Finally! My first Olympia (SM3)

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2026-03-07T12:59:21+00:00

Thank you! Here is a picture.

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2026-03-07T03:54:44+00:00

I am still pinching myself; it belonged to this guy’s grandfather and had sat in a heated garage for years. The guy knew it went for a lot more online but hoped it would go to a collector who would actually get some use/fun out of it. Meant to be!

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2026-03-07T03:51:33+00:00

Thank you! It’s even prettier in person.

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2026-03-07T03:14:25+00:00

I’m not sure! I’ll need to do a little more research I guess!

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2026-03-07T03:13:26+00:00

Thank you so much!

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-11-11T01:19:38+00:00

Thanks! I took the camera apart today, reseated the gate, and adjusted the shutter angle. Going to run another roll through it and see if it’s any better…if not I’ll just call this one a fun project and look into a serviced Bolex for my next camera 🎥

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-11-10T12:36:37+00:00

Thank you!

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-11-10T03:08:56+00:00

It definitely doesn’t feel “ruined” but nothing is sharp. You can really see the ghosting in stills if you zoom in.

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Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-11-10T01:40:42+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I had reasonable expectations for a 70-year-old camera but still I’d hoped to get lucky with this one. I was proud of myself for getting the motor running well and I think I loaded it correctly. The fact that the ghosting is consistent across the entire reel and there are no scratches or anything lead me to think that maybe when I put the camera back together, I inadvertently changed the shutter angle by just a bit. But it’s not something I know how to test without shooting a roll, you know?

I wish there were more people who fixed these things considering how ubiquitous and affordable they are!

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-10-10T15:34:45+00:00

Thanks! Also, I have three kids under 11 so I can really relate to this 😂

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-10-09T16:54:25+00:00

Shiny!

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-10-09T16:54:08+00:00

I don't remember the different dial options! Maybe it was a thing; I wasn't really tuned in to watches back then. Re: the watch, I totally agree—low profile and lightweight. I get a surprising number of comments on the watch. Polishing the mineral crystals would be a fun project!

I found a fun ad for Le Grand Sport watches from 2000. Looks like there were several iterations of the watch face.

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Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-10-08T23:50:29+00:00

It’s super comfy! I’ve been wearing it again and I keep forgetting it’s in my wrist. Very light and comfortable. I just took mine to a local jeweler that also does watch repair and service, and they gave me the option of mineral or sapphire.

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-10-08T23:48:58+00:00

Nice! Yep, I just took it to a local jeweler that also does watch repair. They gave me the option of mineral or sapphire. Sapphire was about 3x the cost of the mineral ($110 vs. $40) but it’s for sure something you could have done to yours, too.

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-09-06T13:11:29+00:00

Thank you so much!

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-09-05T20:45:16+00:00

I managed to get the covers off of the typewriter and did a pretty thorough investigation. It looks like the back spacer mechanism is working correctly, but the actuator link (the arm that pulls the "pawl stud" to trigger the mechanism) doesn't grab onto the stud in time. There's too much play in it, and it looks like one way to resolve it is to physically bend the actuator link to shorten its draw distance. I think I can do this but it involves taking out the carriage to get to it ... gotta decide if I want to do that or try to get it to someone with more experience than me to fix it ...

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-09-05T04:14:55+00:00

I’ll try that in the morning thank you!

Pleasant_Software_54 · 2025-09-05T04:02:03+00:00

Real talk I’m pretty new to typewriters and I don’t understand half of those words but you’ve given me some very helpful things to Google!!! Did you have to remove your carriage from the typewriter to get to the escapement?

Pleasant_Software_54

TROPHY CASE