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I've seen an Olympia SG-3 on the local Craigslist cor $25. Can't really see if anything is wro g with if. Looks like it might be ok. Is there anybadvantage of an SG-3 over an SG-1?
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Buy it, assuming all is working. Mine is a lovely, smooth machine to use. (All depends on how well it's been taken care of, of course.)
Does it have the paper injector? Mine (1968) does not, but that's fine. I think that was a more common feature with the SG1, but don't let the lack of it (or lack of a paper support, which is often missing) stop you, certainly not for $25. I am not sure whether the SG3 was available with the d o u b l e s p a c i n g feature, but if it doesn't have that, I wouldn't turn it down.
I know Olympias often had special keys, but I think the SG3 may have had some as a standard feature: "th" (as in 10th) ; fraction (1/); degree symbol; insertion arrow (like ^ only it prints at the bottom of a line). You maybe don't need these, but they're cool.
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In addition, check if it's a German unit or a Mexican one. I've tried both, and German ones are better.
Anyway, for $25 a working SG3 is a great deal. Few typewriters offer such quality, and in addition they can be inexpensive just like the Olivetti Linea 98.
Regarding the paper injector, I agree with Fleetwing. Mine doesn't have it either, but the Mexican SG3 I tried did have it, and I'd choose a German unit without paper injector instead of a Mexican one with it. Conclussion: it' a cool feature but not decissive (at least for me).
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colrehogan wrote:
Is there any advantage of an SG-3 over an SG-1?
No. On the other hand the SG1 does have features that the SG3 doesn't. Regardless, I would never pass on a SG3 for $25, which is probably why I have so many of them.
Fleetwing wrote:
I am not sure whether the SG3 was available with the d o u b l e s p a c i n g feature...
Yes, it was included on the SG3S model.
Javi wrote:
... I'd choose a German unit without paper injector instead of a Mexican one with it. Conclussion: it' a cool feature but not decissive (at least for me).
I have both German and Mexican models and never noticed a significant difference between them in terms of performance, but I'll have to put two side-by-side some day soon and conduct a more thorough comparison. In your scenario I would opt for the Mexican model with the paper injector, which is good as we would each get what we would prefer. I put a lot of value on the paper injector, especially when typing twenty to thirty pages a day.
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Oops. $35, not $25. Yes, it does have the paper injector, which my SG-1 does not. I tried to look at the keys in the picture, but couldn't see anything special. There might be a double spacing key, but it's hard to tell. Maybe you guys can.
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How would you know a German one vs. a Mexican one?
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Yes, it does have the double spacing key -- top row, on the right. $35 is still a good deal.
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Uwe and Beak,
thank you both for your help. I appreciate it!
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colrehogan wrote:
How would you know a German one vs. a Mexican one?
There are components that differentiate them, but the easiest way in either case is that there is a "Made in ..." badge on the machine; on the back if it's from Wilhelmshaven, or usually on the right side for the Mexicans. The one in the listing was made in Germany.
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Anyone in the Indianapolis area interested in a few hundred typewriters?