The Golden Age of Typewriter Evolution: 1870 to 1970

Typewriters from John Wherry's Collection


1912 L.C. Smith & Brothers #5






See more photos of the 1912 L.C. Smith & Brothers #5

Iconic Design and Capable “Visible” Typewriter


The 1912 L.C. Smith & Brothers Typewriter uses a 4-row, Qwerty, 42-key, frontstroke impact mechanism.

This handsome machine includes ball bearing type bars which provide a very easy, crisp typing experience.

You will note in the accompanying close-up photos that the decal on the paper tray advertises the strong selling point of “Writing in Sight,” stressing that many other competing contemporary typewriters were still upstrike machines typing on the bottom of the platen, preventing the typist from immediately seeing what had been typed.

The machine has a three-position ribbon key that controls whether the top or the bottom of the ribbon is used when typing — or whether no ribbon rises into place for typing stencils. This typewriter has a 10.25” newly-replaced platen, wider than most other typewriters at that time.

If one were looking for a central-casting, turn-of-the-century, iconic typewriter to star in a murder-mystery movie, this dashing machine would be a good candidate.

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Overall condition: Good. Excellent Decals.
Year: 1912
Serial No.: 168817-5
Type language: English
Manufactured by the L.C. Smith & Brothers Typewriter Company, Syracuse, New York, USA.