Typewriter Video Series - Episode 226: Silent-Super Versus SM-3

Joe compares two of the best medium-sized portable typewriters, Smith-Corona versus Olympia, American versus West German.

[@BokBarber]

When I had to downsize for a cross country move, I was forced to choose just one typewriter from my collection. I chose my Olympia SM3 with congress elite typeface. It was a tough but obvious choice. There's something especially satisfying about that sm3. It magnetically pulls my fingers to the keys and makes me want to type all of my thoughts.

[@ma-mo]

You are really good at this, Joe. Thanks for all the hard work you obviously put into these.

[@foxred5911]

It's really difficult to beat the SM3 in my book since it is my first ever machine, given to me by my grandpa. It's quite my standard for any comparaison regarding the semi-portable category!

[@Fwyd]

Joe, thank you so much for this meticulous comparison. Love the story of your wife hiding the Olympia! I use a 1955 SM3 (two-tone) on a daily basis, and it suits me perfectly.

[@CrispyFrenFry]

I love this series and this video was one I couldn't have asked for sooner because I just got my own SM3. My second ever machine is my beloved SMC-SS and the matchup is a fuar one though I adore the touch of the SS because my fingers are far to clumsy for the SM3.

[@VirtualGuth]

"There's Nothing That Beats A Typing Test" - Someone really needs to make this available as a t-shirt design. This was a wonderful comparison of two iconic mid-century typewriters. There are no bad choices here. Thanks for sharing!

[@drandallesq]

Thanks for doing this Joe. It is good to have both machines! Either makes a wonderful typewriter for creative writing. Seeing them displayed and compared side by side is a good reminder of their different approaches to making a similar product. Getting a new platen cover and rollers for the Smith-Corona looked worthwhile too.

[@douglasjackson9058]

Thanks Joe for this great comparison,you can tell you put a lot of work into this. Weird coincidence...I have the same identical typewriters colors everything, and...the olympia sm-3 is also my wife's and also has a cool case. I like both machines, tough choice. Thanks again for taking the time to make these videos and sharing them with us.

[@bryanbopp3314]

I have a Smith Corona Silent. I love it!

[@tmunk]

Realistically, I agree with getting both, if you can find them relatively inexpensively. They are different enough (and equally good) typing experiences that are equally worth having. :D

[@sonijam]

I finally found a beautiful, pristine, 1956 Olympia SM-3 and was surprised (and a little disappointed) that I preferred my Smith-Corona Classic 12!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

The Olympias aren’t for everyone,

[@robillingworth8503]

Joe, thank you for what seems a very objective comparison, but my favorite is and always has been the Smith Corona Silent Super (we both have the same color, and I still have mine 50 years later!). My parents got it for me when I was ten, and from the start it was easy to learn accuracy and relaxed to the quiet rhythm of the machine, which helped me reach 65wpm. When Mom & Dad saw this, they also bought me a Smith Corona Series 5 Electric, also identical to yours in another video. (I reached 80wpm on it). I have seen that ribbon return lever but never paid attention as all my typewriter ribbons had that metal ring (I think you called it a "grommet"?) which eventually made the ribbon reverse on its own. Smith Corona's also a favorite because it's lightweight but sturdy; it's never yet seen the inside of a repair shop, but now it's showing its age. Until then, I'll use it when singing "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down & Write Myself a Letter" in our Entertainers Club concert next month: I type rhthymically between song breaks, & rip paper out the paper so the audience can hear the platen as the last note!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Such a great story, thank you, Rob!

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

🙏

[@thethriftyfawn]

This was awesome!

[@N8XS]

Nice comparison. I learned a few things. I have the exact models from 1958 and am in the midst of trying to decide which I like better. The clever spring-loaded key tops of the Olympia really make it a nice typing experience and the S-C lacks those. Neither of my machines has new rubber though both are pristine examples. The Olympia is still much louder and I think that is because the Silent Super came with a softer platen. In the manual they suggest switching it out with a firmer platen if doing a lot of carbon copy work. The quick change platen on the S-C is REALLY cool. Though I appreciate the unlimited tab stops of the S-C, the easy to see and adjust stops of the Olympia appeal to me more for some reason. I have an SM4 from 1960 with the keyboard tab stop set and still prefer the SM3 more. I like the Olympia's aero case better than the boring and flimsier one of the S-C which almost looks like a big cosmetic case. Thankfully both machines have a place in my collection and I have been using them back and forth enjoying the wonderful typewriter engineering of the late 1950s.

[@av8bvma513]

Fun and Fact Filled Dissertation Joe, most excellent work. The Smith Corona has articulated keylevers, resembling automobile suspension, multiple short links to each keytop give carefully designed key travel kinematics. The Olympia has simple, long, single levers resulting in a classic curved downstroke. The carriage lift helper spring setup on the Olympia can be adjusted, to a point, but often after half a century, the springs need shortening to increase the rate. This when setup properly, can rival the weight of the basket shift machines.

