Typewriter Video Series - Episode 232: Galaxie XII

Joe reviews a longterm member of his typewriter collection that’s garnered little attention, the venerable SCM Smith-Corona Galaxie Twelve.

[@phxxer]

A 12" carriage is good for making a small booklet; you can type two pages side by side. Also works for programs for small churches. Type up 2 pages on a letterhead, then photocopy.

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Yeah, I remember helping make the weekly church service program with the paper in landscape mode.

[@ElliotBrownJingles]

14:29 Man, I wish I had seen this before I got all the screws on mine mixed up. What a mission!

[@r.h.3084]

That's the typewriter I just bought (only a different color). I found it in mint condition for $40. It still had the original ribbon. I bought two new ribbons and some synthetic oil for the keys. The "1" and "=" key are still kind of gummy, so I need to figure out how to clean those better.

[@storydtechtiverobertjones464]

Just bought one of these after watching your video. Unfortunately, it’s also my first typewriter from eBay, so I’m a little nervous about packing and shipping! I like the style and the keys look very comfortable to type on. Fingers crossed!

[@josephnovotnak]

The 12" carriage is useful for me, because I can put "work books" in for school that have little boxes that need filled out.

[@leeannm.947]

Fun to meet you yesterday at the Typewriter revival at Coas in Las Cruces! Subscribed!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Thank you, it was fun meeting you too!

[@drandallesq]

These Galaxies are worth getting for the neat ribbon cover alone Joe! There is an attractive Thunderbirds / International Rescue look to the whole design. The carriage release lever tops are prone to breaking off if the carriage is not centered correctly when the case is closed. Apiece of brass tubingfrom a model shop will force fit onto the lever stub to make an elegant replacement in keeping with the "rabbit ears". You can use the LD ribbons by tying a simple knot where the eyelet would go, but sometimes the knot can jam, so the eyelet works better.

[@rbruce63]

Got myself a Classic 12. The carriage is indeed huge! The weight puts her in the desktop indeed! The typewriter keys feel is heavy despite the fact that the key hardness indicator is in the low setting! Albeit, the type image is crisp and there are now ghosts, due most likely, to the hardness of the keys!

[@phxxer]

My Electra 12 is probably my favorite typewriter. I have a manual carriage return and backspace (by choice), to eliminate possible need for repair. Mine also has a 12" carriage. That 12" carriage sure makes the carrying case big! Thanks for the tip on the typewriter release from the case...I did not know that. I like it because of the uniformity of the type impression, all the letters have the same darkness. I had a S-C electric home office machine,. May have been 220? It had a power carriage return, but I loved the "hood" most of all. I sold it to buy my Selectric in 1978~. Thanks for the review. Phil (Phoenix)

[@Lysander-Spooner]

Just got one for from Goodwill. Very clean. Removed ribbon cover and painted it red. Did a segment cleaning, put in a new ribbon and really like the machine.

[@patriciaguterez8002]

I just purchased one of these, (after busking with a guitar outside of the local grocery store) my only problem with it is that the letters smear over a little bit, and i don't know what's causing it. still it's perfect, now I'm set for creative typing. I can take this into the woods with no electricity needed.

[@cleverkitsune4302]

While you can do that.. theres lighter typewriters for travel stuff these galaxies are more of a semi portable desktop unit they weigh a ton

[@thethriftyfawn]

14:18 ribbon cover *slams shut* 14:19 "you KNOW you've closed it" 🤣🤣🤣

[@sojourner57]

I just bought one of these machines off FB Marketplace, and looked it up on TWDB making it a 1973, like yours. Mine arrived in terrible shape, absolutely filthy. I shouldn't have paid the lady in Colorado $90 for it. Photograph lied. Nevertheless, to answer your question, laying an 8 1/2 x 11 inch page in sideways was a popular way to do a bulletin for church or school concerts with a simple half fold yielding four half-sheet pages. Cheers!

[@FriedrichWilhelmViktorAlbert]

It would be a complex and hard video to make, but I'd like to see a video on how to take it apart, or at least the basic stuff. I have one and I personally would like to see it.

