1 - ztyper
- Key Master
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
- Posts: 773
The SM-4 find
I purchased an Olympia SM-4 today for $30 at a local flea market. It was extremely dirty but it all worked. There weren't any sticky keys either. I was just wondering if I paid too much, too little, or what is it worth.
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- Uwe
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- From: Toronto, Canada
- Registered: 12-3-2013
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Re: The SM-4 find
An SM4 in working condition for $30? ALL DAY LONG! I'll give you $40 for it... 
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- JustAnotherGuy
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Re: The SM-4 find
Ha, $30 is nothing compared to the prices people pay for one on eBay. Does it have a special typeface?
Last edited by JustAnotherGuy (09-11-2014 18:19:30)
- teeritz
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Re: The SM-4 find
Thirty bucks is nothing. I paid a lot more for my one. Rock-solid machines.
My blog, about typewriters,wristwatches, fountain pens, Bond, and whatever else happens to be polluting my mind at any given time;
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- ztyper
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
- Posts: 773
Re: The SM-4 find
Ok, I was just making sure. And no, it does not have a special typeface. I was hoping for a script font, but I still love my new machine, and since it cleaned up nicely too.
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- •
Thread Starter- beak
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Re: The SM-4 find
For one of the very best portable ever made, you have a gigantic bargain.
The combination of features, compact size, solidity of build and precice & easy typing action make this machine unique and, rightly, much sought after.
Sincerely,
beak.
- ztyper
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
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Re: The SM-4 find
The only down side to it is that the tabulator system doesn't quite work. the Set and Clear keys by the space bar don't quite move the tab pins. I have to press the tab pin up and down to have a tab. But that's just a small inconvinence for such a wonderful machine (and it's going to be my daily typer now that I found out that my SM-9 has wear on the teeth and will eventually break... )
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- •
Thread Starter- beak
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- From: Qld Australia
- Registered: 24-3-2013
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Re: The SM-4 find
ztyper wrote:
The only down side to it is that the tabulator system doesn't quite work. the Set and Clear keys by the space bar don't quite move the tab pins. I have to press the tab pin up and down to have a tab. But that's just a small inconvinence for such a wonderful machine (and it's going to be my daily typer now that I found out that my SM-9 has wear on the teeth and will eventually break... )
It may be that the tab alignment bar on the back of the machine has loosened, so misaligning the operating levers that push the teeth up and down - this happened to one of mine, and the fix is simple. I posted it here, somewhere.
Sincerely,
beak.
- ztyper
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- Posts: 773
Re: The SM-4 find
When I look at the tab system (since it's visible on these models) the bars are aligned perfectly fine, but the tab pins are a bit sticky. What can I do to fix this?
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- •
Thread Starter- beak
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- From: Qld Australia
- Registered: 24-3-2013
- Posts: 912
Re: The SM-4 find
When I look at the tab system (since it's visible on these models) the bars are aligned perfectly fine, but the tab pins are a bit sticky. What can I do to fix this?
Classically, brushing down with meths would be a suggestion - in the same way that the section is cleaned for the typebars. Always be careful to keep meths off the case finishes, of course.
Sincerely,
beak.
