1066 Brands 3410 Models 24883 Galleries 15746 Typefaces 6273 Patents
Home » Smith Corona » Standard » 1938 #2C181996
1938 Smith Corona Standard Serial # 2C181996 1938 Smith Corona Standard typewriter, Serial # 2C181996 Brian Decker's 1938 Smith Corona Standard typewriter. 2026-05-24 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Brian Decker: 1938 Smith Corona Standard Serial # 2C181996 2026-MAY-26, Initial Gallery Creation. I purchased this beautiful glossy black 2-series Smith-Corona Standard portable on 5/10/26, from eBay seller "peppers_hotstuff", based in Silverton, OR. This seller has several nice-looking typewriters listed on eBay, but they do not have the listings set for negotiation - just "Buy It Now". I went ahead and paid the $175 for this one (plus $30.98 FedEx Ground Economy shipping to me across the country), motivated by wanting to have a late-1930s 2-Series portable in the sleek body style, with glossy enamel paint (black or maroon), in excellent cosmetic condition with very good details. When this typewriter arrived, boy did it satisfy on those counts!

Four keys were frozen-stuck, but a thorough cleaning with bore cleaner cured all ills. I also ordered a set of new factory-correct rubber feet, which turned out to be very necessary. During this time, I learned that, sadly, Charlene Oesch and Baco Ribbons have gone out of business :-(. So I purchased some ribbons on eBay from a company called FJA Products. For the typing sample in this gallery, I used the purple one. The machine works very well, and has a pica typeface.

1938 Smith Corona Standard #2C181996

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 05-24-2026 at 11:55AM
Last Edit: 05-24-2026 at 12:06PM

Description Hunter 20 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

2026-MAY-26, Initial Gallery Creation. I purchased this beautiful glossy black 2-series Smith-Corona Standard portable on 5/10/26, from eBay seller "peppers_hotstuff", based in Silverton, OR. This seller has several nice-looking typewriters listed on eBay, but they do not have the listings set for negotiation - just "Buy It Now". I went ahead and paid the $175 for this one (plus $30.98 FedEx Ground Economy shipping to me across the country), motivated by wanting to have a late-1930s 2-Series portable in the sleek body style, with glossy enamel paint (black or maroon), in excellent cosmetic condition with very good details. When this typewriter arrived, boy did it satisfy on those counts!

Four keys were frozen-stuck, but a thorough cleaning with bore cleaner cured all ills. I also ordered a set of new factory-correct rubber feet, which turned out to be very necessary. During this time, I learned that, sadly, Charlene Oesch and Baco Ribbons have gone out of business :-(. So I purchased some ribbons on eBay from a company called FJA Products. For the typing sample in this gallery, I used the purple one. The machine works very well, and has a pica typeface.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Front view, with top up.
Front view, with top up.

Serial number.
Serial number.

Ribbon cover closeup.
Ribbon cover closeup.

Platen and paper table closeup.
Platen and paper table closeup.

Type slug detail, showing pica foundry marks.
Type slug detail, showing pica foundry marks.

Front, with typing sample inserted.
Front, with typing sample inserted.

Typing sample.
Typing sample.

Right forward quadrant view.
Right forward quadrant view.

Right broadside view.
Right broadside view.

Right aft quadrant view.
Right aft quadrant view.

Rear view.
Rear view.

Rear decal closeup.
Rear decal closeup.

Left rear quadrant view.
Left rear quadrant view.

Left carriage end detail.
Left carriage end detail.

Left broadside view.
Left broadside view.

Left forward quadrant view.
Left forward quadrant view.

Underside.
Underside.

Case.
Case.

FJA Ribbon, top view, in package (not the one used for this gallery typing sample).
FJA Ribbon, top view, in package (not the one used for this gallery typing sample).

FJA ribbon in package, bottom view.
FJA ribbon in package, bottom view.

Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)

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

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2638

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.

In late 2024, I started up again, working on my machines and having some of them serviced professionally by New England Typewriter (NET) LLC (Merrimack, NH), until they closed their doors in December of 2025. Since mid-2025, I have been adding to my collection again, first with a Hermes 3000 purchase from NET, then with various auctions and purchases on eBay, when I find something that catches my eye.


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

Typewriter Hunter Merch!