Perhaps not as delicate or refined as the perlée you would see on a watch movement, it's still an nice touch, and off the top of my head I can't think of another manufacturer that included such a detail.

The guilloché technique was applied to the entire SM model range starting as early as 1949 with the SM1,
and was a standard feature of the SG1 during its long production run, but it was eventually dropped from the later model SG3s.

It's arguably not as dramatic an effect on the SF-based models because it doesn't appear that Olympia reduced the diameter of the turning for the smaller guides used for those machines. In fact, it wasn't even initially performed on the ultra-portable guides. Earlier SF and Splendid models didn't feature the refinement, nor did it exist on later ones such as the Yugoslavian-made Traveller models. When you consider that in their twilight mechanical typewriters became an exercise in no-frills manufacturing, it's not a surprise that you won't find anything resembling the understated elegance of a '50s Olympia on any of the Japanese-made Olympia models.
 

I just... love it...

Valiant wrote:

Kat: guess you're good with a QWERTZ?

I'd be more concerned that the seller remembered to put the paper rest back down before closing the travel case lid...
 

Well, I have become a member of the SG1 Club today, and yes, I'd say it lives up to its favorable reputation. I had to travel about 60 miles to get it, but for $20 it was well worth it!  The paper support is missing (no surprise), and one of the levers that controls the card supports doesn't seem to work, but that's basically it. The paper charger lever was bent to the left; I was able to bend (pardon, form) it so it's basically straight now. Cosmetically it could be better, but it's not ugly by any means.  Some paint wear and what looks like Wite-Out on the ribbon cover, but I don't want to take paint off by trying to remove it.

I love the d o u b l e  s p a c I n g feature; very cool indeed. And those extra keys (degrees, 1/ , etc.) are neat, though I have those on my SG3 also. I was amazed at how smooth the carriage return is; as nice as the SM series.  Overall its feel is very close to the SG3, but it might be just a touch better. And I like the grey-green color -- it looks very close to the "Feldgrau" color of German army uniforms (hope that reference doesn't bother anyone).

Oh, and the typeface is Congress Elite, which is extremely handsome, and a real bonus.

Serial number? I don't know yet -- I understand I have to remove the carriage to find it, and while I am told that's a simple matter, I really don't want to screw anything up when I do so. I gather I just have to turn the two levers on the side away from me, and lift the carriage straight up? So if there are any tips I should know before I do this, just let me know.  Thanks!

Thanks! I thought all of the SG1s had those keys.