what should be more important, but I do think how it looks can matter just as much. It may work wonderfully but if it's in colors you don't like or worse hate, you won't be too keen to work on it, so painting them to your liking is an option...on one hand you're destroying history and on the other hand it's yours paint jobs would mean a good cleaning and added protection. I go by performance, what it looks like is next and then most importantly is it on my collection list, or have it for a while and then sell it. I have a 1968 Royal Aristocrat Special, I have named The Blue Lady McBeth, lol I like to name them on a play on words with their title, and I know I spelled McBeth wrong. it's a rare version, and maybe they all do that, but yes, you have to go at it a certain way and rhythm, too slow and it gets pissy and looks like a series of small mistakes, too fast it will make a series of serious mistakes, it some where in the middle but need to take care there too as it can still skip a space. It's a bit heavy on the hands but still a good writing typewriter in my opinion, I know many people hate on the Royal Aristocrat, or Safari, or the like although mine being a Special, it doesn't exactly look like a normal Aristocrat or Safari. I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner. I also have a 1978 Smith Corona Electra 110, I named Lakota, which means Friend in the Lakota tongue/language. A good friend is needed when tackling a novel. I know how dare I leave the Manuals behind....meh, it's a cool typewriter and serious workhorse for a serious novel. It's no IBM Selectric II which is like comparing a Chevy to a Mercedes lol. I also have a 1966 Smith Corona Galaxie Deluxe in a skyblue, I named it Captain Picard and a Star Trek Next Generation fan can understand why, yeah I went there, boldly! It's a pleasant snap type chunk, chunk, chunk sound like a little engine that could definitely lighter in the hands than the Royal, none are as fast or as comfortable and fun as Lakota.... except for maybe one. And this next one the last one in my collection, for now which by the way is so good, I have thought about selling off the other typewriters and just keeping this next one. The Emerald Empress, a beautiful in perfect working order and looks brand new, a 1959 Curvy Hermés 3000, it types like it's an electric, its sound is like an addictive drug you want to hear it, hell you want to feel the way the seafoam green keys cup your finger tips the light touch and the hammer goes up and back again faster than Bilbo Baggins, (there and back again...) It's honestly that good and more it even makes you feel good just looking at it. I won't lie I have just sat and stared at it, sipping on a glass of wine saying thank you God. It's like that feeling you get when you upgrade to first class but this is also Private flying, and then you're spoiled but thankful, yet everything else is just crap when compared to private first class flying. And yes you pay dearly for that luxury. And by the market the way it is with collectors and Thanks to Hanks, prices are wild. Even broken nonworking examples are 3 and 4 hundred dollars because their parts are valuable. A few years back before the Typewriter Documentary, I saw a curvy H3K on eBay in perfect condition, it was selling for 98.00. if you come across one avid collector or writer or new to Typewriters and collection of them and it's under 3 or 4 hundred don't wait buy it. But try other typewriters so you can understand the difference. There's a few others I still would like to collect and I'd love to see on the channel: Smith Corona Super G Olivetti Lettera DL Olivetti Lettera 35i At least I don't think you have as I have been catching up. If you ever sell or give away that Rooy Portable, I'm hear and I'll give it a loving home. Lol...give... Now an Ultra Portable typewriter to me, is not something you'd want to be stuck in to write a full novel, but to pack up and take with you on vacation/holiday if you plan to work some, as this is better than dragging a long a standard, or even a Medium Typewriter. I'd like one ultra portable for this reason and for my collection and would like a later Hermés Rocket or Baby, the Smith Corona Super G is just barely a Ultra light but it's comparable to a Smith Corona Skywriter which I would like to pick up. Of what I have now in terms of lightest and most portable is the H3K or the Smith Corona Galaxie Deluxe. If it wasn't in my sight or in my hands all the time on a trip, then I wouldn't risk the Hermés, Id take the Galaxie Deluxe instead. Thanks for reading if you made it through all this sorry for typos this is on my phone and the box is too small to edit, like I wrote it all out on a free write...lol distraction free, you kids Tricks really are for Kids...just get focused and discipline a Typewriter can do that all without paying 6 or 7 hundred for, unless its a Hermés... Here's a tip, if you want something to write down your thoughts on that portable for on the go, distraction free even, don't buy one of those expensive Free Travelers or free writes. As an author....just...no. save you money buy a Moleskin and a a good quality pen. If you just have to type, Then buy a wireless Bluetooth folding keyboard and pair it to your phone. Open an email and send it to yourself. Just get focused and say, "I can do this, This is my time to work!" And you can ignore stuf and do it and work! Again thanks for reading my manifesto here lol❤ be well and be safe!❤

This will be a good investment.

I have a Hermies 3000 Swiss all metal case and hood . Got it in 69 lightly used needs carriage knobs (deteriorated ) in very good condition. like you said such a lite touch for a manual

As a writer I've used the Royal FP, an absolute tank of a desktop, used by writers like Herb Caen of the San Francisco Chronicle, and more recently I acquired an Olivetti Lettera 22, which I am using to write my first novel. It's worth noting that both typewriters lasted well into the careers of many authors; the Royal FP was Herb Caen's 'Loyal Royal', or the typewriter he would use to write up all of his articles, and the Lettera 22 and its sister, the Lettera 32 were used by writers like Leonard Coen, Gunter Grass, (allegedly Thomas Pynchon), and of course Cormac McCarthy used his Lettera 32 throughout his entire career with minimal maintenance besides blowing the dust out with a service station hose. Both of them fit the bill for being excellent writer's typewriters, though if I had to choose I'd say the Lettera really wins me over.

