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Just bought it a couple of hours ago. Geez! It works fine.
I'm so rusty. I don't remember where to set the margins or anything else and it has only been a little over 45 years! But it's coming back slowly.
I'm hoping to have the 1953 SM-3 working in a couple of weeks or so. I need that part I posted about.
Then early in December a Smith-Corona should be here.
But then I'm stopping, right? Three typewriters is way more than enough, right? I mean you can only use one at a time, right?
Anyone have a good link to a typing reference? I have to practice this weekend so I can send Tom Hanks a letter.
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Among the manual portables where would you rate the SM-3 typewriters?
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The short answer would be; very close to the top indeed!
The build and design are very, very good, and I would argue that they are bettered only by the SM4 (because of the keyboard tab setting) and the SM9. If you were to stop collecting portables right now, you would not be missing much.
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Be careful.
Collecting typewriters is contagious and there is no cure.
The midcentury portables are the first step. Wait till you see some of the elaborate 19th century machines.
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On the subject of the SM3, what is the difference between an SM3 and one marked as deluxe?
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daveM3 wrote:
On the subject of the SM3, what is the difference between an SM3 and one marked as deluxe?
Hi Dave,
I'm pretty sure there's absolutely no difference whatsoever. It's the same with the SM9 (probably SM7, too - but I only have one, as yet) - no discernible difference at all on mine. Maybe it's a marketing / fabrication issue, I'm sure someone will know more.
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Nothing, they're the same machine. With very few exceptions, the SM models were not badged with their model identification, but some SM3s did have the "De Luxe" script on the segment cover plate to differentiate it from the more basic SM2 model. When you state it's a SM3, the deluxe classification is already inferred.
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I thought the difference between the SM3 and the SM3 De Luxe was the tabs stops in the back on the Deluxe model. No?
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Also the paper support holder springs out from a push of a button (Iike a switchblade knife).
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gnuyork wrote:
I thought the difference between the SM3 and the SM3 De Luxe was the tabs stops in the back on the Deluxe model. No?
No.
This is a SM3:
It does not have the "De Luxe" script:
It has the "tabs stops in the back":
And it has the spring-loaded paper rest:
As I previously stated, the SM3 is the deluxe version of the SM2.
This is a SM2:
No script on the segment cover - just like the above SM3:
No tab stops - because there isn't a tabulator system:
And no button on the right side of the carriage for the paper rest because the paper rest has to be deployed manually: