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1956 Smith Corona Electric Portable Serial # 5TE 103431 1956 Smith Corona Electric Portable typewriter, Serial # 5TE 103431 James Grooms's 1956 Smith Corona Electric Portable typewriter. 2024-10-06 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of James Grooms: 1956 Smith Corona Electric Portable Serial # 5TE 103431 The earliest - to date - twdb serial number for the 5TE.

These machines were revolutionary. S-C makes the 6 series manuals second tier offerings. So when you compare your whatever to a 6, remember S-C is driving everyone else under the table with this electrified 5 series mechanism in a 5 body, with 5 controls. Easily a Top 5 game changer in the modern history of typewriters. Ted needs to write a full blown history on it.

Despite a few scars, this is a very nice example. O rings of course and no you don't need the $45 pair on ebay! It could use a bit more detailing, but it is in the typing rotation and hard to take out. The Q/q strikes soft and the shop manual has a complicated method for correcting this but I am going to need some more specialized pliers for this.
The perfect machine if it had 1/2 line spacing. 10/5/3/3/3/3 = 27/27

1956 Smith Corona Electric Portable #5TE 103431

Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
Created: 04-02-2024 at 06:24AM
Last Edit: 10-06-2024 at 10:19AM


Description:

The earliest - to date - twdb serial number for the 5TE.

These machines were revolutionary. S-C makes the 6 series manuals second tier offerings. So when you compare your whatever to a 6, remember S-C is driving everyone else under the table with this electrified 5 series mechanism in a 5 body, with 5 controls. Easily a Top 5 game changer in the modern history of typewriters. Ted needs to write a full blown history on it.

Despite a few scars, this is a very nice example. O rings of course and no you don't need the $45 pair on ebay! It could use a bit more detailing, but it is in the typing rotation and hard to take out. The Q/q strikes soft and the shop manual has a complicated method for correcting this but I am going to need some more specialized pliers for this.
The perfect machine if it had 1/2 line spacing. 10/5/3/3/3/3 = 27/27

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Heat sink vs later fan cooled. Make sure it doesn't sink into your pad.
Heat sink vs later fan cooled. Make sure it doesn't sink into your pad.

touch control
touch control





Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)

James Grooms's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 7876

As with many, the bug is back there somewhere due to an Underwood No. 5. My grandfather was on a small town school board and used one for this. My parents had a yellow Royal Safari that I used to index card everything, including a beer can collection. Collection syndrome clue! The long dormant tic was activated when my neighbors left a Remington Quiet Riter on the curb when they moved in circa 2010, Yes a believe it or not story is next, when a Hermes 3000 comes home with the girlfriend from work for free. Yes, free! From there the addiction is full steam. And yes, I now have a No. 5. Typewriters are the perfect blend of using one's technical skills, history and functional purpose.



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