Typewriter Video Series - Episode 77: Smith-Corona Sterling

[@johntapp1650]

I have a 1958 Smith-Corona Silent Super, sky blue with white keys. Beautiful by any measure, straight typer, light touch. Rough, rugged, reliable. These Smith-Coronas do have a propensity for snapping linkages once in awhile. They're spring-loaded, and every so often one of these machines in the world will snap one or two. Nothing to be swerked about, just reattach, retention, and go another ten years.

[@margaretstoner4701]

You are to cool for school. SERIOUSLY...An EXCELLENT VIDEO. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BACK AN ITEM THAT MAYBE OBSOLETE NOW...HOWEVER...SOMEDAY COMPUTERS WILL CRASH. GREAT VIDEO MY FRIEND. 💗

[@10106106]

Thanks for what you are doing. Just purchased my first Sterling. Keep up the videos please!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Nice review and cool typeface/font. I like the idea of donating to the local school. One of my sons brought his typewriter in for show and tell a couple years ago and it was a big hit. Good luck with the Skyriter hunt--they're good little typers.

[@BokBarber]

I think the reason for the rattly sound from your Sterling is probably the same as what I ran into; it appears to be missing the cork rest that sits under the type bars.

[@someonespadre]

My 50s Tower space bar required an extra press against the stops. Adjusted it, still pretty low but it works for me.

[@StewartEngart]

My Sterling has the same cover. Originally bought in NC

[@ibsoarin]

Joe, My father's 1946 Smith~Corona Super Speed 1A19329xx-14 typewriter is missing the "line space handle fulcrum screw". I have scrounged through all of my typewriter specific screws and cannot find a replacement screw. Do you have a recommendation who might be able to supply this specialized screw? The screw obviously has a shoulder and smaller size screw thread? I am anxious to get this typewriter fixed for my father. This is his primary typewriter and I have found that his old habits die hard. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Mark.

[@Titere05]

I had the same thing happen to me with my Silent Super when I was cleaning the panels, a beige stuff started coming off and I thought it was the paint, but it was just the yuck dissolving

[@jeffhill9406]

I am in the process of restoring a 1952 Smith-Corona Sterling, and I cannot get the comb to go back in all the way. Any tips?

[@ElliotBrownJingles]

I have the same typewriter but for the life of me can't figure out how to take out the carriage. Edit: watched on a bit further and my question was answered. Thank you sir!

[@albertoestrella5098]

let me ask you a Question please ' Is this a Portable typewriter ? I,m trying to buy one like it .

[@Rodrigo-on9fo]

Buenos días, tengo una smith corona Sterling, muy similar a la Silent , me preguntaba si había tenido algún problema a la restauración de la máquina, yo tengo un problema con el carro de la máquina de escribir , al pulsar la barra espaciadora la máquina de escribir va de uno en uno de espacio en espacio , pero llega a un punto en el que al pulsar la barra espaciadora o las teclas con las letras , que Salta, pasa 5 espacios o 7 en diferentes partes del recorrido del carro , sabría cómo arreglarlo , ? Gracias Felicidades por el video una joya la máquina , esta nueva !!!!! 😃😃😃😃😃, Tiene algún email , para enviarle algunas fotos? .

[@iancognito6920]

shame we couldnt see you doing it Joe

[@KanOfWhoopass]

Wonderful video! I found a beautiful SC 5 series Silent in amazingly new condition. Not even a spec of dust. I love the brown and green of the machine. The finish is a bit scratched on the back where it locks into the case. Any tips on touching up the finish? The texture seems difficult to replicate. Also it has the black square case that needs recovering. Might there be a source that sells the vintage style fabric? I’d also love to find an original vinyl cover. Great video! I look forward to more!

[@LeonAllanDavis]

Use canned air followed by Simple Green in a spray bottle. Then WD-40. I like 3-in-1 for lubing. Wipe down the exterior with car wax. But lemon oil works well too...

[@supermario326]

como quito la palanca que da el espacio en maquina de escribir lc smith & bros.?. gracias

[@Rodrigo-on9fo]

Hi , l have a smith Corona Sterling , its similar , like silent model , do you have any problems at the restauration ? ,

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Ensure the escapement mechanism is properly cleaned and degreased to prevent skipping.

[@Rodrigo-on9fo]

@@Joe_VanCleave , ok , thanks , I have a similar problem , do yo speak spanish? , do you have any email or Instagram to sell you some typewriter photos.

[@trevorlondon3750]

I use bike innertube for all kinds of things. Used it in my typing desk between the frame and top. Yesterday I bought one of these, also a Silent Super and Electra SS (that's a beauty typewriter and I cant wait to see how it types). My new Sterling is pretty clean, the owner said they had it cleaned some years ago and it shows. Also very soft platen rubber on it. But the case... Easily the ugliest color in my collection and (why!) there were some very ugly colors those days... I've too many in this brown and I'm looking for an excuse to paint some of them black. My "main" machine is malfunctioning and needs to be put in drydock. I needed a working typewriter. Ended up bringing home 8. The Sterling looked like the cleanest one of the lot and your video helped me get it running quick. Take the ten minutes and watch the KZbin video before you take it apart, theres always a youtube video on something and its because people like this guy care!

