via https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1fkmj9d/i_refinished_my_olympia_sm3_case_a_while_agoheres/

The traditional curvy Olympia SM3 cases can be stripped down to bare wood and stained and refinished with beautiful results.

reply to u/NoDoctor4602 at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1fjrjns/ive_spent_a_few_days_searching_for_any_concrete/

In the mid to late-1950's and after several typewriter manufacturers made limited runs of gold plated typewriters for special anniversaries or for bonuses to salespeople. They're uncommon, but not rare. I've seen at least 6 or seven pop up on auction sites in the last 6 months. If you really want one, watch the lower end of Facebook Marketplace, ShopGoodwill, Craigslist, et al. where one will assuredly pop up for a much more reasonable price. I'm not sure if it was this one or another I've seen since April, but one of these went up for sale on ShopGoodwill.com recently and sold for about $600. A week later it was listed on eBay for several thousand just like this one. Given the timeframe, I doubt they spent any time cleaning, oiling, or adjusting it in any fashion—it was a pure flip. I've also seen this recently with Royal typewriters with a less common, but highly collectible Vogue typeface: a Royal P sold for about $900 there and was listed on eBay shortly after for over $1,500 with no indication that it was cleaned or adjusted. (If you watch some of the sites carefully, you can pick up a Vogue machine for under $100 easily enough depending on the type and condition.)

In my mind, as a collector, I'd try to find one in the wild and clean it up or I'd want it in stunning restored condition for over $2k. You might be just as well off picking up a working model for $100-$150 and gold plating the pieces yourself. It would probably be cheaper in the long run and you'd have a better machine in better condition. Some sucker with money to burn will eventually buy a Gold Olympia SM3 for over $2,000.

Here's a vew posts/videos as examples of gold plated machines:<br /> - A video of another Gold Olympia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnUHgyABjw0<br /> - Royal QDL https://typespec.com/weve-got-gold-in-them-thar-hills/<br /> - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kasbah-mod-typewriters_n_1453776

If you're looking for something great that you'll use, I recommend visiting a repair shop that has some stock to try out some machines to see if you'd like their touch/fee/aesthetics first. Visiting a type-in or two might give you some experience with a wide variety of typewriter models as well. Then try to find a rare or exceptional version that's worth putting some money into. Why put so much into an Olympia if it turns out you're an Olivetti, Royal, or Smith-Corona person? https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html (I desperately love Royals, but Smith-Coronas and Remingtons are much more forgiving of my mediocre typing technique, a fact which pains me dearly and cost a few hundred dollars and some sweat equity in cleaning and tuning machines to discover). Incidentally, I'll mention that for about $2,000 you could easily purchase a wide variety of about two dozen machines (even with shipping) and be able to get something truly exceptional in terms of condition and function.

Incidentally, the higher prices of $250-600 for repaired/refurbished/restored machines being sold by repair shops are usually what Harry Beercan is using as a pricing guide when he's selling his grandmother's musty, broken, old typewriter online not knowing that several hundred dollars in labor and parts has been calculated into the selling price.

Re-inserting the carriage of an Olympia SM3 timestamp 17:32

Not shown in the video is the reinstallation of the square screw and nut at the end of the carriage to hold the carriage into the machine.

https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1e5z8lu/help_me_pinpoint_what_yearmodel_my_soon_to_be/

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/7801787139942979/

Willy Wonka's Golden Typewriter - Rare Olympia SM3 & SM4 Typewriters by [[Lazy Dog Typewriters]]

Olympia SM3 Carriage removal timestamp 5:14

Actual removal process timestamp 10:46

Mainspring and drawband for Olympia SM3 tips just after 5:14 in the video

Olympia SM3 Carriage replacement timestamp 17:32

Olympia SM3 (1/2/4/5/7) Silent Return Spring Fix Part 5: Complete Olympia Service and Repair Series by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

Removal of SM3 carriage with one screw and bolt.

Repairing silent return spring (also works for Hermes and other European models) which operates via friction. American models don't have this sort of mechanism, so one will always get the zipper sound moving the carriage back.

Olympia SM-3 SM-4 Typewriter Platen Roller Variable Ratchet Disassembly Repair Fix Plunger by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]

1958 Olympia SM3 Final Type Test -Part6: COMPLETE Olympia SM3 service and set up guide. by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

Gerren prefers cotton ribbons in pica machines because the larger typeface can better handle the ink.

Part 4: COMPLETE Olympia SM3 Service and Repair Series: STICKY RIBBON LIFTER by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

The universal bar lifts the ribbon vibrator.

Adjustment points to adjust the ribbon lift heights for issues with red/black on bichrome use.

Maximum travel of the universal bar adjustment screws on crossbar that attaches to springs. timestamp 5:29

Screws at the ends of the cross bar which are attached to the key springs can be adjusted slightly to provide for heavier or lighter touch control. Timestamp 6:07

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUkDy-CP92u0XQ4oAl4nCsgid72Z9dl4E

Adjustment screw for the Olympia SM3 on feet shift set up is just to the side of the ribbon spool/cup. Gerren indicates that he's never been able to do this adjustment properly with the typewriter body on, so it's much easier to do with it off.

The bottom adjustment point (through the side of the frame) allows one to set the base line for the on foot for the lower case letters while the top one sets the upper case.

Gerren credits Phoenix Typewriter for most of the material he's learned in terms of fixing typewriters.

Bill at Philly Typewriter has an apprentice program, but there aren't many shops that do this. (Gerren makes a joke that it's free (child) labor.)

Trip point adjustments

The trip point is the point at which the typebar trips the movement of the escapement.

The adjustment point for it is reachable by removing the small protecting plate on the bottom at the back of the machine. The escapement trigger is just underneath it.

