With a handful of 50's Smith-Coronas and 1948, 1949, and 1955 Royal QDLs in my own collection, I broadly agree with your assessment. I find that touch typing on the QDL is a bit more finnicky on the '48 and '49, but it became more solid by the 1955 machine I've got. The S-Cs are solid through and through in a way that my Royals aren't. I recently found a copy of the design patent for the 1948 QDL from Henry Dreyfuss filed on August 2, 1945 (Patent USD144165S) the other day. It turns out he lived just a few miles from my house in South Pasadena at the end of his life. I do love the look of his QDL over the S-Cs however. As for the Magic Margin issue of not remembering where they're set, on most of the Royal models that have it, the back of the paper table typically flips back easily to allow one to see where the margin sets are as well as to set them manually if they wish. I find that I do this manual operation more frequently on my Royals that only have the Magic Margin on the left hand side only, but I tend to use the Magic Margin levers more frequently on the models that have them on both the right and the left.

Lucked across a teal SM4 (SM3 with full tabulator). It is the smoothest, most consistent and light typer I have. An Olympia is like a fine German automobile, it works world class as long as it is serviced well. I've an Olympia SG1 (the beast!) that has been ridden hard and put away wet (lol, but apt analogy), meaning it had sludge and rust and generally I have had to do many repairs on her. She types well enough but not like the light touch and smoothness of the carriage of the SM4. The SM7 and SM9 are known to be really nice typers too. The electrics are their own beasts, I do agree for consistency where your touch does not affect the imprint, electrics are the wtg, but they just don't have the same charm as a mechanical typewriter.

Oh my - I think I may be out of my league ... inherited a Remington Rand & am cleaning, etc., seems the main spring (pretty sure that's what it's called) ... it has a cloth band wrapped around a 3 inch wheel that seems to power the movement - the band's attached to the wheel with a metal doohickety, but the other end of the cloth band is unattached, and that's got to be why the platen doesn't move ... any idea where these things generally attach? I know this is a dumb question, but I gotta get this figured out or my grandfather will haunt me forever. Many thanks :)

I'm actually getting my first and probably only manual typewriter (its a skyriter) so when I go back to school I can have a typewriter with me.

7:27, Barbie Collegiate 1000 - 😅That just sounds like a contradiction! I was in college in the 1980s, when those typewriters were sold. Some of the women who were in college with me at the time had some pretty cutesy stuff, but I don't remember meeting any who owned a Barbie Collegiate 1000, even just as a decoration.

Nice collection, I struggle with balancing out my collection. So far 17 (but growing by the week despite my best efforts)

Do you find typing on a full sized desktop machine easier than a portable? Congrats on the new place.

My Royal FP has a couple of long scratches from the return lever. I figure if I use the wrong shade it would look worse. So I was thinking about using a contrasting color maybe with some glitter in it and try to create an kentsugi effect.

😂 “I accidentally purchased another one . . .” So identify!

You and your videos are the best "entry drug to collecting typewriters" I could think of 👍... Thanx a lot & best wishes from the German section of the "Typewriter Revolution" ❣

We moved a year ago but it was a huge deal and I am hoping this fall to rehome some of my typewriters … trying to only keep the ones I truly love and use! Love Drama. Our 16 yr old kitty left us in June😢 Miss her ❤️

Always enjoy your videos. Love the Adler, btw. I’m so envious! As the mother of two daughters about your age, it’s great seeing the “younger set” so interested in typewriters. Plus, you’re a cat lover! Now about putting out one video per day… haha. Just kidding. Congratulations on what looks to be beautiful new digs. 🎉

I could be wrong, but I think that Scrittore is a modern-made typewriter. Keep your expectations low. 😜

I feel you, my collection has surprisingly expanded quite a bit within these past few months, so now I am running out of space 😭 Hopefully my fiancé and I can get a bigger apartment or a decent sized house for us once I find a job, then we’ll finally have bigger space for our collections (he collects vinyl records)🙏🏼

A great update! Thank you!😀

Sarah, I think you and your machines will be happy there. Personally, I prefer being high up, stairs and all. I once lived in a fifth floor walk up, challenging at first (I would constantly remind myself “okay so we’re going down now, are you sure you have everything? We don’t want to have to climb right back up again!”) But after just a few weeks I was zipping up and down those five flights without giving it a second thought. (Remember, those stairs count as exercise. Particularly with a 17 pound Smith-Corona in tow.) Good luck in your new home!