[@punkj1093]

I have a 1953 SC Sterling typewriter. Got it as a gift two years ago, and there is a lot of grit and grime throughout the interior. I have cleaned the typefaces and bars, but almost every key jams still. What techniques and cleaning products did you use to clean the interior and between the typebars?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I use naphtha (lighter fluid or smokeless lamp oil), followed by alcohol, then repeated exercise of the type bars. If it's still hanging up, use PB Blaster (available in auto parts stores in US as a degreaser), but it's very smelly and you'll need to follow it up with alcohol to flush it out.

[@punkj1093]

I appreciate your response and help. It took some time, but it worked greatly and now the type bars work like new. Thank you!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

All typewriters with a moving carriage use a spring motor to power the movement. When you perform a carriage return you are winding up the spring motor. The escapement then releases the stored energy one space at a time as you type.

[@georgecindyaustria4995]

Joe, I own a 1966 SC Sterling (5AX 412882). The touch selector lever is really loose and I’m wondering if that’s normal. I don’t see any disconnected linkage.

[@rossman1600]

I'm about to take one of these apart. What was the trick to getting the comb back on?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

It's tricky maneuvering the comb back in place behind the back row of keys. Can't explain it any better, I think you have to hold your mouth just right! :)

[@rossman1600]

Thanks. I will keep that in mind. Maybe there is some guidance in the "Bible"? I own a copy as well.

[@islaeve5268]

I found an almost new skywriter at a retro fair and it's extremely good and was only £15!

[@dayvhonloving3001]

You showed a manual in this video an I have an very good condition of the one on the right side second down an seem to can’t find anything thing on KZbin about that exact one or worth if you could help that would be great

[@johnnyballgame2739]

Hi Joe, really enjoying the vids. Just got a 5 series sterling and if you don’t mind handing out a bit of free advice, the carriage is free floating but defaults all the way to the right and I can’t get it to center or advance with typing. Any idea of how I could fix this? Hoping it’s a simple fix for a newbie to the manual world. Thank you and please keep the videos coming!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Sounds like a problem with the escapement. If you want to tackle the repair yourself, consider buying one of Ted Munk's Typewriter Repair Bibles. But are you certain the carriage wants to move to the right? If the escapement isn't holding it in place, it should be pulled to the left by the spring motor.

[@maartenrijs3]

In addition to lacking the easy platen release, early sterlings like yours also lack a ratchet release for typing super scripts and subscripts while retaining the original line spacing. I notice yours so lacks the release which would be a silvery lever next to the left end of the platen and by the platen collar.

[@copyrightfreevideobyttf]

Good for you for rescuing it Joe! If it's no longer in your collection, hope it went to a good home!

[@tmunk]

"N" and "M" typeslug might be cockeyed in such a way that you might need to adjust the typeslug itself to get the leftside descenders to print right (if the capitals are likewise light in the lower left, then that is probably the case). There's an addendum available for the TMTRB that covers adjusting typeslugs in detail: drive.google.com/open?id=0B9DocmExIHgXaGNreHpqSnpTSUU

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Great thought, Ted!

[@floridasaltlife]

Stellar video

[@bradcarpenter2396]

He likes Smith Corona's .

[@jenniferrice6702]

Joe - I recently bought a Skyriter, knowing nothing about it at the time. My daughter started taking it apart to clean it, then had to abandon the project. It has a case and is now in several pieces, but if you'd be interested in putting it back together I'd sell it for $20 plus shipping. Are you interested in talking about it?

[@KurisuYamato]

Just saw one of these beauties at an antique store. The seller wanted a bit much for it but it's on my agenda to grab one if providence swings my way, as it did today for an alternate find: Letter-Riter DeLuxe! Still, Smith Corona is my favourite brand, and to that end knowing the feel of them like I do and knowing the quality of them, even this machine I'm sure would be fine to take out and use. This particular one being a script typeface is quite neat, but does conflict with that issue of "too many machines", not withstanding its special history. It's not one you can really give up.

[@feliperibeiro2440]

Nice work. What kind of products did you use to get it cleaned like that?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Lots of brushing; compressed air (gently); isopropyl alcohol; naphtha; spray electronic grade degreaser. Is elbow grease a product? :)

[@feliperibeiro2440]

haha I'm sure it is. Now, I have a real doubt about how to use Naphta. I've read some manuals, but it's still not quite clear to me. How do you do it?

[@Scizzors512]

I will replicate the comment posted on the Silent variant video (shamely through paste, sorry!) *Ahem I hope I am able to step into the world of typewriters, but since I'm 15 (at the time of writing), I require my parents to act for me, and I really hope that things tip into my favor. It seems as if they absolutely will, but you never know when it will slip away. I happen to be on the path of owning a Smith-Corona, whether it will be a silent or a sterling seems to be away from me, but I will get either one (one can only hope so desperately). I am already practicing two finger typing on my normal computer. Btw that is one sweet typewriter, the video is playing in the background and I aspire to be a writer! There is an inexplicable feeling of joy when I think of the prospect of writing. I really don't care about the waiting time for the outcome, I really want to know whether or not I will own a typewriter or not.

[@asaadnaeem4121]

We now in time corona

[@bakerboys76]

smith corona silent 5s198148 serial number Any one know year and value

[@adamjenkins3333]

Typewriter Database

[@rustyalcorta3643]

I never liked the SKYRITER just my opinion of course.