I note that Pete's Hermes Baby that he bases his opinion on is the later plastic-bodied version. While I agree with that opinion of that version, I also note that people who denigrate the Hermes Baby/Rocket almost never distinguish between the first metal-bodied versions and the later plastic ones nor even acknowledge the fact that that model was made over several decades, changing all the while. They are not the same typewriter in 1938 and 1965; engineers learned how to make things cheaper in order to meet competition. The model built its reputation on the earlier versions, which collectors encountered first, and rode the crest of the brand's exotic mystique (oh, those exotic Swiss; well, we were primed with the watch reputation and the conflation with French haute couture).

Can we get a comparative review from someone who has access to several examples of each era? The change in body material seems to have occurred in 1964. Were there major mechanical changes at the same time, in addition to running changes over the years?

This is similar to the more well-known distinctions between the Smith-Corona SkyRiters and the Smith-Corona Corsairs of the same time period, but in this case we have the advantage of distinct model names to trigger an awareness.
 

I did note in my previous post that my machine was made in 1968.

And of by the way, its body cowlings and ribbon cover are aluminum alloy...NOT plastic.

In my opinion, it is still a POS...
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