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

Thanks for the info on the springs and adjustment. It is better to put new springs than to shorten old ones. A new spring can easily be made from piano wire.

[@JB-uv4hm]

The post adjusters offer more than enough adjustment even for the supposed saggy spring. You’ll know when you’ve gone too far, and if you don’t, I guess it’s off to the piano shop.

[@brendablomberg8483]

Happy Birthday Joe !

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Thank you!

[@melissafoxglove6166]

Happy Unbirthday

[@redbarnz]

I owned both and my impression was that the SC was well built but the typeface was really small. The Olympia had a precise feel and finish to it. Both terrific machines, no question. At one point, I had seven machines. I sold them all except for the Hermes 2000.

[@andycan09]

Thanks for the video and comparison, Joe (please keep it up!). I do find myself hunting for the left side carriage release on the SM3. For all of its engineering design, they could have easily tossed that in. I have added a single light weight spring to one side of the carriage shift mechanism to make it just a little easier on the fingers to activate, but otherwise it does not hinder you. I feel the typing performance of the SM3 is better than the Silent Super. I would sum it up like this: The SM3 is a joy to type on; a machine that can keep up with a pace on par with modern keyboard typing.

[@LTHanlon]

Great review! Regarding ribbon reversal, I've had four Olympias. The ribbon reversal mechanisms on the SM3, SM4, and SM7 were best described as twitchy and mercurial. The SM9, a later model, reversed flawlessly. I believe its mechanism - at least the forks - had been redesigned. By contrast, I've never had issues with reversal on my Smith-Corona Silent-Super.

[@JB-uv4hm]

18:33 I believe if you looked at this again and across 2-3 of each you’ll find a 4-5 mm difference, which would represent a slope difference of 10 ish percent increase in the SM. If you lay a straightedge and view from the side, it’s pretty obvious. I think this is what people feel as the difference without know what or how to explain it. Especially so if they are more accustomed to the S-C lineup. Hanks briefly mentions this “key rise” in CT as his preference for the S-C.

[@dr.mcfeats6274]

A thorough review. I agree on every count, I think. I’m partial to the Olympias, and I guess that’s due to my guitar fingers. (I prefer a Les Paul to a Strat,) Still, I enjoy my SCs, albeit I prefer the older, if fickle, models.

[@christophermckellar1352]

Thanks, Joe. Always good to hear me some typewriter talk! When you flip up the paper support on my Olympia SM 8 there are numbers on it. (The numbers are on it when it is not flipped up, too!]. Extend it fully. Then measure the top edge of the paper against those numbers as it comes off the platen toward you. The number that lines up with the top of that page tells how many lines are left on an 11 inch high piece of paper. I’m hoping it is the same on your SM 3.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Mine has line numbers: 20, 15, 10, 5, 1, with intermediate markings, with the smaller numbers going toward the top end of the support. I tested it, they indeed correspond to how many lines from the bottom of the page, with an 11" tall sheet. I wonder if models made for the European market had the scale marked for A4 paper? Hmm...

[@christophermckellar1352]

Joe Van Cleave Great! Good question..

[@danielmarleau]

I learned something new! Space and half-space machines. Though I can't imagine what the half space is for. Perhaps for some kind of technical/scientific report?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

You can insert a missing letter into an already typed sentence by erasing the word and using the half space feature to “borrow” half a space from before and after the word, to fit in the missing letter.

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

All the Olivettis have the half space capability. It is explained in the instruction card that came with the Lettera 22 and 32.

[@gamecodeur]

As the SM3 is the "Woddy Allen typewriter", it's impossible to found one at a fair price 😭

[@johnv7268]

Great videos! I also have a Silent-super and love it. I noticed on a previous video your only complaint was it's not lap friendly. I prefer to use mine on the laptop with the bottom cover on. It's a feature of the Holiday case I think you should show people.

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

Can the case bottom be separated from the case top?

[@johnv7268]

@@AtelierDBurgoyne Yes. Very easily.

[@Byrnzi360]

It's funny when he says they hid it at the thrift store. When I go to thrift stores, I always look inside other pieces of furniture for treasures that people are trying to hide for later.

[@dualvox]

Love your videos, they are very informative. I'm curious, are the keys on Olympia black or green?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Dark green.

[@j.d.thompson3505]

I have a couple Silent Supers. I'm used to them but they need service. They skip and the platens are petrified. I saw a video of a guy using 3 sheets of paper to muffle the sound.

[@330jlydic]

Hi, Joe! Thanks very much for your fantastic videos. I recently came into possession of a 1950s S-C Super Silent, and I've got the hang of just about everything. Problem is, the carriage doesn't advance when I type. Can't for the life of me figure out what's up. Any pointers?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

First check the simple things like you're not up against the right margin. Check the right margin setting, make sure it's all the way to the right (press and slide). Also, does the carriage move with the space bar? If so, the basic escapement is working, at least for the space bar. Also, the Silent Super doesn't have a true carriage lock for transporting the machine, but there's a kind of centering lever, used for storing it in the case. If you pull the carriage to the right, that lever should release by itself. Is there tension on the carriage when you hold the platen knob and press the carriage release lever (either one, behind each knob)? With the release lever pressed in, you should feel the tension of the spring motor trying to pull the carriage to the left. And the carriage should be easy to slide back and forth, between the margin settings. If those are good, then the problem may be somewhere in the escapement system.

