Laurenz,

Thanks for posting and congratulations.

I hope to add a Triumph Special to my home, one day.
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Just picked up a 1962 Olympia SM7 yesterday here locally about 15 minutes from home for $40 and it is pristine. Case is also super good condition with the only real flaw being some pitting on the chrome lock and either side of the handle. Also came with the original brushes and yellow towel in the green vinyl case. 

I didn’t even try to negotiate on the price as I felt I was already getting a steal. I’ll be doing a little deeper clean, testing and researching to learn a little more on this guy today. This wasn’t even on my radar until I stumbled on it yesterday. I felt like I just knew enough to know I better grab it.

 I was really only shopping for a Hermes 3000 but like many am struggling to feel they are worth the inflated prices. I’ve decided if the local one of those I’ve located near me for $300 doesn’t ever work out, I’m just gonna less aggressively keep an eye out for a local sale where they don’t know what they’ve got.

 I have also been considering an SM3 or 4 which is how i came across the SM7 yesterday. Now, I can’t really see myself getting a 3 as I’m really digging the 7 and I don’t want redundancy in my plan of holding just around 4 machines.

Anyway, in addition to cleaning today, I’m going to look at making the adjustment to ease the shift action as described by Duane at Phoenix Typewriter. Once I get it ready for showtime, I’ll try to figure out how to post photos here.

Thanks Pete. I will look into this. The rest of the case is in such good shape, it really deserves me trying to revive the chrome. The strange thing is the the feet on the bottom look much better. I think this typewriter spent a good deal of time in it’s case laying down on it’s side on a shelf.

Couple of questions for you or other Olympia fans…

1. As clean as this machine and case are, there is a thin rim of yellowish/orange along the top ledge of the bottom portion of the case where the felt/fuzzy bottom liner meets the vinyl covering. I saw the same stuff on an old photo of your blue SM7 case and also on Reverend Munk’s 7 case, so I’m thinking it is common. What is it from? Can’t tell if it is rust from something or from the very yellow cleaning rag or something else. Strange thing is I don’t see how it could’ve gotten there. No streaking from anywhere or anything else.

2. As I said, mine is a 1962 and on the left side of the machine where the touch pressure adjustment arm is located, my machine only has a “+” indicator and no “-“ one. Did it fall off at some point or did this year or portion of this year only have the “+”? I’ve seen 1961s with neither and other SM7s with both, so I’m not sure, but curious. 

So far I am really liking this machine. It’s beautiful with tons of detail that I appreciate. I typed with it a little so far and I kinda love the feel too. After adjusting that shift tension all the way, it’s so light, I would say, it’s every bit as easy to use the shift as the one on my Silent Super basket shift. 

Hi John,

1.  I just assumed it was some chemical reaction between the adhesive used for the vinyl covering and the adhesive used for the interior "felt-like" interior.  Maybe the same glue used for foam sound pads.

2.  My 1961 SM7 has its touch-control lever under the cowling.  Sometime in 1962, I think they moved it so it is usable from the exterior and only had the " + " indicator on the lower stroke position of the lever.  In 1963...both the " + " and the " - " indicators showed up.  My blue SM7 has both.

These indicators were plastic set in a small square hole in the metal frame and then heated/melted in place from the underside.  Same with the 3 dots for ribbon color and stencil indication.

Relatedly...my 1968 Olympia SM9 has the + and - signed punched out in the metal framing and did not even use the plastic indicator dots.
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Thanks so much for the very thorough answers. I really appreciate this. I was thinking the same thing about the adhesive used in the case likely being the same as used on the sound insulation pieces and staining the felt rim as it potentially oozed from the vinyl wrap. 

Did not realize the + was an inset as it looked like it just sits on top. Nice detail piece of info. I also had thought I had seen SM9s with and without the orange logo and sounds like you are saying ther are both in that series.

Thanks agai, Pete!