This blog is the new home of The Mad Farmer Liberation Front. Within you'll find lots of References to Retrotech (mainly of the typewriter variety) as well as Whimsical and Amateurish Poetry and the occasional Commentary on Whatever I'm Thinking About at the Moment.
Playing the Good Samaritan-Typospherian, eh? Good for you. My own plastic policy is simple: Only Olivetti. I do have have a faux bois Royal Caravan but that was before my dogma. Yeah, yeah.
Voss, Cole Steel, Torpedo, cost you the least??? The universe loves Duffy.
Shame my one seriously plastic Euro-Typer (late model Dutch Tippa) has cracked and broken lugs where it screws to the metal chassis. Sort of puts me off - but I like the style of those SMCs nonetheless. Oh yeas, and I paid more for that Tippa than any of my Olympias. Capere pacisci
Rob: Price vs. Value - some kind of inverse law of typewriterly awesomeness.
RP: definitely an irresistible price. I DO love the looks of this particular SCM - better than the SCM-badged ones of the Galaxie and Classic persuasion. I thought at first that the white would make a nice blank slate for pimping. But now I like the white. I did re-do the bottom - the only big piece of steel on the thing. I like red better than brown-gold.
My best typewriters cost me $25 and $10 (a Corona Silent and Smith-Corona Silent) and are in perfect condition. However, my most expensive were a Corona 3, a Rooy Portable, and an early Adler Favorit (all in good working condition). It is odd that the typewriters I use most are the least expensive and in the best condition. But my expensive ones are dear too, although not technically the best for typing (although perfectly functional, their value comes more from their age/rarity and condition).
That is a great Sears typewriter. It does not seem to have a padded carriage return lever like the Smith-Corona models. Changeable Type kits are part of my collection too, and these machines are the ones which use them.
J.F. - you're right - no padding on the arm. It's some kind of brushed stainless thing, that I've not seen on other SCM machines. I also like the paragraph button that's like a whole separate tabulator system. It's a keeper. I've never found a SCM (or re-badged) machine that came with the changeable type kit. They must get lost pretty early in the typewriter's ownership!
I agree that the red paint looks better than the original brown. SCM is one of my very favorite brands, and this Sears is very attractive as well as an excellent typer.
Both machines are weirdly compelling and tacky. I would have bought them too. I have a soft spot for the weird angularity and washed out colors of the 1970's.
Playing the Good Samaritan-Typospherian, eh? Good for you. My own plastic policy is simple: Only Olivetti. I do have have a faux bois Royal Caravan but that was before my dogma. Yeah, yeah.
ReplyDeleteVoss, Cole Steel, Torpedo, cost you the least???
The universe loves Duffy.
Shame my one seriously plastic Euro-Typer (late model Dutch Tippa) has cracked and broken lugs where it screws to the metal chassis. Sort of puts me off - but I like the style of those SMCs nonetheless. Oh yeas, and I paid more for that Tippa than any of my Olympias. Capere pacisci
ReplyDeleteThat Sears is good looking, isn't it? And the price was irresistible. This is how our homes fill up...
ReplyDeleteIDLT: indeed. I've been lucky with portables.
ReplyDeleteRob: Price vs. Value - some kind of inverse law of typewriterly awesomeness.
RP: definitely an irresistible price. I DO love the looks of this particular SCM - better than the SCM-badged ones of the Galaxie and Classic persuasion. I thought at first that the white would make a nice blank slate for pimping. But now I like the white. I did re-do the bottom - the only big piece of steel on the thing. I like red better than brown-gold.
My best typewriters cost me $25 and $10 (a Corona Silent and Smith-Corona Silent) and are in perfect condition. However, my most expensive were a Corona 3, a Rooy Portable, and an early Adler Favorit (all in good working condition). It is odd that the typewriters I use most are the least expensive and in the best condition. But my expensive ones are dear too, although not technically the best for typing (although perfectly functional, their value comes more from their age/rarity and condition).
ReplyDeleteThat is a great Sears typewriter. It does not seem to have a padded carriage return lever like the Smith-Corona models. Changeable Type kits are part of my collection too, and these machines are the ones which use them.
J.F. - you're right - no padding on the arm. It's some kind of brushed stainless thing, that I've not seen on other SCM machines. I also like the paragraph button that's like a whole separate tabulator system. It's a keeper.
ReplyDeleteI've never found a SCM (or re-badged) machine that came with the changeable type kit. They must get lost pretty early in the typewriter's ownership!
I agree that the red paint looks better than the original brown. SCM is one of my very favorite brands, and this Sears is very attractive as well as an excellent typer.
ReplyDeleteBoth machines are weirdly compelling and tacky. I would have bought them too. I have a soft spot for the weird angularity and washed out colors of the 1970's.
ReplyDelete