1960 Olympia SG-1
Up for sale is a true workhorse- an Olympia SG-1 which was made in Western Germany in 1960. This typewriter has been kept in my personal collection for a long time simply because it's my favorite typewriter of all-time to type on, however I am not personally using it for anything, and figured someone else could put this machine to better use. Out of all the typewriters I've been able to type on and play with, the SG-1 is beyond a doubt my favorite. I'd recommend watching a YouTube video or doing additional research on this model if you don't have any prior knowledge or experience with this machine to fully appreciate it. The features on this machine are like no other- from the lever that fully loads the paper with a single pull, to the removable carriage.
There's no way around it- this typewriter is an absolute beast. It takes up a ton of space, and is very heavy. These were the standard desktops that populated many offices in the 60's, and it's crazy to imagine a whole room filled with these massive machines.
This typewriter is fully functional right down to the bell, and as you would expect from being my all-time favorite typer, is a top-class machine to type on. This typewriter is indeed my highest recommendation for anyone looking to write a novel on. Out of all typewriters I could choose from (as long as portability is not a concern, of course) this would without a doubt be the one I would choose to be my "daily driver" if I was a writer. This typewriter is perfect for heavy use on a regular basis for many years to come.
Keep in mind that this typewriter types in a futuristic Senatorial font, which is really neat and unique, but obviously won't be desirable for everyone.
Cosmetically, this typewriter isn't perfect. There is some very light rust/pitting in certain places where it doesn't matter, and the crinkle paint finish does have some light wear. The "paper support and last line indicator" is missing, however it's not a required piece. Mechanically this typewriter is in mint condition, and as I stated, is fully functional and good to go for many long years to come.
Universal ribbons (which are sold on this website) fit this machine perfectly, and the owner's manual can be downloaded here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/olympiasg1.pdf
I would of course highly recommend reading the manual in order to get everything possible out of this machine- since it offers a lot.
Also included with this typewriter is a home-made dust cover which I have been using to keep this machine free of dust while it sat on my desk. You can either continue to use it, or buy/craft a different one to your liking.
If you're in the market for the best manual desktop for heavy writing, then look no further- this is the one you want.