Gary wrote:

Sigh.  Just received a nice dark green SG1, only to find it poorly packed, and suffering a dented frame just in front of the space bar.  Now the space bar can't move,  I hope to try to pry it back in place.  Especially bummed because I gave the guy shipping instructions and he just tossed it in a big, thin box with some peanuts.

I have had 4 SG-1's shipped to me, and this happened to two of them - so you could say this is a chronic SG-1 shipping syndrome. The two that got damaged would not seem negligently packed to the casual observer but the shipper failed to fully immobilize the machine inside the carton, so when the massive steel frame and heavy carriage wound up resting on the front of the non-structural shell the result was predictable. 

The good news is this is not too difficult to repair.  First one I knocked back into shape in situ with a rubber mallet. Since then I've learned getting the body off is not too difficult and the second is waiting in line for this more elegant approach. They will never be cosmetically the same machines but both will be serviceable. I received substantial discounts from the sellers when I showed them the damage, so end of the day I am just about whole.

I'm optimistic.  I appreciate your guidance and will try to straighten the old lovely out tomorrow,  I cheered myself up cleaning and oiling a '62 Alpina that arrived the same day, nicely packed.  Typed two letters on it.  Super fast and buttery smooth.
 

Straightened the frame out pretty well with a scissors jack.  Cleaned and oiled it, and have only a slightly sticky "L" at this point.  Put in a new ribbon and hope to do a letter or two this afternoon.  Really well made.

Gary wrote:

Straightened the frame out pretty well with a scissors jack....

With a what!!?? 

I am not familiar with that precision tool. Perhaps you could post a photo of it and the method of use. 

To be pedantic (no point in saying 'not to be pedantic' when that's exactly what I am going to be), I think you mean the body, not the frame. This machine has an extremely strong frame inside and by the time that got bent the rest of the typewriter would probably look like it had fallen off a building. Which it would have.

Disclaimer - I am stuck on late typewriter tyro, and if I had to play a bar scene I'd say "I could have been a journeyman". Move over, Brando.
 

Repartee wrote:

3) 12 CPI small caps or "radio mill" 

Its proper name is Double Gothic #30 and it's not a radio mill typeface. An Olympia typeface that would be more appropriate for telegraph or radio mill use would be the 10-pitch Capitals #95. If there's one typeface I'd love to have installed on an SG1 it would be the 17-pitch Manuscript, but I certainly won't be holding my breath expecting to ever find one.