If you want motivation to not buy new typewriters, make yourself make a video every time you buy a new one :D

Yikes! What a major project to take on. I think the space bar would look good painted red to match those other keys. I couldn't take on a project that intense LOL

Welcome to my Home for Hopeless Typewriters. I have a 1940 LC Smith Super Speed with a carriage that wheezes to a halt about halfway through a line of typing, and that is missing its cover and a 1970s Smith Corona with one of those slide covers that the 1 key gets stuck under. I have no idea how to fix them. I doubt I could ever find a new cover for the Smith. But they are beautiful and I love them.

Love the color lights...nice apartment, but most of all thanks for sharing your collection and knowledge of typewriters! I have only 3 but your videos have helped me resolve a couple of issues with them. Thanks!

30 typewriters dang I'm behind I have the bestest boi 1

Good new life to you and your typewriters.❤.

Could you share what typewriter themed books you have, please?

I own two early 1900s type writers and they are all I need for my small collection. I'm only interested in old type writers made before WW2 but if I see another for cheap then I suppose I could add a third to my collection but that will be my limit.

Do you know much about Tom Thumb typewriters? I’m curious about its history.

I too have sold as many as I have obtained this year, which is good for me. My resolution was to sell three for any new one coming in. That hasn't quite worked out but I'm trying. I still have 50+ of them though! Sigh. Your place looks nice, very open and bright. Have fun making home.

Nice! I love to hear your "rehoming" stories. I've always preferred Royal typewriters, especially the standard desk models, but they're HEAVY! I have a Model H that almost works and a KMM that is missing cover screws. I love your Futura, but I make do with an Underwood 319 in excellent condition. That's enough. I do have two Smith Corona electrics that don't work right and are just really frustrating. I also have three Atari 8-bit computers, two sorta work but need repair, one still works as well as the day I bought it used in 1985. Moving is a really good time to reconsider your collections. Temptations are great! Who says you can't train cats?!

Have fun getting settled in your new place.

Moved. Again? What the heck...

Looks like a nice place…

📇📇

I have one of these cute little machines... I really enjoy it! It's great if you're just typing on your lap and it actually helped me learn how to touch type.

I can relate to this. Ive started writing my master's thesis.

Your channel truly is answering all of my questions, thank you so much for posting these videos! I got a 1940 Royal KMM that I'm going to clean out and hopefully get it in better shape, but I was really wondering if those tiny air compressors would work. I'd love a bigger air compressor but I'm also not a fan of loud noises so this is great

I have a Craftsman tire inflator which also has a lower pressure option to blow up inflatables. I use that for my air compressor.

Brilliant, clear, tons of information, beautiful

Your $10 Artemis cost me $200 plus shipping on eBay just now… I blame you 😝

Can anyone tell me how to remove this model from the case for cleaning?

Is there anything against using acetone? Wondering because it does evaporate quicker.

thank you.

Your video turned me on to those wonderful groups. They're helping me a lot. Especially with a free Royal KMH from 1936. I'll soon be putting on a new drawband.

I love your videos

Alexander

Is dry ice cleaning safe to be undertaken by a car detailer?

Can adding any noise absorbant material at the bottom of the typewriter to prevent additional noise bouncing back up help?

I just got my first manual typewriter it’s a Royal QDL. I love it it’s a 1953 era model.

Perfect just what I hoped for! Thank you 😀

I just bought a Royal FPP. Ive been cleaning it and i love it.

In my opinion, the underwood universal is a decent entry machine. I got mine when I was still figuring out what I was doing (still have no idea) and it was a rather easy repair

Not gonna lie, I clicked this video to see a POS keyboard get destroyed. I'm leaving a little impressed that a $10 keyboard was so damn tough.