Typing With Mario

Smith Corona Electric Portable 5TE (1956+) 

 This machine is the find of a lifetime for me! I had always dreamed of owning a cursive font typewriter, but never thought I would find one in the wild. I was scrolling through marketplace this November, when I stumbled upon this machine listed for free about 30 minutes away from me. I postponed my other plans and was in the car in 10 minutes driving to pick it up. Machine was described as needing repair, as the keys were sticking. I have repeated the cleaning and oiling process twice, but the issue persists. It only happens when the machine is cold, once warmed up, the issue goes away. I am positive the machine just needs further cleaning and oiling. 

Update 2/19/23: Still having issues with the keys sticking after the machine has sat for awhile. Have tried oiling the machine, cleaning the machine to no avail. 

• Ranking: Coming Soon

• Build Quality: 

• Ease of Use 

• Typing Feel: 

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 

• Value: 5/5

• Reliability

• Good for everyday use? Yes

• Recommended: Yes

Smith Corona Coronet "Automatic 12" (1960's)

 These have to be one of my favorite machines to type on! So simple and easy to use! I have several of these for a reason! These are excellent workhorses and will NOT let you down! They also feature touch control, which allows you to change the pressure needed to press on the keys. (Knob is on bottom of machine). I love the woodgrain versions of these machines! They are affordable machines and very easy to come by at your local thrift store!

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: 4/5 (Keys can become loose)

• Ease of Use 5/5

• Typing Feel: 5/5

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 5/5

• Value: 5/5

• Reliability:5/5

• Good for everyday use? Yes

• Recommended: Yes

Sears Medalist 12 (1960's)

 Here is one of the many rebadges to the Smith Corona Coronet Line. Instead of the automatic return, this one has the manual return lever. This one also came with it's original manual and dust cover! The Sears logo also lights up red! How cool is that!

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: 4/5 (Keys can become loose)

• Ease of Use 5/5

• Typing Feel: 5/5

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 5/5

• Value: 5/5

• Reliability:5/5

• Good for everyday use? Yes

• Recommended: Yes

Royal Electress NEW 2024!

 Found this on Marketplace last Fall. Updates Coming soon. 

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: 

• Ease of Use 

• Typing Feel: 

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 5/5

• Value: 

• Reliability:

• Good for everyday use? No

• Recommended:

IBM Model B (1954+)

  I had a family member pick up this machine when I was out of town. It was free, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. When I returned from my vacation, I plugged it in only to get an ominous low hum. It sounded like the motor was burned out. I remembered something I had learned from my typewriter research. When machines sit for a prolonged period of time the components (belts, shafts) can get gummed up and become stuck unable to move under their own power. I unplugged the machine again and manually pushed the belt/motor mechanism underneath the machine. I felt it loosen up. I plugged the machine in, tuned on the power and viola! It worked! Also while looking under the machine I noticed a note that says: "P.R. 11/8/67" This indicated that the Power Roller, a troublesome part within these machines has been replaced, albeit a very long time ago to make a difference. The problem with the Power Roller, is that they do not last long and a required for the machine to make an imprint on the paper. As the part wears out, the force of the imprint becomes less and less and eventually type quality becomes unreliable. It still types, certain characters just do not print hard enough on the paper. I may try a new ribbon, but I know that will not work if the P.R. is bad. 

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: n/a

• Ease of Use 5/5

• Typing Feel: n/a

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 5/5

• Value: 5/5 

• Reliability: n/a (power roller issues)

• Good for everyday use? No

• Recommended: No (Yes if you can replace Power Roller) I have not attempted this repair yet. 

IBM Correcting Selectric II (1970's)

 The IBM Selectric, a mainstay in offices for years, was manufactured from 1961-1986. These machines were workhorses of their day and many are still in use for specialized forms that cannot be typed on a computer. As they age though, they are not without their gremlins. Mine works well, except the carriage gets stuck sometimes. They are VERY complicated! I would not attempt to work on myself. May have mine serviced soon. I believe this one was manufactured in 1975-1976 according to the serial #. 

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: 4/5

• Ease of Use 5/5

• Typing Feel: 4/5

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 5/5

• Value: 3/5 

• Reliability:3/5 (Complicated to repair, carriage on my machine jams occasionally)

• Good for everyday use? Yes

• Recommended: Yes

(video coming soon)

Smith Corona/Montgomery Ward Correction Electric I (1980-81)

 I picked this machine up from an elderly woman in a sketchy part of town for $15 on Marketplace. I believe this machine is a rarer model, as these are usually named under the similar XT line. The only con with this machine, is the ribbon is a specialized 1 5/8 inch size. Also, the correction tape leaves a MESS in the machine. I wasn't able to clean it out all of the way. But the correction feature works very well. The spacebar on this machine is odd as it is made of a cheap plastic that blends in with the case. There are a few mechanisms, such as the power space that feel cheap. But it is definitely a nice machine to use daily. This typewriter is very light and portable.

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: 3/5 (A few cheap feeling parts)

• Ease of Use 5/5

• Typing Feel: 4/5

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 3/5

• Value: 4/5

• Reliability: n/a

• Good for everyday use? Yes

• Recommended: Yes

Smith Corona Coronamatic 2200 (1970's)

 I wasn't looking for a machine this "new". Stopped in a Goodwill store that I NEVER have luck in and found this 100% working Smith Corona for $3!!! At that price, how could I say no!? Has an excellent feel to it! Just wish it had the correction feature from the my Correction Electric I. 

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: 5/5

• Ease of Use 5/5

• Typing Feel: 5/5

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 5/5

• Value: 5/5

• Reliability:5/5

• Good for everyday use? Yes

• Recommended: Yes

Smith Corona Office Electric 250 (1960's/70's)

 There is a funny story with this machine... I went to my local Savers one day earlier this year and saw this Smith Corona, I already had several, but I decided to plug it in and test it. When, I did I heard that familiar motor hum. Once I hit return though, I could tell something was wrong,. The return key became stuck and I had to pry it up. I visited Savers again a week later, still there. Visited a week or two later, STILL there! I thought, "hmm... maybe I should give this one another look". This time I found out that this machine came with power backspace! That may not sound like a lot but it functions SO much better than the manual backspace that is on all of my other SCM's. This is the only SCM of this style in my collection that has power backspace. I put it in my cart and took it home. 

Update 2/19/23: This machine had been sitting on my typewriter shelf unused for quite awhile because of the sticky return key. Yesterday, I finally pulled it off of the shelf and decided to fix that pesky return key. I took the key off and after a little finagling was able to get it working properly again. I dusted the machine and put it through it's paces. I noticed that this machine seems to be more powerful and has a smoother key feel than the "Coronet" line of typewriters. 

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: 4/5 (Keys can become loose)

• Ease of Use 5/5

• Typing Feel: 5/5

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 5/5

• Value: 5/5

• Reliability: n/a

• Good for everyday use? Yes

• Recommended: Yes

Olypia Report De Luxe NEW 2024!

 Found at the thrift store about a year ago. This machine has a very nice typing feel to it. 

• Ranking: 

• Build Quality: 5/5 

• Ease of Use 5/5

• Typing Feel: 5/5

• Aesthetic/Design Factor: 5/5

• Value: 5/5

• Reliability: n/a

• Good for everyday use? Yes

• Recommended: Yes