1954 Smith Corona Silent #5S 458864
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Chris Aldrich (chrisaldrich)
Created: 01-07-2025 at 12:26PM
Last Edit: 01-07-2025 at 12:27PM
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Description:
2024-01-07 Fifteen minutes of tinkering and this machine is imminently usable. It'll take about a half day to clean up properly, but this is well on its way to its former glory. I should be able to turn this $25 find into a proper $350 work-a-day typewriter.
- Fixed left rear case latch; brushed out major dust; fixed 3 completely frozen keys; formed the 'C' typebar so as not to stick;
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
Hunter: Chris Aldrich (chrisaldrich)
Chris Aldrich's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1525
Hello! I’m a Johns Hopkins trained biomedical and electrical engineer with a variety of interests in the entertainment industry, information theory, evolution, big history, genetics, signal processing, transgenetics, translational medicine, and theoretical mathematics. I’m a strong advocate of the IndieWeb movement.
I have a love for analog office equipment including library card catalogs and typewriters. As of October 2026 , I've got a segment of 78 typewriters mostly focused on machines made between 1946 and 1977. I have been learning how to completely overhaul all of the machines in my collection, all of which work well aside from a handful which need some parts. I have a burgeoning collection of typewriter tools for continually repairing, maintaining, and upgrading my machines.
I'm slowly morphing my TWdB collection photos so that the "hero" photos of the machine facing to the right (with the left side of the typewriter facing front generally with the carriage return in the front) are those that have been generally cleaned /restored while those facing to the left (with the right side of the typewriter facing front with carriage return in the rear) are those that still need cleaning, oiling, adjustment or a major repair. Those facing forward generally need work as well. Certainly some don't fit this pattern, but I hope to fix them all shortly as I get the requisite photos.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Smith Corona Silent on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Smith Corona Serial Number page and the Smith Corona Silent By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
