The SM8 is one of my favorite Olympia typewriters.
I do like the sleek style of the square ones and the close tolerances of everything from how the ribbon cover fits to the just enough clearance for the carriage return arm to travel above it to the quietness of its action, and it also has an integral lid/cover which makes it a nice full featured portable that is quite near an office machine. The basic design may be very similar, but not fully parts interchageable. Well, if that were true shouldn't all the parts (but the covers) should be interchangeable? They're not. There are references on line that the mechanics are the same between the round and square body ones. Both styles seem to be quieter than other typewriters. The round body ones seem to be the nicest typers with a nicer action than the square body ones. I've never been impressed by the square body models even though I have 7 of them with various typefaces. Seems people either love them or dislike them. Hermes 3000 typewriters are what they are, mostly over rated. The carriage is also very easy to remove and reinstall. Touch is really nice, and carriage return is almost effortless.
The Adler J4 seems to be one of the models that does not get much mention on line. I prefer the integral case/cover to the luggage style zipper case of the Valiant or the Olivetti Letter 22 or Lettera 32 although I like that the Lettera models have tabulators. The typing action of the Charger 11 is not quite as nice as a Skyriter, but overall not a typewriter to be left behind for a trip or a bit of bicycle typing or typing in the park. The snap-on cover or case makes these typewriters nicely suited for travel. I like the small machines like this Charger 11 (along with Smith-Corona Skyriters, Hermes Rockets (Baby), and a few other small portables) for travel. The Brother line of typewriters always seems to be satisfactory for almost any typing. The little Corona 3 is fun to use, but not a typewriter I'd like to use if I had several pages to type.
Each typist has their favorite, even among similar models of the same brand.
Neat thing about typewriters is that each of them have their little quirks.
This one has Professional Elite typeface. Typing action is much like the rest of the Olympia SM9 models. It is nice to use, but not as fast as an H3k. It is not as stiff as most of the Olympia typewriters I've used. Like all the square body Hermes 3000 neat looking, but nothing to brag about for typing. Typing action is super nice and the carriage return quite light and very silky smooth. This is one of the best typers in my collection. 1922 Corona 3 that spent its life in the NYPDīrother Charger 11 from 1973 that recently became part of my collectionĪdler J4 from 1966.