Olympia SM5 1962

This is an excellent condition, 1962, OLYMPIA SM5 typewriter, in Eggshell-White colour with Green accents. It is in excellent condition in every way. It has been fully serviced, aligned and adjusted.  It has a new two-colour ribbon and is ready for some serious typing. This is a fully-working--as original--typewriter. The only thing that you have to do is sit down, put paper on the roller and start typing. It comes with a full mechanical guarantee for 3 months. There are no shipping charges, the price you see is the full price. And, I guarantee safe delivery to you, wherever you are in the world. We have shipped safely to the outback of Australia, the Sultanate of Brunei, Japan, China, Dayton Ohio, the Isle of Wight, Ecuador and hundreds of places in between.

The colour on this SM5 is a wonderful eggshell-white with green shift keys and platen roller knobs. It is a very handsome combination.

For many, the Olympia SM model line represents the height of mid-century typewriter design. The SM5 model was introduced in 1961 and was a slightly less-expensive option for those wanting an SM model typewriter. It's like a cross between an SM2 and an SM3, having the SM2 style paper table, but with a manual-set tabulator. The SM model line is one of the most well-engineered, solid, durable and usable desktop typewriter models ever manufactured. It is perfect for a fast typer, or a slower one.

The keyboard is standard US/UK (QWERTY), and the typeface is Olympia's Congress Elite #88 (11 c.p.i.). This is a truly handsome and serious typeface.

Regarding the rubber: Platen Roller is smooth and clean and has a wonderful durometer reading of around 92. The Paper Feeder Rollers are clean and soft. The Feet are clean and soft.
Regarding the chrome: There is some age-staining on the levers on the carriage so they are not as shiny as I might like.
Regarding the Body condition: No blemishes or discolouration.
Regarding the mechanical condition: Working perfectly, as originally manufactured.
Other things to note: The spacebar has some scratching towards the center front. It is hard to see, but it is there. Other than that the keys are all in top shape.

The SM series of typewriters from the Olympia factories in Germany are considered by many to be the "gold-standard" of what a modern desktop typewriter should be.

This is a typewriter that really proves the notion that Olympia typewriters are some of the finest typing machines ever made. The typing action is wonderfully smooth and solid, swift and efficient. Really a marvelous machine in nearly perfect condition.

Based on the serial number (2084417) this machine was manufactured in 1962.

This near-perfect example of an OLYMPIA SM5 will be packed and shipped with the greatest care to preserve its condition and beauty. We have a lot of experience in shipping typewriters and have an excellent track record for proper packing and safe delivery. It will be fully insured for shipment.

If you have any questions or wish to see more photos, please don't hesitate to contact us.

This typewriter, like all of our typewriters, has gone through the following inspections, among others, and adjustments have been made as required:
1. Carriage movement
2. Platen condition
3. testing of platen locks, free head and paper release
4. Condition and pressure of front and rear feed rollers
5. Line space mechanism
6, Position and action of paper shield and paper bail functions
7. Testing of paper guides
8. Placement and clearance of line gauge
9. Proper functioning of carriage release levers
10. Movement and play of shift mechanism
11. Correct action of shift keys
12. Testing of cylinder and anvil positions
13. Spring drum tension
14. Ribbon feed and reverse, and ribbon position
15. Typebar and type guide position and action
16. Margin release, line lock and bell mechanisms
17. Space bar trip, key lever spring tensions and level of keyboard
18. Key card correspondence with characters
Among other inspections and adjustments...

ACME TYPE MACHINE COMPANY
Acme Type Machines is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of fine vintage typewriters from the era of fine, modern typewriter design and manufacture: the 1930s through the early 1970s. We have a carefully earned reputation for fine machines, excellent conservation and restoration, attentive customer service and good after-sale care and advice.

Our gallery of typewriters has clients in the United States and Canada, Australia and China, Morocco and Brunei, Finland and Japan and may places in-between. Our clients include many important collectors of typewriters, screenwriters and novelists, European and American interior designers, film art and production design departments and the casual--but discriminating--individual.

The aesthetic that drives us at Acme Type Machines is that of the museum conservator: to preserve our "typewriter" cultural heritage in a way that retains the integrity of the original object, restoring its mechanical components to their original utility, conserving the original cosmetic condition, and taking account of any historical aspects of its use or ownership.

All of our typewriters, except in some very exceptional circumstances (carefully noted in the description), are ready to use in the same manner as when they were originally manufactured and purchased. Some of our clients are screenwriters and novelists, using our typewriters on a daily basis. Some are collectors, rarely using the machines to type, who appreciate the meticulousness with which our typewriters are conserved.

Typewriters from Acme Type Machines are not inexpensive. The number of mechanical tests and adjustments, the attention to the cleaning process, small repairs etc., require hours of time and careful and professional work.
We find our typewriter treasures throughout Europe and the process of acquiring these fine machines can require long and delicate negotiations. Protected shipment and transportation to our gallery and workroom adds expense, as well.

After a typewriter is sold to a client, it undergoes a final testing, cleaning and inspection. The typewriter is then carefully prepared with protection on the platen-knobs, between the ribbon-cover and the body, and on the carriage return lever and other vulnerable parts. The escapement is protected by immobilising the carriage. The typewriter and case are wrapped in a layer of protective, strong bubble-wrap which is then placed in a carton box of double thick cardboard (carton). Shipment is made with padding--on six sides--of foam-rubber and fitted styrofoam.

Our goal is to provide a wonderful, working, vintage typewriter--usable, beautiful and aesthetically interesting--to your home or office, film studio or art department.