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
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
Photos:
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
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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.