The lower one (top if the machine is upside down) is for the lower case; the top one is for the upper case.

Screwing the screw in will cause the trip to occur sooner.

Spacebar adjustment mechanisms [13:00]

There are two, one set in the front of the bottom of the typewriter and two screws in the back, right near the escapement.

If the spacebar is hit too many times while cleaning and repairing, the spacebar won't work properly and will need some minor adjustment when the body is put back on.

He shows at the end how to remove the keytops of the individual keys.

The final check is the shift lock mechanism to make sure its aligned properly.

Part 3.5: COMPLETE Olympia SM3 service guide and tutorial: NICE RACK! Jammed carriage issues by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

Quick Tip- Platen Shim Install Olympia SM3 SM4 SM Portable Typewriters by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

Eraser Table Spring install Olympia SM3/4 by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

Script Olympia SM3 Disassembled in 5 minutes. Time Lapsed by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

Basic breakdown of the Olympia SM3 body parts, platen, etc. for cleaning.

Steps: - platen, etc...

Olympia SM Typewriter Wash, Scrub Clean Lid Cover, Restore Paint by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]

Simple Green gets off most dirt and nicotine as well as some White Out. Duane uses Nu-Trol Control Cleaner (for electronics) as a mild specialty cleaner for tougher White Out cleaning.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Use an Olympia SM4, SM3, or SM2 typewriter - Works for SM1 & SM5. by [[Mr and Mrs Vintage Typewriter]]

Part 3: COMPLETE Olympia SM3 Service/Set Up Guide- Carriage Adjustments/ Ring and Cylinder by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

Not mentioned in the video is that, at least on his model, most of the common adjustment points have screws or nuts which have a brassy look rather than silvery almost as a means of highlighting them as subtle adjustment points for improving the performance of the machine.

Sometimes the carriage lock mechanism on the Olympia SM3 may not clear the carriage rail completely and this can result in it rubbing on the returns which results in a zipper or grinding sound. Forming the bar that connects the lever to the mechanism can quickly remedy this issue. See timestamp 2:17

Fore and aft adjustments on carriages

Details at timestamp

Side to side adjustment on carriage:

Details at timestamp

Forward and backward carriage adjustments (on both sides):

Details at timestamp

Adjustment for the spacing between the carriage rails:

This adjustment is rarely done unless there is something drastically wrong with the machine Details at timestamp

Adjustment on the carriage stoppers for how much bounce the carriage shift might have as well as how high or low the carriage sits at it's lowest point using the triangle sliding bracket on each side of the carriage with two screws. If these force the carriage too high, it can affect where the type sits in terms of potentially interfering with the bichrome settings to make letters (especially the tallest ones) have two colors when they should only have one. Details at timestamp 8:14

Adjustment on the rear springs for how light or heavy the carriage shift may be. Raise the spring and then adjust the small "nut" on the top. Details at timestamp 9:52

Ring and Cylinder adjustment for Olympia SM3<br /> Details at timestamp

Gerren doesn't seem to understand (or perhaps doesn't discuss it) some of the mechanics behind this adjustment beyond the distance of the platen to the typeface, but the usual suggestion is that the typeface shouldn't actually strike the paper and/or the platen. Ideally there should be just enough space between the typeface and the platen that an addition sheet of paper can be easily slid between the two along with the ribbon and another sheet of paper. This will allow the typeface to just kiss the ribbon and force the ink onto the front sheet of paper. Doing this will help to protect the integrity of the paper being typed on (ie, no deep imprints being pressed into the paper -- often seen with the period), as well as the integrity of the platen (preventing chips and imprints into the rubber, especially if it has been hardened), and the longer term integrity of the ribbon which can tend to be cut into by the typeface if it's too close.

From a physics perspective there is some minor amount of flex in the typebar arm between where the "hammer" at the bottom of the typebar hits the "anvil" (aka ring) and the top of the typeface which, when typing at speed will tend to "throw" the typeface a tad farther than it would hit when the hammer hits the anvil when simply holding it against the ring manually.

Part 2: COMPLETE Olympia SM3 Typewriter Service/repair- SO YOU WANT TO BE A MECHANICAL ENGINEER?!? by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

An excellent video in terms of coming to understand the functionality of a typewriter versus how the pieces interact to effectuate those functionalities.

COMPLETE Olympia SM1/2/3/4/5/7 Typewriter Build/Service/Tune up Series- Part 1 by [[The HotRod Typewriter Co.]]

Out with the Old, In with the New: Olympia SM by [[myoldtypewriter]]

They recommend fixing the Olympia SM3 spacer issue with:

Danco 1/2 rubber washer Universal (item #198804, model #88569) -- 00 trade size with 1/2" OD and 3/16" ID. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Danco-10-Pack-1-2-Rubber-Washer/3380002

The Amazing Floating Olympia by [[Michael P. Clemens]] aka clickthing

Michael recommends using 1/4" flat bibb washers with 9/16" OD to replace the rubber washers on the Olympia SM3, which notoriously are squished and need replacement. The general symptom is that the carriage sits low on the machine and scrapes or hangs on the sides of the body beneath it.

Olympia SM-3 SM-4 Typewriter Carriage Binding, Repair, Replace Body Spacers Tutorial Demo by [[Phoenix Typewriter]]

Olympia SM3 & 9 Comparison by [[Joe Van Cleave]]

The SM3 and SM4

Subtle differences between the two models.

Woody Allen Has Used the Same Typewriter for 50 Years! by [[Roger Friedman]] in Showbiz411

Referenced documentary is from PBS: American Masters Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011)

Woody Allen & his Typewriter

He wrote everything with his Olympia SM3 typewriter. He lost the hood "30 years ago".

He literally cuts and staples pieces of typescripts together.