[@someonespadre]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6uQgnRsnrWgnKc

[@hamster-hands2444]

I have one of these beauties! Named her Marilyn. She’s my favorite machine! She was my first REAL typewriter. Today, I learned that she’s never been serviced. Thanks! ❤️

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

❤

[@conceitedperson78]

Aside from booklets which are cute, I really like using 11x17 ledger size paper, it’s my way of getting the most paper space to just write freely. As much as I want a paper roll, my desk gets too cluttered so, a ledger size paper is usually easier for me lol

[@Joe_VanCleave]

That's a good idea!

[@unclesteve8091]

Purchasing one today. Not sure if its the exact same one. Excited

[@someonespadre]

1975…yes on the plastic ribbon drive parts. I’ve seen earlier ones with metal parts. Mine is very rattly when I type on it, reminds me of my Mom’s 1974 Ford Maverick 4 door sedan, rattled everywhere we went. Could type a novel on it. Mine came with plastic spools except the core is metal, I’ve never seen that before. The right spool axle is loose in the gear so don’t turn it upside down. Now I’m wondering if it used to have thin rubber washers between the chassis and the body to dampen the rattling.

[@markherden4988]

Hi Joe. Great overview of the Galaxy 12! I have the same machine. It's a 1975 or 1976. You mentioned the cheaper plastic gears. I suspect a further cheapening of this machine relating to the one I have. For example, mine does not have the articulating top cover. The cover has two posts that push into the frame. It presses on. Also, it doesn't have the "jeweled escapement." I'm not sure if the "jeweled escapement" was only a marketing ploy or if it means something. Also, the case I got with it is not the quality case of old. It's an injection molded case that has a "hinge" made from plastic. After I opened the case a few times I notice the hinge was tearing along the back edge. Soon I'd have two pieces in my hands. I used duck tape to secure the separating hinge, and it works. Please comment and keep up the great videos. I found something to do this winter with your help. Mark.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I wonder if the machine has the same feel as the older versions. Alas, the gradual decline in manufacturing quality. I hope you find it satisfying to use.

[@SunshineFL]

Very nice. A lot of crafters use 12 inch carriages as the card stock they use fits.

[@michaelcase8574]

I like the two clip on type lugs.

[@alexandernoonan6310]

Please do explaine the watch type! Gotta love a nice automatic with a nato band. So easy to change out.

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Very nice. 👍 I have a Coronet 12 electric, same blue scheme. Best part is the impressions all look the same and you don't have to move off the keyboard for the carriage return. In college I had a Corsair portable. Did a lot of term papers and letters on it. Should of kept it. Now I'm looking for one of the SC printwheel models with the correction cartridge....I make too many errors while typing.

[@cleverkitsune4302]

I like the older coronets that had a manual return lever..felt more like a proper typewriter

[@jacquelinefrost6807]

I own one of these. A Two Tone Brown. Not my favorite colors, but I love this writer. I was watching one of your other videos and I didn’t know about a lot of the features you mentioned and I’m learning more in this video!

[@jacquelinefrost6807]

My spindles for the the ribbons are metal.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

@@jacquelinefrost6807 Keep those and refill the spools with bulk ribbon from Baco!

[@l.c.6371]

May I ask how the pull back cord (string) tied from and to? Mine broke into two and don't know where to tie the other end. Many thanks!

[@cleverkitsune4302]

That must be an issue with just the galaxie 12, my galaxie deluxe has brass and steel parts for the ribbon spools

[@divin2428]

I just got one of these for Christmas, and I have never used a typewriter before now 😅 I’m having a LOT of trouble finding any tutorials or guides on threading the ribbon… I’ve searched far and wide to no avail, is there a chance you could do a short video on how to do so? I saw you had one for another model, but it’s vastly different than the Galaxie Twelve 😅 I’m very nervous if I try to force the little holder thingy open I might accidentally break it 🥲

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Try this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5LMfH5se6iNrqs

[@Andykev]

Actually this Galaxy XII was the first in my collection, because it was the one mom had and we used in school (1972) era. One thing, my "power space" did not work...it "stuck". You forgot to show the rubber "block" inside that literally vibrates to oscellate the spaceing mechanism. I had to lubricate it with glycering as it got "age sticky". This is actually an excellent, zippy, quality machine, and the feel is good due to the shape of the keys, layout, etc. I can type very fast on this, although the Coronet electric twin to this is far faster. My Coronet is also brown like yours. Imagine that.

