# Typewriter refurbished! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889 "2021-09-18T21:33:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/1 "2021-09-18T21:33:01Z")
I bought a 1955 Olympia SM some months ago and sent it off to get refurbished by a fellow in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The typewriter was in mostly working condition, but the platen was rock-hard, and it was out of alignment. It is a beautiful 2-tone, burgundy and cream machine, with the pica sized letters (10 to the inch). It just came back, and it looks and works great. No excuse for not starting a novel now! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/2 "2021-09-18T21:42:14Z")
Nice! Post a photo! ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/3 "2021-09-18T21:48:05Z")
Nice! Best of luck with your novel. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/4 "2021-09-18T23:52:07Z")
Dang…can’t figure out how to include photo, will work on it later ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/5 "2021-09-19T01:23:33Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > Dang…can’t figure out how to include photo, will work on it later  > [@So, what made you smile today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/8): > > Make an account at [imgbb.com](http://imgbb.com) or some other image hosting site, upload your photos there, then post links here. If you’ll put each link on separate lines, the photos themselves should show up (may not work with Google services). Hope to see Teddy soon! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/6 "2021-09-20T13:49:41Z")
Here’s a '58 Burgundy/Cream Olympia SM3: [![](https://www.classicvintagetypewriters.com/sales/images/CVT_1057_Burgundy_Cream_Olympia_SM3_De_Luxe_Manual_Typewriter_with_Case_01.jpg) ](https://www.classicvintagetypewriters.com/sales/images/CVT_1057_Burgundy_Cream_Olympia_SM3_De_Luxe_Manual_Typewriter_with_Case_01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/7 "2021-09-20T15:31:34Z")
Yup, that’s it! I mean, not my specific one, but the same model and colour scheme. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/8 "2021-09-20T15:57:57Z")
That is sweet! ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/9 "2021-09-20T16:32:44Z")
Very nice machine! I still love the sound and feel of a typewriter, even though I haven’t worked on one in donkey’s years. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/10 "2021-09-20T16:37:01Z")
I remember that layout. Caused me a fair number of errors when I switched from my mom’s old typewriter to a more modern keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/11 "2021-09-20T17:00:52Z")
Very nice machine. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/12 "2021-09-20T17:05:38Z")
How strong does your pinky have to be to use the shift key ? I used to own the one my father used in college. It was in mint condition. For some reason, I donated it to a charity when I moved years ago. That one … I regret. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/13 "2021-09-20T17:31:33Z")
Well, I’m no Arnold and I can work the shift key. You can involve the wrist and forearm too, with a twisting motion of the arm ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/14 "2021-09-20T17:39:04Z")
The shift key on many of those Olympias raises the carriage, though, as opposed to ~~lowering~~ raising the – what’s it called – segment (?) – with the actual “type” all lined up. Isn’t the latter much more common for manual typewriters ? This is what I’m talking about: > **[The Dirty Secret of Typewriters](https://typewriterreview.com/2015/10/14/the-dirty-secret-of-typewriters/)** > > Okay, pilgrim, before you saddle up, there’s something I need to tell you. And perhaps this is a confession. Some might even call it a dirty secret. But I’ll let you decide the label. You cou… > Carriage vs. Basket Shift > One major difference between portable typewriters is how the shifted characters are typed. Each type slug contains both the upper and lowercase character. When you depress shift, you’ll either be raising the carriage or raising the typebar basket. Since the carriage is heavier, it’ll take more effort. And some carriages are heavier than others, or are hinged and levered differently to make them easier to raise. > For those of us reared on computer keyboards, this can be a big deal. On a computer keyboard, shift is the same as all other keys. But when you use a typewriter with a carriage shift, you’ll notice the difference right away. At first it might not be such a big deal, but the more you type, the more you’ll start to feel the weight of the carriage. You’ll be using finger muscles you never thought you had. Is your Olympia carriage shift or basket shift ? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/15 "2021-09-20T17:44:02Z")
Just use two fingers to type like a real writer. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/16 "2021-09-20T17:52:41Z")
Carriage. Still not much of a workout, even after 30 years of not using a typewriter and with minor arthritis, and as I say, it’s easy to “cheat” by rotating the forearm for leverage and power. Amd one can always go all e.e.cummings on it ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/17 "2021-09-20T17:56:39Z")
Fuck, that thing is sexy as hell! ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/18 "2021-09-20T18:14:10Z")
I bask in its glow ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriter-refurbished/950889/19 "2021-09-20T20:08:36Z")
As well you should.