Smith Corona Electra 120 = Best Mechanical Electric Typewriter . . . Ever !

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Highlighting the electric SCM typewriter

[@floridagliderpilot4101]

I have a corona electric which looks very similar. It's a beautiful machine! I love it! Made when quality MEANT SOMETHING.

[@monicafajardo8563]

What paper do you use on it?? I recently bought the exact one. Help.

[@denniscass4013]

Just bought an Electra 120 on the basis of this review, and am very satisfied. Thanks, Phoenix Typewriter.

[@messenjah71]

Just bought one from Jot & Tittle. Can't wait to get it!

[@alexnajera3483]

Love your work! You are the greatest when it comes to caring for typewriters!

[@stevendurham9996]

I have an electra, I think. I want to go to My storage space, and look for it, now. Thank You for the good video. Do You refurbish typewriters? I have several: three manuals, and an electric.

[@johnlennon1049]

Love Smith Corona Typewriters!

[@loveisall5520]

I was given this same machine, new, in 1967 by my parents when I took Typing I. Mine was green and had black keys. Passed it on to my older sister when she went to college and she got two degrees as an undergrad and her master's thesis, all typed on this. Amazing typewriter.

[@aphexteknol]

I have an Electra 120 and I love it. I only wish the platen wasn’t rock hard because it is LOUD, even using 3+ backing sheets. The speed you can type at on these machines is unbelievable...

[@RabbiSteve]

Totally agree with everything you said. I may even splurge and change the rubber on this platen, because this machine is right now, my main go-to for getting a lot of work done.

[@danmiller6890]

I own that exact model. Same color even. Absolutely love it. Duane speaks the truth!!!

[@OJ3462]

I got mine for $25

[@monicafajardo8563]

I got mine for $30. What paper do you use??

[@ka-powUSA]

I just bought this model today based on your many KZbin recommendations. Needs a good cleaning due to eraser residue and Wite-Out flakes, but it came with no rust, both belts are in great condition, rugged case with key, and a like-new ribbon. The sole defect is the bell only works intermittently, but I and live without that. No complaints. This may be the best $10 I ever spent! I love flea markets!

[@RabbiSteve]

Thank you for a great little review of a great little typewriter. Question for the channel or for anyone who knows the answer: There is a dial on the bottom of the typewriter, right under the spacebar, which changes the touch pressure. Is there supposed to be a stopping point? Or is it supposed to be continuous (as mine currently is)?

[@sheeva3.0]

Oh I can’t wait to get one!

[@dadtype2339]

Hey Duane, hope you're well man! I have a 1972 Electra 110 (smaller carriage) and it's a beast! Love it! Always imagined mine in a small office, maybe for a newspaper, sitting on a desk overlooking a street some early Monday morning wet and rainy as a journalist comes in with a coffee and the new McDonald's egg McMuffin sandwich, yes it came out in '72. Beautiful work horse, hell, it's a tank of a writing machine ❤

[@thethriftyfawn]

WOW!

[@berniepokorski6608]

My S-C ELECTRA 120 had black keys with white characters.....

[@jacksson9391]

Where can I download an owners manual for this typewriter?

[@thethriftyfawn]

Type 'smith corona electra 120 manual' on google and hit search, then some pdf options will show up immediately 🙂

[@jacksson9391]

@@thethriftyfawn You would think so. I tried that on Google, some sites pop up where you can enter a serial # and get the year it was made. You might even find a site that says they have a PDF or even a manuel for a fee. Generally I try to avoid Google because they intentionally try to skew search results and now I noticed the search comes in a long never ending ribbon rather than pages. Google is terrible. I tried Bing, no better but at least it's formatted in pages rather than the ribbon. I ended up buying a faithful reprint on eBay for around $15 to my door. Not the greatest but there it is. Thanks for the suggestion. 👍

[@rudyvega3762]

I just bought one. But mine is stuck and only types in one spot. Do you know why?

