1958 Olympia SM3 #1329225
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Blind Assassin (BlindAssassin111)
Created: 10-25-2026 at 05:39PM
Last Edit: 10-25-2026 at 05:39PM
Find on Ebay #AD
Find on Etsy #AD
Description:
Got this machine from Pennsylvania in September 2026.
Very clean after a service, and types great. Bought it mainly for the typeface but love the gray crinkle and burgundy key combo.
Also learned a valuable lesson for an SM, always make sure the rests for the ribbon vibrator are set properly, because if it sits too low, it will prevent the outside columns from actuating the escapement when on stencil only. The vibrator blocks the action on stencil solely because it isn't lifting out of the way in time like it would when in black or red (given you know...it doesn't move lol). Oddly it doesn't affect the inner columns at all. So always adjust so the slugs just barely miss the top of the ribbon when on
Typeface: Ro 83 Cubic (real name unknown until we find a 1960, or a few years prior, RaRo catalogue. Don't know where the entry for the machine 449 earlier than mine got the name from but it isn't verified)
Layout: US QWERTY
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Blind Assassin (BlindAssassin111)
Blind Assassin's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1087
Started collecting in March 2025. Have had quite a few machines so far, but trying to keep limit to specific machines so I don't have too many. Currently have ~20-30
My current collection goal is to own all cubic typefaces, with the limitation that each must be on a different model. Just to keep things interesting so everything has its' own place in the collection. I also have a few others that I just wanted to own, so not everything is cubic. Edit: Well not all cubics, over time I have learned that even with all of the ones I own, there are at least another 8 minimum and I don't have the space for more sadly. So cutting it off early sadly.
Cubics in the collection:
- Caracteres CSA 11A Cubic Pica: Facit TP1
- Novatype Recta 38: Loose typebars (plan to install eventually)
- Olympia Senatorial No.71: Olympia SM7
- Ro 83 Cubic (real name unknown): Olympia SM3
- Ro 85 Cubic Pica: Loose typebars (will be a slug swap into something eventually)
- Ro 87 Cubic Elite: Voss Business-Riter
- SCM Classic Pica No. 85 DC: Sears Medalist Electric 12 (originally just loose bars from a repair shop)
- SCM Classic Elite No. 86 S: Loose bars (came from a destroyed Electra 220)
- SCM Tempo No. 93 (real name unknown, this is the daisy wheel name of the typeface): Loose bars (eventually will be in an SCM electric)
- Setag Techno Pica: Hermes 3000
- Setag Techno Elite: Hermes 2000 (slug swap)
- Zeta P7 Techno Pica: Consul 231.3
Sold:
- Brother 0 Cubic Pica (real name unknown): Wizard Truetype (typebar swap)
- Ro 83 Cubic (real name unknown): Torpedo 18b
- Ro 87 Cubic Elite: Adler J2, and Princess 300 (typebar swap from a Maritsa 11)
- SCM Classic Pica No. 85 U: Electra 210
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olympia SM3 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olympia Serial Number page and the Olympia SM3 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
