OLYMPIA SM9  serial number 4172904

Will Davis collection

We just recently found this machine at a resale shop, with case, cover and sales brochure for the steep price of $4.99 and considering the search for Olympia data I bought it.  I noted the label indicating that both machine and case were made in West Germany.  Let's investigate these items further.

The machine is what we might call the "later version" of the SM9.  For starters, it has the "Circle-i" emblem that is really supposed to be the letter "O" with the letter "i" visible inside of it, representing Olympia International.  This emblem was filed for trademark in the US in April 1969, and the trademark was granted March 1972.  It was filed in Germany at about the same time.  We might note that Wilfred Beeching's "Century of the Typewriter" shows the earlier variant with white keys and centered script "Olympia" name as the 1968 - 1969 models.
The brochure, as could be predicted, gives a large number of the selling points for the machine and describes (too briefly) two different case styles.  One is described as a "sturdy, scratch-resistant carrying case" while the other, more expensive one is "an elegant, rich grain leather case" with "executive jet black styling." 

The serial number is in a range beyond that listed in Beeching's book, but which is included in a different serial list we have here.  Here is a section of that list:

2,918,569    1966
3,222,681    1967
3,433,392    1968
3,630,904    1969
3,941,130    1970
4,185,449    1971
4,439,081    1972
It appears by this listing that our new machine is a 1971 unit; this works well with the dates for the new "Circle-i" emblem used on the machine.  This was an artistic era of pictographical emblemage in every part of life, and Olympia was apparently no exception to this influence.
Part of the general confusion surrounding Olympia portables is the fact that the model number appears nowhere on the machines.  On the left, our 1966 SM9 in the early style for this model.  Above, the 1971 SM9.  The flip-up top cover, which resembles a car hood in its operation is common to both as are all of the carriage arrangements and details.  However the use of black keys is striking, and the enthusiast should note that tab stop set and clear buttons on either side of the space bar have been replaced by a tab set / clear lever on the left of the keyboard. 
Brochure for this machine clearly indicates "SM9"
SM 9 Specifications from this brochure:  Height 5 3/8", Width 12", Depth 12 3/4".  Color:  Saturn white and slate gray.
    Carriage designation 9 1/2" -- Paper capacity 9 1/2", Writing line 9 1/8"
    Carriage designation 13"  -----Paper capacity 13 3/8", Writing line 12 7/8"
The machine came with a vinyl high-quality typewriter cover provided by the seller.  This cover is labeled American Typewriter Company, 25501 Euclid Ave. Euclid, Ohio -- Sales, Service, Rentals -- AN 1-2525.   (That last part is the phone number, for those too young to realize!)

Written in ink inside the brochure is the following:  "$124.50 including case (1) one year warranty."

At right, a photo from the brochure.  This is a very typical European advertising image of the time, showing a densely packed but dynamic people in motion.  I like it!
Frequent questions are asked about type styles used on the Olympia machines, and this sample is provided in the sales brochure.  Note that the two type styles which are larger pitch include the name "pica" in their titles, while not all that are smaller pitch include the name "elite" except for the standard elite typeface.  The numbers following the names are official designation numbers for reference and mean nothing as regards the size -- they are identifiers only.
KURT MCCULLUM has constructed an excellent SM9 identification page online, and it's the best centralized version of the Olympia model number breakdown research that has been made generally available.  CLICK to see it!
off-site link