overwood wrote:

BTW whats so special about Olympia plastic keys? I've not used one yet

This is not very easy to explain to someone who has never used them, as much of it has to do with the tactile experience, and of cause personal Preference.
 
When I refer to "Olympia keys", I always refer to the trapezoid shaped plastic keys that came on the SM2 and later machines, not the round plastic ones found on models SM1, early SM2, Elite or Mod. 8.
 
Olympia keytops are made of a plastic very pleasant to the touch. Smooth, warm and organic like Bakelite, and similar in appearance. Whether actually made of Bakelite or not I cannot say. They are nearly square and closely placed together, the keyboard layout is tight, making fast writing easier and missing a key very rare. Their tops are nicely ergonomically sculpted with an indentation that fits at least my fingers very well. And of cause the keys on Olympia machines are famously spring loaded or "cushioned", making writing on them for long periods very pleasant. A hard contrast to writing on glass keys for example.

overwood wrote:

Interesting. Well I may get to test some of those keys this week. There's an SM9 for sale locally that nobody snatched up yet, so I may have to snatch it myself. Still trying to talk myself out of it though, since I said I was done buying typewriters weeks ago. Getting perilously close to double digits now.
 

It’s worth mentioning that while the layout and shape of the keys on the SM5, 7, 8 and 9 is the same as found on the SM2, 3 and 4, the material looks and feels different, and they are not cushioned. I would not recommend buying an SM9 just to try out the keys. For that you would be better off with a SM2, 3 or 4.
 

I personally like my SM7 a lot more than my SM9.  At least to me, the SM7 feels more substantial and is a faster typer for me...and its unique looks seduced me.
 

Well that sucked. I drove to where the guy works, sat outside by his car where I could see the Olympia case in the front seat, notified him before I got there as he requested and then waited 20 minutes. He never showed up, never texted and never called until after I said f*&% this and left.

they were asking about twice what your lady was asking, but if I waste my time with them again they will be lucky to get half of that out of me! It wasn't a problem going to meet him because I was going that way anyway, but to have him stand me up completely and wait 20 minutes for nothing was BS.

I read about yours when I was researching this model. That's why I was scoping the case out closely as it sat in the car. It looked pretty nice, no scuffs or cuts so if its still available I may try one more time after I'm finished being pissed off and indignant. They don't show up around here very often at all, maybe 1 every year or two.