Typewriter Talk / In-Coming Olympia SKM Manual Typewriter...

**Posted by robmck** 17-6-2024 12:09:22

All this gets me wondering about the Olympia acronyms.

As I understand it,
S = Schreibmaschine
G = Grosse
M (in SM3) = Mittelgrosse
E = Electrische

And here's me guessing:
M (in SKM) = Manuelle?
K = Kleingrosse

Thus,
SG1 = Schreibmaschine Grosse 1
SM3 = Schreibmaschine Mittlegrosse 3
SGE = Schreibmaschine Grosse Electrische
SKE = Schreibmaschine Kleingrosse Electrische?
SKM = Schreimaschine Kleingrosse Manuelle?

Does anyone know if that accurate?

I'm not sure about the whole "Klein" thing since neither the SKE nor SKM are very "Klein" (small) compared to the SM series (though definitely are smaller than the SG series).

Side note, while going down this rabbit hole, I found this SG-3N music writer: https://owl.museum-digital.de/object/4759?navlang=en

**Posted by Pete E.** 20-6-2024 07:43:46

Hi Rob,

My guess for the "K" would be Kompakt

SKE = Schreibmaschine Kompakt Electrische
SKM = Schreimaschine Klompakt Manuelle
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**Posted by Laurenz van Gaalen** 20-6-2024 08:16:49

May the K stands for 'Korrespondenz'?

https://site.xavier.edu/POLT/TYPEWRITERS/OlympiaSKMbrochure.pdf

**Posted by Eagle** 20-6-2024 09:32:25

robmck wrote:
S = Schreibmaschine
G = Grosse
M (in SM3) = Mittelgrosse
E = Electrische

This seems to be correct as far as some sparse internet sources tell. But the mystery of all the Olympia acronyms is still to be solved.

K for Korrespondenz sounds logical.

**Posted by robmck** 20-6-2024 14:40:12

I like Laurenz's idea that it is Korrespondenz.

**Posted by Laurenz van Gaalen** 20-6-2024 15:26:48

robmck wrote:
I like Laurenz's idea that it is Korrespondenz.

I think it is plausible. However, we don't have any evidence. Here is what I know:

1) The brochure clearly states that the SKM is for office correspondence.

2) As Tom said, "The SKM was Olympia's attempt at getting a share of the Adler Special's market..."

The Adler Special was primarily developed for correspondence. It's explicitly mentioned in the user manual, on the cover and in the introduction.

https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/AdlerSpecialGerman.pdf
With the above in mind, it does make sense to incorporate the word 'Korrespondenz' in the model designation.

**Posted by Pete E.** 20-6-2024 20:27:34

.
With the other 3-lettered model acronyms (in Rob's post, above)...the middle letter seems to consistently refer to some indication of "size" of the typewriter.

I think "Kompakt" is a better guess for the meaning of the "K" in SKM (and in SKE).
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**Posted by Pete E.** 06-4-2025 19:25:17

If anyone in the USA is looking for an Olympia SKM...there is one running on Shop Goodwill this week :

https://shopgoodwill.com/item/226722686

**Posted by Pete E.** 09-4-2025 06:35:34

Well...someone got a heck of a nice machine for $ 34.

Heck, I was thinking the Platt Industries case would be worth that, alone.
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