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196X Smith Corona Secretarial 315 Serial # 7EL 1504954 196X Smith Corona Secretarial 315 typewriter, Serial # 7EL 1504954 James Grooms's 196X Smith Corona Secretarial 315 typewriter. 2026-05-06 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of James Grooms: 196X Smith Corona Secretarial 315 Serial # 7EL 1504954 New for 1968. This one rolled out with press releases and a large ad campaign. Smith Corona created the office compact market and dominated it. Olivetti responded with the Praxis 48. This is clearly a counter to that. It features anti-jam and tons of speed. In fact, by my testing, it will deliver 800 characters per minute. This is close to the 840 Olivetti boasted about. However, in practice, the P48s I have tested run in the mid 600s.

So, despite the conventional wisdom, this is not a 210/220/250 in a big metal shell. Maybe the components in this came from the 400 series standards? Along with a redesigned escapement, the rack and pinion carriage return is now cable-driven via a solenoid with a proper carriage dash pot (de-accelerator). The frame is braced, and a number of parts are HD compared to the typical 250s. The escape ratchet dog is pushed out of the way by the return mechanism on return.

After a big R&D effort, why was it dropped from the lineup by c 1970?

This one had been serviced, so it was clean. The only issue was that they mangled the rear carriage panel springs.

196X Smith Corona Secretarial 315 #7EL 1504954

Status: My Collection
Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)
Created: 04-25-2026 at 04:21AM
Last Edit: 05-06-2026 at 07:21AM

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Description:

New for 1968. This one rolled out with press releases and a large ad campaign. Smith Corona created the office compact market and dominated it. Olivetti responded with the Praxis 48. This is clearly a counter to that. It features anti-jam and tons of speed. In fact, by my testing, it will deliver 800 characters per minute. This is close to the 840 Olivetti boasted about. However, in practice, the P48s I have tested run in the mid 600s.

So, despite the conventional wisdom, this is not a 210/220/250 in a big metal shell. Maybe the components in this came from the 400 series standards? Along with a redesigned escapement, the rack and pinion carriage return is now cable-driven via a solenoid with a proper carriage dash pot (de-accelerator). The frame is braced, and a number of parts are HD compared to the typical 250s. The escape ratchet dog is pushed out of the way by the return mechanism on return.

After a big R&D effort, why was it dropped from the lineup by c 1970?

This one had been serviced, so it was clean. The only issue was that they mangled the rear carriage panel springs.

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A 70s era 300 series machine.
A 70s era 300 series machine.

Secretarial 315.
Secretarial 315.

segment bearings/brackets beefed up.
segment bearings/brackets beefed up.

beefed up segment bearing and mounts.
beefed up segment bearing and mounts.

Larger segment pivot rod and modified mounts to frame.
Larger segment pivot rod and modified mounts to frame.

Different ribbon lift/card guide.
Different ribbon lift/card guide.

never seen a SC escapement like this. The rocker is entirely different.
never seen a SC escapement like this. The rocker is entirely different.

On return, this lever pushes the ratchet dog out of the way.
On return, this lever pushes the ratchet dog out of the way.

Frame braced,
Frame braced,

gone are the two return gears off the motor.
gone are the two return gears off the motor.

Solenoid activated return.
Solenoid activated return.

bell is moved and strikes from the side. Gone is the thud bell.
bell is moved and strikes from the side. Gone is the thud bell.

larger motor clutch assembly.
larger motor clutch assembly.

Switch also locks out return mech.
Switch also locks out return mech.

Part of the return mech drive system.
Part of the return mech drive system.

return mechanism. gone is the rack drive.
return mechanism. gone is the rack drive.

another view of the eliminated rack drive for return/line advance.
another view of the eliminated rack drive for return/line advance.


Motion setup changed for frame cross member support.
Motion setup changed for frame cross member support.








The next version. Sometimes a 500 and at others a Five Hundred. Does this have the advanced carriage return?
The next version. Sometimes a 500 and at others a Five Hundred. Does this have the advanced carriage return?

Hunter: James Grooms (jgrooms)

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Typewriters are the perfect blend of using one's technical skills, history and functional purpose. My goal is type tested machines. My interests are not isolated to any one area. For example, I am a big fan of Smith Corona electrics, mid century electrics and all things Royal.


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