Rusty is a 1949 Smith-Corona Sterling; corroded, marginal margin settings, wonky line advance, White-Out be-spattered, hesitant keys, and a bit musty smelling. I nearly passed on it yesterday until noticing its wonderful font. While in the midst of typecasting with it today a Fed-X truck arrived with Ollie, a mighty fine looking Oliver No. 9. But here, let's have Rusty tell the tale:
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| Rusty ... he just makes me happy. Grimy, corroded, but with real soul. |
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| Meet Ollie. His pencil holder swung the deal. Stay tuned. |
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That's an odd character set. The caps look to be standard Pica, while the lowercase is clearly Vertical Script (usually found on Underwoods, occasionally on SCM's and at least once on a Lettera 22).
ReplyDeleteThat would be super-odd because those two typefaces would be *on the same typeslugs*, and I don't think I've *ever* seen that!
Ted, if you find any references to this or similar typefaces it would be great to hear about it.
DeleteAlso, don't feel too bad, I've been enforcing a "no new typers" pledge on myself, yet as today is Friday, the yard sales have started in earnest. I stopped by *ONE*, and came out with a 1971 IBM Selectric 721 for $5. (talked him down from $20 after he plugged it in and it wouldn't start). It does work now that I've spent an hour on it, but the keys are still a bit sticky. :P
ReplyDelete(best-laid plans of men who like Typewriters)
You know, I'm not a huge fan of that typeface, as I think I have discussed elsewhere but the machine is certainly interesting. That is quite a good find!
ReplyDeleteThe Oliver though, is beautiful. I keep my Oliver next to my on my desk at all times, if anything because it just looks amazing there.
Congratulations! I very much like that script typeface. Hmmmm... 12-maybe-24... that's an idea I can easily get behind... hmmm...
ReplyDeleteAs Ted said, that is a very odd combination of upper and lowercase characters. Not a pleasure to read, but character? You bet!
ReplyDeleteI think Rusty's typeface is fantastic! Very original, and reminds me a lot of my dad's handwritting. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI too have been trying to reduce the collection... rather unsuccessfully (have only managed to bring myself to actually SELL three machines out of the "12 almost 20" I planned to part with...)
Congratulations! Both of those look like very nice typewriters. I really like the character of the Rusty's font. I've seen similar, but not quite the same as what you have.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I try to reduce my collection I end up having more -- as if those I sell or give away go about telling other abandoned typewriters to come to my house. I'm back up to near 50 while I know about 2 dozen is much more manageable.
Very interesting typeface, as everyone else has of course already said. I will have to look around and see if that typeface is in any of my Smith-Corona catalogues! And that Oliver is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteWill, if you discover anything about that typeface I'd of course love to hear what you learn.
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