1957 Smith Corona Silent Super #5T 483650X

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 12-31-2025 at 11:59AM
Last Edit: 12-31-2025 at 12:10PM

Description Hunter 12 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

Around August of 2002, I was given a 5-series Smith-Corona Sterling (S/N 5A 634584) by a work colleague. This machine is still in my collection, but I have not posted it on TWDB yet as of 12/31/25. My first writing sample from this Sterling is dated 8/24/02. In that sample, I talk about how I would like to collect each of the 5-series machines, and I list the Sterling, Clipper, Silent, and Silent Super in particular. This never happened, but it did start me searching for 5-series Smith-Corona portables on eBay. The result was my winning the subject machine, this 1957 Silent Super in Alpine Blue, S/N 5T 483650X.

My first typing sample with this Silent Super is dated 8/9/2003, in which I state that I was beginning to use this typewriter "many months" after acquiring it. This makes me believe that I acquired it in late 2002 or early 2003. The cost with shipping is lost, but from vague recollection, I believe I paid in the $50-70 range with shipping. This machine types in Pica (I keep forgetting to type that in the typing sample). It has the earmarks of having been well-used in its life; in cycling circles, there's a term, "beausage", which I think is applicable here, though I'm not aware of its ever having been applied to typewriters. It basically refers to a quality-made item that has wear and patina through heavy use, which perhaps contrary to expectations, renders it more appealing.

This machine has a prominent dealer badge from the Arcade Typewriter Co., Riverside, CA, on the ribbon spool cover. A quick Google search shows that the Arcade Typewriter Co. was run by a Gisela Fieber (born in Hannover, Germany, 6/30/1927; died 2/10/2009) and her husband, Fritz. I enjoy being able to connect these machines to their past history to the extent that is possible; dealer badges can help in this. In this instance, the badge bears witness that this machine was sold and/or serviced by Arcade Typewriter Co., and it's very likely that it passed through the hands of Gisela Fieber and/or her husband Fritz a long time ago!

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

• Link to my Desert Sand Silent Super

Photos:

With case.

Arcade badge.

Ribbon cover up.

Serial number.

Carriage left.

Carriage middle.

Access panel lifted.

Carriage right.

Right quadrant.

Back.

Left quadrant.

Typing sample.

Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)

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Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1004

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.