1972 Olympia SM9
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1972 Olympia SM9The Ultimate Precision Typewriter
As Richard Polt, author of the book,
The Typewriter Revolution, says, “If you had to pick just one typewriter to use for the rest of your life, you wouldn't go wrong with an Olympia SM9.”
This typewriter incorporates virtually everything the typist in the 1970’s could wish for.
The entire mechanical design and build is precise, functional and a delight to use. It includes on/off tabulator keys on the left side of the keyboard, making it trivial to set and delete tab change tab positions.
The model SM9 incorporates: line space choices including 1-, 1.5- (accommodating super scripts) and 2-line spacing ), single and half-space letter spacing handy for making corrections - and an early step toward the proportional spacing that eventually became standard on IBM Selectric typewriters and today’s computers.
Notches in the plexiglass alignment guides allow a pencil to be inserted for drawing horizontal and vertical lines and boxes by moving the carriage back and forth, up and down. Easily positionable tabulator settings are convenient when typing, also for dividing type into neat columns with borders.
The usual keys and levers include shift, shift-lock, margin release, tab and backspace keys as well as the platen release, line spacing, ribbon reverse, 3-position ribbon settings and touch control levers.
Everything works smoothly and precisely. I cannot be sure whether the 1972 SM9 model uses the Modern Elite or the Modern Pica font.
There is also a simple setting for heavy to light key tap adjustments inside the hinged top cover. There are settings for two ribbon colors, and a stencil setting. The pushbutton, telescoping paper support and line index bar, available on Olympia machines for many years, is also available on the SM9.
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The 1972 Olympia SM9 DeLuxe Portable uses a 4-row, 44-key, frontstrike impact mechanism.
Overall condition: Very good
Year: 1972
Serial No.: 4437664
Type language: English
Manufactured by Deutsche Werke A.G., Erfurt, Germany
