Typewriter Review: 1958 Olympia SM3

Today we look at a pod of Olympias, including our white whale, a 1958 SM3.

[@guod911]

I've got a 1956 Olympia SM3 same color but with lots of paint nicks from the case. I remember using it when I was a teenager. Really love it. The engineering and durability is really what I admire the most about it.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

They are great machines.

[@TINGSTARR]

The introductions to these videos by Jonah are most enjoyable. I have a chocolate brown SM4 wide carriage in my collection. Great machines.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Thanks! Now he needs to read the whole book :) The browns are great.

[@michaelbliss5330]

"Jonah and the whale" 🙂 Great video guys... i'm getting one of these for Christmas. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.!

[@julienactor]

Great review, it'll help me in my purchase!

[@douglasjackson9058]

Fantastic video. Good job by all!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Thanks!

[@B3SSPR0]

Excellent video, thanks for the upload!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Thank you!

[@HotRodTypewriter]

I went to a swap meet this morning and picked up a white whale! $25. Needs a bit of clean up and adjustment but I am surprised I found one so fast. It was sitting in a booth next to a late model gray SM2. Picked them both up. You told me to keep my eyes open and it worked.

[@NisKildegaard]

A couple of years ago I donated an SG3 to the children's room of my town's public library. The kids play with it all the time and have been unable to damage it. They didn't build those office behemoths so big so they won't float away...

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I know what you mean. Next to my SG1 tank, these SM3s look like runts.

[@Get7Out7ofthe7Boat]

OH JOY ! Olympia SM-3 ! I will be getting mine Tomorrow ! No where near as Good looking as Your Gal but, I do hope she likes to Work. Mine is Green like yours in the lower left. She is in Fine Condition. It will compete for my attention with my 1968 SM-9 and 1946 Smith-Corona Silent 4S. I think a will learn to Love ALL my typewriters. Moby Dick is a Classic as well as is this White Whale of an Olympia SM-3. You did a Fine review of one of the nicest older Classics around. Take care you's Guy's !

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Thank you very much. I hope your SM3 arrives safe and sound. Love the greens as well.

[@HotRodTypewriter]

A gloss white SM3! I’ve always had my heart set on the SM5 for the white gloss those come in. I had no idea the SM3 even had this option.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Yes but you have to keep your eyes peeled like Captain Ahab did to spot one. :)

[@tmunk]

note: when I cast my own SM case feet, Richard Polt mentioned that he uses sliced-open rubber hose to replace the curved case feet. You may want to try that (if for no other reason than casting your own is a real pain to do) :D

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Yeah it looks like work. And I’m lazy. :)

[@yyctypewriter]

There is just something magical about the gloss white. As for two tones I think they are original, I found my first before typewriter collecting really took off. But it’s still anecdotal. Agree we need confirmation from someone who used to be on the front lines.

[@TypewriterMinutes]

There must be somebody around who worked in the factory, now retired somewhere in Germany. Now to find that person ...

[@Clevelanddrummer1]

I just found an SM5 and was surprised to find out that there was no tension adjustment, when there is on an SM3! Oh well, the hunt continues!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

SM5 is still a great machine, even without the tension adjustment.

[@Clevelanddrummer1]

I agree! In fact, it’s currently my favorite machine. I’m just confused about their naming system. You’d think as the numbers got higher, features would be added not subtracted

[@johnlennon1049]

How did you replace the rubber gaskets in the bottom of this machine? What did you use and what size. My carriage also was grinding but I didn’t know about the gaskets at that time. What I did was adjusted the double screws on both sides is the carriage which I believe I was able to adjust the capital letter to match the regular letter. Am I making any sense? Great videos. I own a 1960 Olympia SM4 in Hunter Green. Also, was it hard to take the platen out on this? Can you show a video on that? While I am asking…can you do a video on lining up the letters capital & regular? THAR SHE BLOWS!,,

[@LazyDogTypewriters]

That thing would look awesome at Starbucks!

[@TypewriterMinutes]

Vengeance on a dumb brute!

[@user-wt4jd3dm6d]

Green is my favorite color

[@nimag.8257]

Hello, great machine! Does your margtin-release-key also unjam jammed typebars?

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I don’t think it does on the Olympias but I don’t have a machine in front of me right now to check.

[@dorothywillis1]

Mine is not a white whale. It is blue. My parents gave it to me for Christmas in 1958.

[@rossman1600]

I'm having a tough time with the ribbon dragging on my SM3. The ribbon advances fine, but it seems to drag across the paper and puts streaks underneath typewritten lines. Have you ever seen this?

[@liberomarcellopagliai1007]

Yes, maybe the Ribbon Is rubbing the case lid.

[@douglasjackson9058]

What's the story with the whale video at the conclusion?

[@TypewriterMinutes]

We were just looking for something to end the review with that dealt with sperm whales. I found that online. I included the guy’s name at the beginning to give him credit.

[@douglasjackson9058]

Wasn't sure if you swam with whales 😁

[@TypewriterMinutes]

I wish!

[@PandorasCrate0]

The white one is a beautiful machine. I’ve got a brown one

[@j.d.thompson3505]

Does anyone there know what the difference between the Deluxe and Signature models are?