Comments on: Smith-Corona Sterling (1950s)

By: Peter North

Peter North — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 23:42:01 +0000

Art Deco style? Um, no. That is not Art Deco. It is modernist at best. Art Deco was 1922 to 1930’s not Mid Century Modern aka 1950…

By: Taylor

Taylor — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 01:47:53 +0000

I’ve got a Tower President that’s basically a ripoff of this line. It’s great, but the keys to move at an angle instead of straight up and down.

By: Daniel Marleau

Daniel Marleau — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:07:04 +0000

In reply to Harvey Ito. Harvey, I had a Galaxy Twelve a couple years ago. Nice machine. Seemed adept enough. Something you'd send your kid to college with. Good for banging out a term paper. But if you're after something a bit more inspiring, it left me with a dull feeling. A cheapness crept into Smith Corona by this time. Not bad, but when you've used an SM9 or Hermes 3000, you can feel the difference. For the criteria you've listed, I'd go with the SM9. Olympia finally went to the basket shift. But the machine is so plain looking!

By: Harvey Ito

Harvey Ito — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:30:31 +0000

Dan:
How do the newer Smith Corona’s (such as the Galaxy Twelve, Sterling II – brief revival production run in the 1970’s) compare to the Olympia SM9, Hermes 3000? I want my typewriter to be reliable, durable, quick (not sluggish, or hardtop-the-touch?
Thank you,
Harvey

By: Daniel Marleau

Daniel Marleau — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 02:29:15 +0000

In reply to y1154. The rubber feet have probably become hard. It shouldn't move around. I've replaced them with new rubber that I found at Ace Hardware and some super glue. Not original, but keeps it stuck to the table.

By: y1154

y1154 — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 23:41:53 +0000

I have this typewriter as well. One issue I have with it, however, is that the machine moves around a lot when I type. Is this a common problem with portable manuals?

By: Daniel Marleau

Daniel Marleau — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 19:49:10 +0000

In reply to James Henry Locigno. Either of these work great. I love the Lettera 32, which feels more like a laptop. For me, it just comes down to personal feel and what you like to look at. Personally, I regularly use an earlier model of the Smith-Corona Sterling, from the 1940s. It has glass topped keys, which feel great. Solid.

By: James Henry Locigno

James Henry Locigno — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 07:06:02 +0000

Unbelievable. I have this machine as well. It was my Grandfather’s.
Which do you prefer for manuscript writing the lettera 32 or this?
I must get this one professionally refurbished, if you think it is worth it.

By: Foufy Maus

Foufy Maus — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:31:39 +0000

Hi! That racheting sound could probably be fixed with a small adjustment. If you look under the carriage you can see a thin metal bar the length of the platen that looks a little like a comb. On both ends there probably a couple of screws holding it to the carriage. The teeth of the combs catch a gear in the center of the machine. Now, that comb may not be catching the gear properly, i just adjusted my Olympia by loosening the screw on both sides, just enough to get it to move but not release. I pulled it down to seat in to the gear a bit more. Once adjusted i re-tightened the screws. I hope this helps.