OLYMPIA SM8 Typewriter With Case Portable 70's - Tested Fully Working
Thanks for looking
Please read the description all the way to the end - this is a slightly different SM-8 to the normal ones!
We sell a lot of vintage typewriters - loads of Olympias but I've never seen this version of the SM-8 before. If you have time I highly recommend you take a look at the wiki page for the SM-8 - this is not a normal typewriter...definitely worth spending a couple of minutes reading our description all the way to the end!
The SM-8 in the photos is the one that you'll recieve. This is a very early example of the SM-8. Not many of these left so it you're looking for a rare SM-8 then this is the model you get. Originally, these were a dour, industrial item but in the modern world it's beautiful - a fully functional, usable work of art! It's what I'd call when writers machine - being honest, older models are much prettier and make amazing display pieces. However, if you actually want to use it for typing those older models aren't really practical - the action is too high to type quickly and the keys always jam - they make great ornaments but not really usable. The SM-8 (1969 - 1975) was one of the last mechanical typewriters ever produced before we moved to electric word processors and then finally computers. It has over a centuries worth of incremental design improvements included so is known as one of the easiest typewriters to actually write with!
Probably the most important factor to consider when buying a vintage typewriter is the condition - does it work as it was designed for. I've checked it over carefully and it's perfect. Not a single scuff, mark or any signs of wear whatsoever on the machine - it appears the original guardian bought it but only used it on a handful of occasions. It has been safely stored in its case in a room temperature environment for the last half a century. It's in excellent condition. It types very well with a light touch. To be honest I didn't have to do anything to it but we have given it a professional service/check, basic clean and tested it. Everything works exactly as it should so its all ready for you to start typing and write that novel you've been planning to create all these years!
Oh..The case is in outstanding condition too.
Overall, this is a near perfect condition, fully working SM-8. Please take the time to check how much this model normally sells for - I'm asking for £150 less so this is a serious bargain!
Update!
I had originally listed this as an SM-9 (they look pretty much identical) but a very kind fellow ebayer who has a deep knowledge of the model has sent me the following message;
Hi Bob,
I'm very happy to shed some light on what is indeed a confusing distinction. The SM8 and SM9 were contemporaries, with the SM9 having a few features not included in the SM8. The features are minor and do not relate to a difference in quality, so this machine is of the highest quality, just like the SM9.
The confusion arises due in part to Olympia having updated the look and feature layout of these sister models in 1968. Your sample is from the second iteration. In the earlier iteration, the SM9's tab-setting feature was located on either side of the space bar, with two buttons marked either + and - in Europe and the UK, or set and clear in the United States. In this iteration, the +/- lever to the left of the keyboard controlled the 'touch setting' (how much resistance there is in the keys when you type). In the re-design, the touch setting was moved to under the hood, and the tab function was moved from the space bar to the... +/- lever. So - same lever, different function.
The SM8 did not change as much, because its tab setting was - and remained - at the back of the machine in both iterations (you can see the sliders clearly in your listing pics), and no SM8 had a touch setting.
In addition to these differences, the SM9 has a telescopic paper support with a sprung /button release, whereas the SM8 has a fixed paper support with a little 'fingernail' tab release. The SM9 has two carriage release buttons, and the SM8 has only one: on the right-hand side.
Later machines became more and more 'plasticky', but I can see by the underside of yours that you have an early version of this, most importantly with a metal mainspring, rather than a plastic one. This is good news because the machine you have there is more robust than the later ones
....thankyou again so much for this info!!
Feel free to ask any questions
Shipped within 24H tracked. We will pad and box it very carefully to ensure a safe delivery
Nb - there is a keyboard lock switch on the left hand side of the keyboard (white switch next to the 1 key). This will be engaged when we ship it (stops the carriage moving about during transit) - see pic - you'll need to release it before you start typing!
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