Hi TW

​A typewriter for a 10 year old girl, how sweet is that? The first machine that comes to mind is an Olivetti Lettera 32, as this is the machine I gave my friend's 10 year old daughter for Christmas the year before last. You should have heard the shrieks of excitement when she realized what she was opening. Her parents say her spelling, vocabulary and grammar all improved dramatically within just a few months of receiving her typewriter.

​I realize that the Lettera 32's are starting to get a little more scarce these days, so something like an Olivetti 31 or Underwood 315. My only reservation about a Smith-Corona 12, be that a Galaxie or a Classic is the size and portability for young arms to carry around. You're going to get quite a few responses to this question from many members. We all have our own favorites and reasons for them. Read all the answers including mine with an open mind, and you should be able to start to form your own opinion as to which typewriter would be better than another and why. Best of luck with your search and stay in touch with this forum, I'm sure we'll be able to help you out on this one. All the very best,

Sky

I think one of those Smith Coronas would be a great choice -- there are plenty of them around for not much money, and they are good machines. (I'm assuming you are in the U.S.) Maybe a little heavy to tote, but manageable. If she likes the one her teacher has, then look no further.

 

The Olivetti Lettera 32 is a great choice. Affordable, light, sturdy and overall great quality. I´d go for that one
I was given a Nakajima 8000 when I was 10 or 11, and it´s still there, but I wouldn´t reccomend it. As for truly tested typewriters, I´d go for the Olivetti Studio 44. My grandpa had one, and my dad and his 4 little brothers used and abused it for years. Now I have that typewriter, and it´s alive and kicking! The bad part is the size, weight and availability.

One complication with the Olivettis is the requirement of special ribbon spools (and the locknuts to hold the spools in place). Better to go with a typewriter that takes the universal spools, in my opinion.

I would recommend to the original poster to also look for a Royal Quiet De Luxe. A lot of them were made, and they have a big following. The ones from the later 1950s had the extra attraction of being available in bright colors, though of course those are particularly sought after, and thus pricier.

One additional thought about the Smith Coronas, and here I am thinking of the ones from the '60s like the Classic 12 and Galaxie, is that they came with a 1 and ! key, which a lot of machines, earlier ones especially, did not.

Let us know if you are trying to decide among machines -- we can offer some thoughts if you would like!