Tuesday 31 May 2011

The Typewriter Collection- No.1: Smith-Corona Sterling, circa 1945.



Love those stripes running diagonally along the sides.


That carriage-return lever is rock-solid.



This was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. I just wish that what I had written wasn't complete drivel.


Notice the shade of crimson on that engraving? The devil is in the details. Tom did a great job.


Even the back looks great. Those scratches, I imagine, would be from clumsy loading of the typewriter back into its case. This thing had to have belonged to a screenwriter. The drunken hack!



Spool reminds me of a film reel.




Thanks for reading!

11 comments:

  1. Handsome Smith-Corona, William... I mean, teeritz ( :

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  2. Very nice-looking machine, and a real classic. It looks just right against the blinds. Just needs a stiff scotch on the rocks sitting next to it.

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  3. A wonderful-looking machine, I'm jealous! :D

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  4. I like your 1945 Sterling with stripes. I always wanted one; maybe some day. For now, I'll enjoy my 1938 Sterling, but it needs a nice interior cleaning and shine. I wish I had a repairman! I'm envious that you have easy access to a good repairman! :)

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  5. @ Richard, yes, the glass of scotch was all that was missing, but the venetians gave it a noir flavour. All that it needed was a revolver.

    @ Ted, this thing set me back about a hundred bucks + another $120 to get it shipped to Australia. Ouch!

    @ Cindy, the 1938 Sterling is a beauty. I've also got a circa 1936 Standard which may have a similar body. As for my repairman, he's about an hour away and his work schedule is very fluid. Tricky to get a hold of, he is.

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  6. Glad to see this is up and running, Tee. Site looks good!

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  7. I have this exact model. Would love to know where Tom the Repairer's shop is?

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    1. Also, I've always wondered why there is no number "1" key? I get around it with a lightweight-stroked lowercase L, but still, odd that it doesn't exist.

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    2. Tom's repair shop is in Carlton here in Melbourne, but there's bound to be a repairer in your neck of the woods, Jared.
      As for the lack of a number 1key, that's pretty much nearly every typewriter I've seen, although my '50s Smith-Corona Silent Super does indeed have a number 1 key. Which is odd, since most typewriter instruction manuals will mention that the lower-case 'L' can be used to type a1.

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  8. I have the same model and love it! Interesting you compare it to a Royal Quiet DeLuxe: that's the machine I started my latest book on, but as soon as I tried out the Sterling, I made the switch and finished the book on it. Both wonderful ponies!

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    1. Hello Marc, yes the QDL has a softer touch to the keys, but both of these feel like they have a similar 'snappiness' to the slugs when they hit the page, although the QDL is quieter. The key-tops have faded on it and I keep meaning to replace them with some that I printed out on card-stock, but I keep putting off this job because it will be labour-intensive and I need to set aside a whole day to do it properly. Without tearing out what's left of my hair.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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