1 - Pete E.
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Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
Would like to hear about any experiences folks might have had with the Japanese-made Citizen SU4 electric typewriter...
Either from a use/ownership perspective or a repair/service perspective or both ?
I keep running across some (on-line) and am just curious if the Citizzen SU4 is worth a pursuit.
.
- Pete E.
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Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
The typewriter-case guy in me says..."go for it" !
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Thread Starter- Uwe
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Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
As long as it isn't an Eco-Drive model, it should be good...
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- Pete E.
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Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
Finally get to try a Citizen S4-U in-hand in my home in the next week.
This one is in good shape and had a typing sample so seems to be operational.
Original owner never mailed in their registration card.
More about this Japanese electric when it arrives and gets serviced on my work bench.
.
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Thread Starter- Pete E.
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Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
Got my new-to-me Citizen S4-U electric typewriter and case on the work bench today for a spa-day. This machine is made in Japan probably in the late 1970's.
Cannot find much about these...but will keep digging.
This sleek machine is fast, snappy, fairly quite, and very precise and can out-type me for speed all day long.
I really like typing on this electric.
It weighs in at 21.6 lbs. without its case weight. Case is well made, study and robust and has a plush lining inside to cradle the machine.
Nice feature of touch-control lever in a cut out in the bottom panel along the front of the machine which you can access with your figure without lifting up the machine. In line with the Shift-Lock key-tops.
With the removal of 4 screws and 4 rubber feet and their screws, the entire bottom panel easily comes off for cleaning and access to the motor and 2 "notched" drive belts. I was able to find replacement belts at my local sewing machine shop. I like how "sure footed" these notched belts are. No slippage on the drive pulleys as the pulley's are "toothed" as well.
Glad I added this Citizen S4-U electric to my collection.
.
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Thread Starter- robmck
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- From: Seattle, WA
- Registered: 31-1-2022
- Posts: 373
Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
Very nice! I love that case.
How does this compare to other electrics you have. I don't have any electrics yet, so am watching discussions here to get a sense of what I might want to start with. (Though, I admit for purely aesthetic reasons, I really like the SCM 5TE).
- Pete E.
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- From: Idaho - USA
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Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
Rob,
I now have six (6) electric machines. Here is how I would rate them...
All are keepers...some a bit better than the others.
1. Olympia SGE-35
2. Tie between Hermes 10 and Olympia SGE-A62 (SGE-50 variant)
3. Citizen S4-U
4. Facit 1840
5. Olympiette SEP (made in Japan). I love its CR lever.
I went through another 3-4 Japanese made electrics. Some Nakjimas and a Brother. Felt they were too light-weight and jangaly. Got them running and gave them away to kids around our place.
I do want to add a Smith-Corona one day. They also have a CR lever. Went after this one on SGW and bid up to $ 80 or so...but someone wanted it for $ 302.
.
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Thread Starter- robmck
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- From: Seattle, WA
- Registered: 31-1-2022
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Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
Thanks for the rundown; this is helpful.
I, too, watched that 5TE explode past what I was willing to pay.
- Pete E.
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- From: Idaho - USA
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Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
If we have any architects or industrial design folks in our Forum...
Would this Citizen S4-U fall into the "Brutalism" school of design ?
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Thread Starter- Pete E.
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Re: Citizen SU4 Electric - What Are Your Opinions... ?
Seems to tick off some boxes in such a Design...
Key Elements of Brutalism :
- Blocky, heavy appearance
- Simple, graphic lines
- Lack of ornamentation
- Utilitarian feel
- Monochromatic palette
- Use of raw exposed concrete (and sometimes brick) exteriors
- Rough, unfinished surfaces
- Use of modern materials such as steel, glass, stone, gabions
- Small windows
- Modular elements
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