Nice! Once I get my kids off to school I will look.

It seems that there's something amiss with that number. Are you positive that the letter 'T' is in it? There should (normally) be a number, not a letter there, and most likely a '1'. It's possible that Smith-Corona used a different series of numbers for private label models, but I know that later generation ones used standard serial numbers, which is why this is a little odd.

No, I'm sure you're looking in the right spot as the rest of the number makes perfect sense, and as I stated previously, it should begin with a '4'. I forgot that you would be trying to look through the ribbon cover opening, so yes, it's best to wait until you've fixed the carriage lock first.

You're welcome!

Interesting serial number, and it looks like it was used specifically for Sears (Tower) private label machines.

Your typewriter is definitely a 4-series Smith-Corona portable, the serial number supports this, which were sold under the Smith-Corona name between '45 and '49. The colours used for the case and the keys of your typewriter are very telling as that combination was first used by Smith-Corona in '49 for the Skyriters and new 5-series portables.

If I had to take an educated guess, I'd say your Tower was made between '49 and '51. It has to be prior to '52 because Tower models from that year were made by Underwood, and when Sears went back to Smith-Corona after using Underwood, they used 5-series Smith-Corona models.