I can't see how this machine is relevant, unless you are communicating a message no one is supposed to know about. Okay, I see it now, a history piece... Probably need one in throwback TV & Movies. Thanks for the telepathic message.

I write essays and documents, not always as tasks assigned to me, but sometimes on my own volition.

11:09 You don't necessarily lift the whole carriadge weight, there can be springs helping you with part of that weight.

The IBM Selectric 1 is a work of art

If you are a writer, and doesn't want to write on computer, why not choose an electronic typewriter or better a word processor like brother wp-1? I am a collector but for working really, writing, as an author, I highly recommend you an electronic typewriter or word processor typewriter

Back in the day, I had a daisywheel typewriter. It was a major PITA because it had a tendency for single characters on the wheel break off.

I have most of these machines and would not do ANY serious writing with a silent super or QDL as they require too much bearing down to type. The Hermes and Olympia are way snappier and easier to type on. For long typing sessions I prefer the royal model O or any royal from the 40s and earlier with the tombstone glass topped keys as those tend to be very responsive typers.

If I'm not mistaken - the Smith-Coronas daisy wheel Electronic typewriters do not have a delay that is all that noticeable as compared to the Brothers.

Right now, my favorite typewriter is my Olympia SM 4.

I suppose it makes sense that you picked mostly mid century machines, most newbies seem drawn to them because of the modern styling and bright colors. Not to mention they are significantly cheaper and more abundant than older machines but I have to say there are so many more interesting and nicer to use machines out there I really hate that people seem to always get stuck on these particular machines.

Best-selling author Sue Grafton typed many of the Alphabet novels on an IBM Wheelwriter. Don't be afraid of electronic machines! You can get them refurbished for a good price. You have the added benefit of many different type faces and sizes.

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Typewriter ribbon? You can get them from Amazon, or contact Ribbons Unlimited.

I've become obsessed with typewriters... whoops 😬

I need help, I have an antares compact 22 and I cant find anywhere a manual or a video that explain how this typewriter works, I understood all the basic stuff about it but I have no idea how to remove the carriage. Please if you have one of this, can you make avideo about it?

Where can I buy a case for the Super Silent?

🎶 My-my-my Smith Corona!

*Checks his smartwatch* Yep, it's 2023. *whew*

I'm a woman. Most women have small hands and slender fingers when compared to men (whom the machines were designed for, imho). Having machine keys that I can easily hit is important. I have tired many manual machines where my finger ends up jammed between keys as I just miss hitting a small faced key, where a man with large fingers * will * hit that key because his finger is too big to slip between the keys. The other important thing, to me, is that the machine is designed in such a way that you can get a strong key strike against the paper from a short distance of the key pressed down. Iow, many machines I have tired do not strike against the paper as hard as they should because my stroke is not strong enough, the distance the key must be pushed down to get the bar to strike hard against the paper is long. Some manual machines, though, hit and and true against the paper (and ribbon) when I press down just a bit, iow, the ratio of keg strike is different. Those, for my small hands and fingers, are the deal breakers for me.

Hmm...you were very astute to differntiate between writers and n typewriter lovers,also that was also a great find about the annoying delaty in the wheelwriter striking, i couldnt figure out why wasnt happy until you told me what was going on, uh after you get used to it ,its almost okay,but nahh,,, onc e you star flying along,..its bearbale, but its not like teh corona where it jumps toy your command , also the keys seem to be on precraroaus stilts, you almost have to watch you don start gong fast and slippping off, but in truth you made my day, cliched but u were spot on with your scycnronistic intutive rightonedness about what writers like...um in fact i fit bill for as a sorto anomaly that love writing and the machind too......however reality must speak....the spirit of truth, is the lab top has come and it is so close to a perfect but foir for freeing the souls fruit, and truth.. it just flows silenrly,,, in closing they may have to be seen as anachronmisms of the past, however; (what the hell is up witt he wheel write haviing no italics funtion,,,,,,whaaa??/ anyway,,thanks man, great flow, and exactitude without bieng nerdy,,,,patirck....sorry about typahoes ...im a terrible with fixin my messes

Type writers are so cool. A mechanical marvel. I think theyre only going to get more and more collectable as hipsters discover them. I think they change your thinking system too as you cant count on infinite editing

How much?

Where's the other Standard uprights?

Bro, I thought ribbon is the issue so I bought a new ribbon and replaced it but I'm facing an issue.. when I start writing it prints dark but after a few words it gets lighter and lighter..

The KMM didn't get any screen time???

More on desktop typers.

I prefer to use stone knives and bear skins. :)

I notoced you skipped the SCM 6 series like the Galaxie ... Was that for time? I've found that the 6 series manuals will take an insane amount.of abuse and neglect and will still type acceptably.