Believe it or not – I’ve never seen an SM7 hereabouts. I’ve had the older ones, and lots of 9’s but no lucky 7! I’m curious about where the letters hit the platen, because on the 3,4,5 version it was above the equator, which I liked, but on the 9 it’s too low for my taste. Maybe you could give points regarding that aspect!
Yep, I’ve found at least a half-dozen SM-9’s, but only this one SM-7, and no older SMs. I tested the place where the letters hit, and it seems they hit right where they do on my SM-3. I don’t have an SM-9 handy to check that, though.
Nice review of the SM7. I like the styling of the SM7, but never found one I enjoy using. All are slow typers with not that great of a touch even after a full cleaning and refirb. The SM3 and SM4 typewriters are much nicer to use although the tab setting on the SM3 is behind the carriage, I have an SM8 that is the best of any Olympia I used, and the several SM9 typewriters I have and those I used are nice, but not nearly as good to use as a Royal, Smith-Corona, or a trusty Underwood. One nice thing about the Olympia carriage shift models is that they are easy to balance to get the shift quite light.
I never noticed any of my Olympia typewriters having the slugs hit anywhere but right on the front of the platen like shown in your books. Seems like hitting high or low would put part of the slug out of alignment for good upper case/lower case alignment as well as being able to print an entire character.
Huh, we probably have some differences in what we like about the touch on a machine, I need to type more on the SM-3 to really get a good line on how I feel about it, but I think it feels like a loose SG-1, and I’m not entirely sure if I like it or not.
Re: where the slug hits on an SM-9 – I would imagine all the carriage-shifters hit in the same place, but it’s possible the SM-8/9 segment-shifters could have a different hit-point, due to the way the shift works?
I like your points system, though it does make you have to think.
Funny, I sold my first SM-9 because it had the “techno” font and I wasn’t using it much. But now I have a wide-carriage, newer SM-9 and wouldn’t think of parting with it.
Oh, and I recognize that ABQ Type-Out stationery. Nice post.
Joe,
My thoughts exactly with my last SM9 thrift store find, but when my neighbor being a disabled Vietnam Vet without a typewriter noticed and liked it, I found it easy to pass on to someone who wanted a typewriter to get back into writing.
Another great review. You’re right about the SM7 looks. The checkerboard backsplash and greeny accents are so appealing. Its 1960s future vibe has aged so well.
Slightly off-topic, but what happened to the SM6? Was there ever such a thing? Should we call in Robert Stack and Unsolved Mysteries? Maybe they can also help solve the mystery of the eerie specter in the smoking jacket typing on your SM7 :)
SM-6 never materialized, the existing history records not why.
The Spectre is me, I decided if I was going to put pictures of myself in these reviews then I should slip halfway in timeshadow to confuse the facial recognition software. ABFBDITD!
Excellent review. All Olympia models appeal to me. I have collected over 60 in time with my first being a wide carriage SM3 which was purchased for 1.00 in 2003. I am inspired to continue nurturing my machines and using them in journal entries. I have never attended a Type in. Perhaps one day I will. Until then, keep up the good work and review more typewriters.
Great review. I love the Olympia range and rotate mine on a weekly basis to keep everything moving freely. My blue SM7 is very handsome and was well-cared for by the one previous owner. It is right up there amongst my favourites but without a doubt, my best “user” is an early SM8 with the turquoise Olympia badge. For some reason, it is just so light and responsive. It too was in very good condition when I got it and was a one-owner, well-used machine. (I was told by the nephew of its deceased former owner that she worked from home and it was in daily use but was her pride and joy. It’s external, cosmetic condition certainly bore that out.)
I like your points system but tend to rank mine by pure preferences rather than trying to be subjective. My favourite is a burgundy red SM4. Immaculate looker, works fine but ironically, I admire its looks so much, I tend not to use it too much as I want to preserve its present condition. I know that’s slightly weird but just how my clock ticks.
I happily came across an SM7 at a garage sale for $5. It’s my first typewriter. I learned on a typewriter in high school. Probably one of the last classes to have typing as part of the curriculum. We had both computer class and typewriter class.
It seemed less than moderately used. I read all the instructions before using. There’s still ribbon but I’m sure I’ll need more soon as I have typed several letters, post cards, and keep a sheet of paper in it to type a daily entry every few days.
