When I saw this on-line and did some research… I was shocked to see it was a rare item… according to Machines of Loving Grace only one was known to exist under the Columbia XL name… this one came with its manual.
Yesterday I mentioned the bike ride ends in Ft. Madison (the Florida of Iowa) it will start of the 6th time in Council Bluffs , IA.
My 1952 Remington Travel Riter has provide over a year of great service. No problems or issues or concerns (except for a loose key cap or two). It was a low cost typewriter that I felt was not going to last (long before I new anything about typewriters)… it looked like a well used working machine. Still is. Made to last. Couldn’t be happier with it.
One year ago I did not know about “thrust typewriters” nor how long they had been on the market. When I bought the 1907 “The Empire” I just had to see what a 1936 model would do. That this type of typewriter was on the market for four decades makes me reconsider what I know and it is a good thing to learn and expand one’s concept of what makes a good typewriter and why. I like the thrust…
When I saw a cheap yellow Corona 3… I bought it. The yellow came off and the machine itself works perfect. I feel so lucky every day I look at it and my spirit lifts when I touch its keys. It was a lucky day indeed when this Corona 3 came my way.
Working with a purple ribbon… gives one room to play.
Just starting to clean the gook off the Smith-Corona. I’m beginning to suspect that this is nicotine and tars left over from a heavy smoking environment. What I thought was light rust turned out to be a stain. Lot of effort to go… but it is starting to look decent.
I should stop… when I see a “great price” I can’t stop myself. So I have this big… heavy… 54 year old office machine.  Less than 8 bucks!!! Even got it working.
Sometimes I will just walk away from an auction. The typewriter is good… the price is low but when I check out the other bidders and if they have less than 5 byes on E-bay I will not compete… (not until someone with double digit plus byes enters the picture) then I will re-enter. Dumb? Maybe… but I have enough machines to not want to get in the way of someone about to enjoy the world of typewriters.