[@Naolslager]

"Actually this Galaxy XII was the first in my collection, because it was the one mom had and we used in school (1972) era. " Same here! Except mine is the Penncrest variant. I used for writing papers in middle and high school. When I (re)joined the Typosphere in 2018, the first typewriter I bought was the same Penncrest machine. A full-featured machine with a wide carriage.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Plastic cases to portable typewriters ou leather cases? To "beard" or not to "beard"? This is the question. Differences betwern electric typewriters and electronic typewriters. We want to know.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I have a Nakajima-made Olympia electric with a plastic case, I really like the way it holds the typewriter in place, plus with room for the cord. These Smith-Coronas didn’t give as much room to store the cord.

[@rp0825]

Hello! When watching this video, I was interested in your comment on the plastic spindle mechanism. I agree that the plastic peg is inconsistent with the overall quality of this typewriter. It is more disappointing to me in that one the the pegs broke off when I was changing the ribbon. I put too hard when pulling off the ribbon spool. Is there anyway to repair or replace this spindle peg? Thank you!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I’ve never had to repair one, but perhaps a tiny 4/40 screw could be threaded into the plastic disc from underneath, serving as the peg.

[@rp0825]

@Joe_VanCleave Thank you Joe, that's a great idea, I'll see if I can do it!

[@PJames-fh4gj]

Any thoughts about the Smith-Corona's unique key action? The way it presses straight down instead of tilting at an angle like most typewriters? I have a Classic 12 myself and I'm not sure if I love this key action or not and if it's more of an issue than an improvement on the "traditional" key lever action.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Interesting that the Groma Kolibri has a similar key action! I like the idea behind it but am not certain I actually feel a difference when typing. Certainly it was a marketing ploy to differentiate their products from others, ads from the era touted it.

[@abbeycarr3794]

The carriage on mine is stuck all the way to the left, it can move freely if I push it over to the right and the bell dings when it freely goes back left.. but there’s no holding it in place to type. No clicking. Wondering if something is stuck? I can’t seem to figure it out. Worked fine tue few times I’d tested it out then stopped. Only just brought it home, any tips?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Sounds like the escapement mechanism isn’t engaging.

[@thomasacheson1625]

I bought a s/c coronet electric for a steal. When I plugged it in about 10 keys tried to come up. It's dirty and, has been neglected. Some of the keys are stuck down and, space bar doesn't seem to work. Where fo I start?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

The type bars and slots of the segment where they move need to be thoroughly degreased. I’d start with alcohol and a tooth brush, then blow the residue out with compressed air, and repeat. Use lacquer thinner if alcohol isn’t working. Take off the bottom of the machine so the gunk can drip through, don’t get the solvents on the paint, and work in a well ventilated space.

[@thomasacheson1625]

@@Joe_VanCleave I used 70% rubbing alcohol with not much success. I'm going to up my game and, try 90% to see if that helps. Thanks Joe!!!

[@Qeswara]

What is the function of the key ( clear )?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

It clears the tab stop.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

🇺🇸🌎👍❤

[@chattachavez]

I have this typewriter and its great, but sometimes I get random spaces in my words. Come s o ut ki nd a li ke this. Do you know why?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

This is called skipping and is related to the escapement system. It usually requires cleaning and degreasing of the escapement. On these machines it's easy to access underneath the machine. Sometimes it also requires some adjustments to the escapement trip point. Luckily, we now have access to the original Smith-Corona service manuals, from Ted Munk, at: www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/ted-munk/the-smith-corona-5-5te-and-6-series-typewriter-repair-shop-manual/paperback/product-186ndyrz.html?page=1&pageSize=4

[@chattachavez]

Thanks so much, the typewriter king of KZbin got back to me. Appreciate it. Thank you.