Believe it or not – I’ve never seen an SM7 hereabouts. I’ve had the older ones, and lots of 9’s but no lucky 7! I’m curious about where the letters hit the platen, because on the 3,4,5 version it was above the equator, which I liked, but on the 9 it’s too low for my taste. Maybe you could give points regarding that aspect!
Yep, I’ve found at least a half-dozen SM-9’s, but only this one SM-7, and no older SMs. I tested the place where the letters hit, and it seems they hit right where they do on my SM-3. I don’t have an SM-9 handy to check that, though.
Nice review of the SM7. I like the styling of the SM7, but never found one I enjoy using. All are slow typers with not that great of a touch even after a full cleaning and refirb. The SM3 and SM4 typewriters are much nicer to use although the tab setting on the SM3 is behind the carriage, I have an SM8 that is the best of any Olympia I used, and the several SM9 typewriters I have and those I used are nice, but not nearly as good to use as a Royal, Smith-Corona, or a trusty Underwood. One nice thing about the Olympia carriage shift models is that they are easy to balance to get the shift quite light.
I never noticed any of my Olympia typewriters having the slugs hit anywhere but right on the front of the platen like shown in your books. Seems like hitting high or low would put part of the slug out of alignment for good upper case/lower case alignment as well as being able to print an entire character.
Huh, we probably have some differences in what we like about the touch on a machine, I need to type more on the SM-3 to really get a good line on how I feel about it, but I think it feels like a loose SG-1, and I’m not entirely sure if I like it or not.
Re: where the slug hits on an SM-9 – I would imagine all the carriage-shifters hit in the same place, but it’s possible the SM-8/9 segment-shifters could have a different hit-point, due to the way the shift works?
I like your points system, though it does make you have to think.
Funny, I sold my first SM-9 because it had the “techno” font and I wasn’t using it much. But now I have a wide-carriage, newer SM-9 and wouldn’t think of parting with it.
Oh, and I recognize that ABQ Type-Out stationery. Nice post.
Joe,
My thoughts exactly with my last SM9 thrift store find, but when my neighbor being a disabled Vietnam Vet without a typewriter noticed and liked it, I found it easy to pass on to someone who wanted a typewriter to get back into writing.
Another great review. You’re right about the SM7 looks. The checkerboard backsplash and greeny accents are so appealing. Its 1960s future vibe has aged so well.
Slightly off-topic, but what happened to the SM6? Was there ever such a thing? Should we call in Robert Stack and Unsolved Mysteries? Maybe they can also help solve the mystery of the eerie specter in the smoking jacket typing on your SM7 :)
SM-6 never materialized, the existing history records not why.
The Spectre is me, I decided if I was going to put pictures of myself in these reviews then I should slip halfway in timeshadow to confuse the facial recognition software. ABFBDITD!
Excellent review. All Olympia models appeal to me. I have collected over 60 in time with my first being a wide carriage SM3 which was purchased for 1.00 in 2003. I am inspired to continue nurturing my machines and using them in journal entries. I have never attended a Type in. Perhaps one day I will. Until then, keep up the good work and review more typewriters.
Great review. I love the Olympia range and rotate mine on a weekly basis to keep everything moving freely. My blue SM7 is very handsome and was well-cared for by the one previous owner. It is right up there amongst my favourites but without a doubt, my best “user” is an early SM8 with the turquoise Olympia badge. For some reason, it is just so light and responsive. It too was in very good condition when I got it and was a one-owner, well-used machine. (I was told by the nephew of its deceased former owner that she worked from home and it was in daily use but was her pride and joy. It’s external, cosmetic condition certainly bore that out.)
I like your points system but tend to rank mine by pure preferences rather than trying to be subjective. My favourite is a burgundy red SM4. Immaculate looker, works fine but ironically, I admire its looks so much, I tend not to use it too much as I want to preserve its present condition. I know that’s slightly weird but just how my clock ticks.
I happily came across an SM7 at a garage sale for $5. It’s my first typewriter. I learned on a typewriter in high school. Probably one of the last classes to have typing as part of the curriculum. We had both computer class and typewriter class.
It seemed less than moderately used. I read all the instructions before using. There’s still ribbon but I’m sure I’ll need more soon as I have typed several letters, post cards, and keep a sheet of paper in it to type a daily entry every few days.