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Home » Olympia » SM9 » 1978 #5620198
1978 Olympia SM9 Serial # 5620198 1978 Olympia SM9 typewriter, Serial # 5620198 Andrew Nold's 1978 Olympia SM9 typewriter. 2024-04-14 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Andrew Nold: 1978 Olympia SM9 Serial # 5620198 This typewriter is a very nice typer! It is a joy to use, with great key action and smooth margins, switches, and a snappy paper holder. It is really a perfect typewriter, and I could see this easily being the only typewriter someone would need. It came in a nice case (though rather bulky) and a manual. I spent more time trying to get this typewriter working than any other in my collection, but it is a gift- and the person receiving the typewriter wanted this exact model. Even if I was keeping this typewriter long term, the ease with which it types makes the troubleshooting time more than worth it.

The story:
I was looking for the Olympia SM9 for a long time and finally found it sitting in a thrift store in MI for 15 dollars. After bringing it home to clean and refurbish, I realized that the ribbon vibrator was not raising the ribbon, the ribbon was not advancing, and the color selector switch was jammed. I cleaned and tinkered extensively, going so far as to consider bringing the typewriter to a shop (because having this exact model working is important). Seeing that a typewriter shop would cost hundreds of dollars, I started tinkering with renewed vigor and finally found that two pawls had become tangled on the ribbon advance gear, leading to all the problems. I will add a link to the YouTube video in which I explain the problem/fix better.

1978 Olympia SM9 #5620198

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Andrew Nold (EagleJuan)
Created: 04-14-2024 at 08:46AM
Last Edit: 04-14-2024 at 08:59AM

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

Description:

This typewriter is a very nice typer! It is a joy to use, with great key action and smooth margins, switches, and a snappy paper holder. It is really a perfect typewriter, and I could see this easily being the only typewriter someone would need. It came in a nice case (though rather bulky) and a manual. I spent more time trying to get this typewriter working than any other in my collection, but it is a gift- and the person receiving the typewriter wanted this exact model. Even if I was keeping this typewriter long term, the ease with which it types makes the troubleshooting time more than worth it.

The story:
I was looking for the Olympia SM9 for a long time and finally found it sitting in a thrift store in MI for 15 dollars. After bringing it home to clean and refurbish, I realized that the ribbon vibrator was not raising the ribbon, the ribbon was not advancing, and the color selector switch was jammed. I cleaned and tinkered extensively, going so far as to consider bringing the typewriter to a shop (because having this exact model working is important). Seeing that a typewriter shop would cost hundreds of dollars, I started tinkering with renewed vigor and finally found that two pawls had become tangled on the ribbon advance gear, leading to all the problems. I will add a link to the YouTube video in which I explain the problem/fix better.

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

Photos:




This mystery service sticker is not neat enough for me to understand what was replaced.
This mystery service sticker is not neat enough for me to understand what was replaced.

This + - lever is located under the left ribbon spool. I am not sure what it does.
This + - lever is located under the left ribbon spool. I am not sure what it does.


This extendable paper holder pops up when you press a button. It works great- much better than any other typewriter with a similar feature. This feels well build and heavy duty.
This extendable paper holder pops up when you press a button. It works great- much better than any other typewriter with a similar feature. This feels well build and heavy duty.



The case feels large and too bulky, but is correctly sized.
The case feels large and too bulky, but is correctly sized.

The typewriter sits in a nice plastic retainer. It is a study case.
The typewriter sits in a nice plastic retainer. It is a study case.

Typewriter layout diagram from the Olympia SM manual included in case.
Typewriter layout diagram from the Olympia SM manual included in case.

Hunter: Andrew Nold (EagleJuan)

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Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 459

Collecting and Fixing Typewriters: A hobby that really is just an excuse to write more letter to a friend.


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olympia SM9 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olympia Serial Number page and the Olympia SM9 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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