[@Olumin37]

Comparing the SS to the SM4 would be fairer, as the SM4 comes with a key-set tabulator. That is however the only difference.

[@pkguy3]

The SM4 also has a carriage release on the left side that is missing on the SM3, as well it has the clear all tabs lever on the right side of the carriage

[@inkdew5620]

Smith *Corona*

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Name of gun.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

The sound of the silence is gold. Please (🙏). Your e-mail to the 🌎. I included.

[@frankwc0o]

If it doesn't have a #1 key, do you use capital i for 1?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Lower case L.

[@FrankRomerophoto]

@@Joe_VanCleave Super, what would a "+" sign be created? thx.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

@@FrankRomerophoto A dash superimposed on a vertical character like I may look somewhat like a plus, depending on the alignment of the characters. Otherwise I prefer to spell out the word “plus” if the machine doesn’t have that symbol. Later 1960s and ‘70s did have a plus sign.

[@frankwc0o]

@@Joe_VanCleave Super. I have a super silent 1954 smith corona that doesn’t have it. It’s my first typewriter since 1992. I’m excited to use it and to remember how I felt When I start learning how to tie in the 80s.

[@uhuhno6441]

3:59 I just got a SM3 in almost mint condition at a local thrift shop and I didn't even notice. I'm in the bathroom right now typing this and this new information makes my OCD wanna get up and check mid dump 😂

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

My silent super shift key doesn’t go all the way down. What should i do?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

You should follow the shift linkage and see what is binding. You should be able to press on the segment and see it drop down to the shifted position. Perhaps a piece of residue is blocking the movement?

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

@@Joe_VanCleave do I need to take the body cover off to see this?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

@@sistergoldenhair0727 Move the carriage to the left so the return lever clears the ribbon cover, then open the cover. You should be able to see most of the mechanism between the shift key and the linkages that move the "segment" up and down. A good question is: Why do you think the shift key doesn't go all the way down (keeping in mind I can't see what you're seeing). There should be about a half inch of travel of the shift key (I just measured mine) in its full travel. Are you seeing a problem with the letters not printing correctly? There are settings for the lower and upper position of the "segment" (the curved mechanism with all the type bar levers, that moves up and down when shifted) that define the unshifted and shifted positions. These settings are referred to as "on feet" and "motion". The on-feet is the lower case position, the motion is the upper case position. They are adjusted by set screws, see this photo from one of my machines: flic.kr/p/2njwCDQ. The red arrow in the photo points to the lower case adjustment set screw, the green arrow points to the upper case adjustment set screw. To access them, set the machine on its rear panel, then examine under the machine near the center. Work the shift key and make sure the bracket is moving its full extent of travel between the limits set by these two set screws in the above photo. If it can't move fully between both screws, something else is binding. DO NOT ADJUST these set screws UNLESS you first verify the mechanism freely moves up and down ALL THE WAY between these two set screws without binding, when pressing and releasing the shift key. But if the travel of the bracket permits it to touch both set screws, they may need to be adjusted. Put a sheet of paper into the machine for testing purposes. To do the adjustment, you have to loosen the small nut on each screw, then turn the screw with a small flat blade screwdriver, then RELOCK the nut, then test again. Only loosen and adjust one screw at a time. I start with the upper case position first, adjusting its position to ensure all the characters print evenly (especially the tall characters like parenthesis) without "shading", so the impression is clean. Test ALL the upper case characters, that they print evenly, before going to the lower case. Then I adjust the lower case position to match the upper case, so the bottoms of upper and lower case characters are even (especially on letters like hH and lL, nN, mM, etc.) The goal is to have all the characters evenly without shading (i.e. without a faint imprint on upper or lower part of character), AND to have the upper and lower case characters match each other vertically. Good luck.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

@@Joe_VanCleave thank you! The reason I thought the shift key wasn’t traveling all the way down is because all shifted characters type really high and when the shift key is pressed I can only hit one letter at a time-meaning I have to disengage and re-press the shift key for each individual letter. Shouldn’t I be able to hold the shift key down and type multiple letters? Anyway, I will follow these instructions and see if I can get the capital letters to line up with the lower case letters. I appreciate you so much for taking the time to walk me through a possible solution. I’ll let you know how it goes! 😀🙏🏻👍

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

@@Joe_VanCleave 👍

[@loveisall5520]

Why, in our world, must we always insist on either competing things or ranking them? I've owned both of these machines, and while I may have a preference, it certainly wouldn't apply to anyone else! I think when we are proselytizing about our love for typewriters, that we should be careful in making rash pronouncements, as newbies might not understand.

[@JB-uv4hm]

It’s a valid comparison.