[@WeekdayWeekend]

I love mine, but the alignment is getting bad, and some letters just don't show up on the paper. I would love a tutorial video on how to fix that kind of thing yourself, provided it's not a hard fix ... The closest place to me that does typewriter repair is hours away.

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

Alignment ? alignment just doesn't go bad ? Must be describing something else. Some letters not showing up ? Are you sure you have this model, these do not get light. Search for tutorials, I have 800 videos and there are 1000 others, look for specific problems. Btw, people drive from states away for typewriter service

[@typecasto]

Personally I'm more a fan of the IBM Selectric, I've got a Selectric II and it's a total joy to type on, plus there's no way to jam it. It also has electric return, and correction. Plus, you can switch out the fonts.

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

I should have said, Best "portable" electric typewriter, nothing touches a Selectric . . . .

[@stevendurham9996]

Selectrics are great. I Love typewriters. I have an olympia deluxe that is wonderful, also.

[@sadheart24]

I have this model. It was my moms. I love it but need a new ribbon. Can I clean it myself or should I find someone to clean it for me?

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

Hello, I don't know your skill level to answer that, do you have compressed air, lacquer thinner, oil, etc . . . Professional shop service would do wonders for this typewriter

[@sadheart24]

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 Thanks. I’ll search for someone.

[@rm9308]

For some reason mine doesn't let me set the margin for the carriage return to be guided by. It goes way past the little red line, all the way onto the black roller. Am I missing something here? It's a SCM Coronet Electric 12.

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

Not sure I understand the question... Left margin is ineffective ? Post video, link it here.

[@MexicanPrius]

What kind of ribbons can you use?

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

Two spool (2") with 1/2" ribbon, I sell these in all black or black/red

[@donhorn9170]

Thanks for all the helpful videos! Last month I was able to fix the draw cord and adjust the escapement track (rack?) on an Adler electric thanks to one of them. Now I have a new problem. I just received an Electra 110 that with the basket shift stuck in full down (upper case) position, and the shift keys both feel like they're disengaged, not connected to anything inside. The basket feels sprung down very tightly when I try to pull it up with my fingers (with power off). I know it was working when shipped, due to the test sheet that was pictured on the seller's site, and which came with the machine. I also trust the seller, so I'm thinking that something got knocked loose or out of line during shipment. I'm guessing that if I take off the bottom pan and look inside, it might be something fairly obvious, and maybe even easy to fix, but I would be grateful if you might be able to give me a clue what to look for.

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

Find the pivot points and make sure it's not dislodged, just got to look & investigate Nothing I can do without a first hand look, a side by side comparison to a working model might help

[@donhorn9170]

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 Thanks! After bumbling around inside from the bottom for about 45 minutes, I traced the shift action to a black L-shaped lever on the left side, and it didn't seem to move far enough to activate the shift. I pressed it harder straight in, and there was a loud clack, and everything seemed to drop into place. I guess the linkage got dislodged by a jar during shipment. It seems to be working fine now.

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

@@donhorn9170 Good deal . . . .

[@littlebittathisnthatfirear8048]

Do these have a lock to keep keys from moving?

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

Most Smith Coronas have a carriage lock on right side just below platen knob. Nothing locks the keys (typebars) from moving

[@littlebittathisnthatfirear8048]

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 ty bud i appreciate ya. Love your content. You've helped me a lot!

[@frooshante]

Rumbley motor: is that common for this machine?

[@phoenixtypewriter2136]

Yes, and even more so if machine has been sitting for decades. Motor belt gets deformed (out of round) from parked in same position, this will cause a bouncing action (rumbling). New belt would be nice, but those are rare to find. O ring replacement style belt (substitute) will work, but they make a squeaking noise

[@OJ3462]

I was curious about that too

[@alexandrabeckwith8030]

How towork the carriage release lever

[@alexandrabeckwith8030]

How to work the carriage release lever