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1905 Smith Premier 2 Serial # 97998 1905 Smith Premier 2 typewriter, Serial # 97998 Brian Decker's 1905 Smith Premier 2 typewriter. 2025-12-06 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Brian Decker: 1905 Smith Premier 2 Serial # 97998 This is my 1905 Smith Premier Model 2, S/N 97998. It is one of the only three office typewriters in my collection that came with its metal case. I won this in an eBay auction on February 5, 2007; my credit card records indicate that it cost me $148.50 all-in, including shipping. Given shipping was running $20-25 for big office typewriters at that time, although I no longer have a record, I believe the winning bid price was around $125. The machine has not been serviced, but the ribbon that was in there when I purchased it still leaves a faint imprint. I have replaced the feet with a set provided by Type Space in Portland, OR. Other than that, it needs new platen and feed roller rubber, and a general deep cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment, and believe it can be brought into fully operational condition.

1905 Smith Premier 2 #97998

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 12-06-2025 at 01:51PM
Last Edit: 12-06-2025 at 02:43PM


Description:

This is my 1905 Smith Premier Model 2, S/N 97998. It is one of the only three office typewriters in my collection that came with its metal case. I won this in an eBay auction on February 5, 2007; my credit card records indicate that it cost me $148.50 all-in, including shipping. Given shipping was running $20-25 for big office typewriters at that time, although I no longer have a record, I believe the winning bid price was around $125. The machine has not been serviced, but the ribbon that was in there when I purchased it still leaves a faint imprint. I have replaced the feet with a set provided by Type Space in Portland, OR. Other than that, it needs new platen and feed roller rubber, and a general deep cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment, and believe it can be brought into fully operational condition.

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

Photos:

Right Quadrant.
Right Quadrant.

Right.
Right.

Right Wide-Angle.
Right Wide-Angle.

Back
Back

Back Wide-Angle.
Back Wide-Angle.

Left.
Left.

Left Wide-Angle.
Left Wide-Angle.

Left Quadrant.
Left Quadrant.

Typewriter and Case.
Typewriter and Case.

Front Wide-Angle.
Front Wide-Angle.

Top Front Wide-Angle
Top Front Wide-Angle

Serial Number Left-Shift
Serial Number Left-Shift

Serial Number Right-Shift.
Serial Number Right-Shift.

Detail of Dogs.
Detail of Dogs.

Detail of Bell.
Detail of Bell.

Detail of Mainspring.
Detail of Mainspring.

Detail of Brush.
Detail of Brush.

Keyboard - Wide-Angle.
Keyboard - Wide-Angle.

Detail of Linkages.
Detail of Linkages.

Typing Sample.
Typing Sample.

Shipping Label.  Barely visible on the case, Adams Express Company shipping label.
Shipping Label. Barely visible on the case, Adams Express Company shipping label.

Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)

Brian Decker's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 432

My interest in typewriters started in 1997, when I was in graduate school at the University of Georgia. I purchased and read Darryl Rehr's book, joined ETC, and started reaching out to known collectors. I had several email interchanges with Richard Polt dating from that period. I also bought some of my first machines from Bob Aubert, and visited him at his home twice. After marriage and relocation to New England, I continued visiting antique shops and eBay, until other priorities put my typewriter hobby on hiatus around 2008. I still have my collection of around 57 machines, and now I have a renewed interest in getting some of them in good working and cosmetic order.



RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Smith Premier 2 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Smith Premier Serial Number page and the Smith Premier 2 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.