1 - fountainpensplus
- Touch Typist
Offline - From: Eugene, OR, USA
- Registered: 11-10-2021
- Posts: 150
Olympia SM Typefaces
Hello Folks. I've only recently returned to the pleasures of a typewriter as a writing tool. I now have two SM4 machines and an SM9. Both my SM4s have 11 characters / inch. The SM9 has 12 cpi. The SM4 11 cpi fonts aren't the same and the when I bought the SM9 it was described as a Rare Techno Pico font. At 12 cpi I would think it is an Elite. One question I have; does Olympia have a 10 cpi typeface or is the 11 cpi considered a Pico? So far my searches have not given me a definitive answer. Once I figure out photo posting I'll add that too.
- Pete E.
- Typewriter Talk Elite
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- From: Idaho - USA
- Registered: 23-6-2020
- Posts: 2,405
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
This link to Ted Munk's blog might help you :
Also, if you buy Ted's "Repair Bible" for the Olympia SM machines...there are 5-6 pages of typefaces listed, starting on page 180 in the "Bible".
- fountainpensplus
- Touch Typist
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- From: Eugene, OR, USA
- Registered: 11-10-2021
- Posts: 150
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
Pete E. wrote:
This link to Ted Munk's blog might help you :
Also, if you buy Ted's "Repair Bible" for the Olympia SM machines...there are 5-6 pages of typefaces listed, starting on page 180 in the "Bible".
Thanks Pete. I've ordered it and will hopefully have it in a week or two.
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Thread Starter- skywatcher
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- From: The Prairies of Alberta
- Registered: 14-3-2013
- Posts: 737
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
Hi FP+
From what I understand, 10 CPI (pica) and 12 CPI (elite) are North American standards, much like threads per inch on standard hardware (nuts & bolts [not the snack]). I believe that European type sizes are millimetres per character, the same as metric hardware. I've heard it said that the most common type size of European type is 2mm per character, which happens to work out to about 11 CPI, often referred to as European Pica. As I say, this is my understanding, so will welcome correction from a reputable source. All the best,
Sky
We humans go through many computers in our lives, but in their lives, typewriters go through many of us.
In that way, they’re like violins, like ancestral swords. So I use mine with honor and treat them with respect.
I try to leave them in better condition than I met them. I am not their first user, nor will I be their last.
Frederic S. Durbin. (Typewriter mania and the modern writer)
- fountainpensplus
- Touch Typist
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- From: Eugene, OR, USA
- Registered: 11-10-2021
- Posts: 150
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
Thank you skywatcher. I'm finding learning about my typewriters nearly as much fun as typing on them.
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Thread Starter- skywatcher
- Moderator
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- From: The Prairies of Alberta
- Registered: 14-3-2013
- Posts: 737
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
Sky
How about that, I stand corrected. 11CPI is 2.3 mm/character. I just learned something new. Cheers,
Sky
We humans go through many computers in our lives, but in their lives, typewriters go through many of us.
In that way, they’re like violins, like ancestral swords. So I use mine with honor and treat them with respect.
I try to leave them in better condition than I met them. I am not their first user, nor will I be their last.
Frederic S. Durbin. (Typewriter mania and the modern writer)
- fountainpensplus
- Touch Typist
Offline
- From: Eugene, OR, USA
- Registered: 11-10-2021
- Posts: 150
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
Thank you again Sky. I can imagine the Prairies of Alberta having some great opportunities at times for watching the sky!
I'm hoping Ted Munk's Olympia "Bible" will answer many questions.
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Thread Starter- thetypewriterman
- Key Master
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- From: Leiston, England
- Registered: 29-5-2013
- Posts: 923
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
In England, 12 pitch (elite) and 10 pitch (pica) are the two standard typefaces. As a generalisation only, pica was more popular pre-war and elite post-war - although both were obtainable throughout nearly the whole 20th century. 11 pitch (called Continental Elite) was exclusively used on portables as a 'compromise' size between the two. Mainly on German-made machines, but Japanese manufacturers adopted it too. I have never seen 11 pitch on an electronic typewriter because as a bare minimum, these always offer two pitches - 10 and 12.
- Uwe
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- From: Toronto, Canada
- Registered: 12-3-2013
- Posts: 4,410
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
... when I bought the SM9 it was described as a Rare Techno Pico font. ...
Rare: Arguably the most common description used by typewriter sellers. 
I assume the typeface in question is Olympia's 'Senatorial'? If so, it's definitely not rare.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- fountainpensplus
- Touch Typist
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- From: Eugene, OR, USA
- Registered: 11-10-2021
- Posts: 150
Re: Olympia SM Typefaces
Uwe, I've been trying to add a photo link from Imgur but no luck so far. Is there something special I need to do other than pasting the link?
Last edited by Uwe (05-11-2021 16:14:00)
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Thread Starter